Something About The Beatles

214: Beatle Production

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In this episode, we examine the process of a song becoming a record, as heard through the ears of those in the producer’s chair. Luther Russell, previous SATB guest and Fab4ConJam star, has operated as a composer, performer, collaborator, engineer and producer and is therefore more than qualified to offer his insights as a musical idea gets transformed into a production and how creative decisions are made along the way.
Non-Beatles music heard in this episode:
Ned Roberts: “Falling Away” – produced by Luther Russell
Weezer: “L.A. Girlz” – co-written by Luther Russell, Brian Bell and Rivers Cuomo, released on The White Album by Weezer (2016)
Those Pretty Wrongs: “Lucky Man” from the album Those Pretty Wrongs (2016), co-written by Jody Stephens and Luther Russell
Luther Russell: “Tomorrow’s Papers” from the album The Invisible Audience (2011) by Luther Russell

Comments

6 responses to “214: Beatle Production”

  1. RobW

    From what I have heard and audibly observed John Lennon always kind of left it open or even relied on Band ARRANGEMENTS . It first hit me especially when hearing the development of STRAWBERRY FIELDS how the arrangemet took shape very different than he was writing it. Even in his last work on DOUBLE FANTASY he gave demos to JACK DOUGLAS his producer to do Band arrangement on the songs. Wheras PAUL a lot of his songs seem to be presented fully formed with arrangements this was particularly true in the latter 1967 onward Beatles records. George seems to have been given much more freedom on Lennon songs too as far as guitar parts. There are exception of course. THANKS.

    Reply
    1. tupa

      Yes, Lennon seemed to have always excelled as a lyricist but melodies where often more of McCartney’s strength.

      Reply
  2. RobW

    Ps. I DON’t agree that the Mellotron riff on Strawberry Fields comes from that bit of John playing the melodica in 1964! He plays a first two chords sounding similar but then stops to where it goes in Strawberrry and I think its a stretch to connect them myself. I think its a accident and Paul came up with that intro himself to Strawberry Fields on the MELLOTRON.

    Reply
  3. Robert

    So Paul McCartney is yet again to blame for the break-up?

    The song writing formula worked well up until 1967- Lennon and McCartney collaborated. What changed in 1968 – Yoko No-o.

    She impacted on their ability to collaborate so McCartney had no alternative but to turn up with songs fully formed.

    McCartney was always generous (helped Lennon with Don’t Let Me Down) and assisted Harrison with over 80 run-throughs of All Things Must Pass, yet somehow he is always the villain.

    Not sure how.

    ATMP was also on the shortlist for Let It Be btw despite them not getting on top of it.

    Reply
    1. tupa

      Both Lennon and McCartney broke up the Beatles. It’s just that McCartney did it publicly and it was based on arrogance and resentment.

      Lennon outgrew the Beatles as a creative outlet in 1965. He just hung around because his insecurity, fear governed his decision making until he met Yoko Ono. He wasn’t able to reflect on his impotence as a Beatle until he saw someone, doing what they wanted to do that reflected subversive actions and creativity, which is Yoko Ono. The fact that it was a woman and older than him revealed his Mommy complex.

      Reply
  4. tupa

    Started out as a great program diseminating Demo’s and alternate takes to popular Beatle songs and turned into a promo show for mediocre Weezer.

    Prompts one to compare the lack of creativity in the latter Luther Russell productions. They all, but one, sound alike, over produced whiny pop music.

    There is a place for that program. Just didn’t expect it in the program nor did it enlighten.

    Reply

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