The Beatles' "This Boy"
The Beatles "This Boy"
The Fab's first foray into three part harmony was a winner. Let's check it out:
The recording of this great song occured on October 17, 1963 and with this tune, the Beatles ushered in a new era at Abbey Road Studios; that of four track recording. 15 takes were recorded with takes 16 and 17 being overdubs. As Mark Lewisohn so well puts it: (to paraphrase) "This Boy" was intended at the B side to "I Want to Hold Your Hand." It was the technically superior song but "Hand" had more energy and the clever hooks that made it a #1. And to think that the Beatles could relegate such a great song to a B side of a 45 rpm single speaks volumes about their confidence levels and abundance of great material at the time.
It was written by John and Paul in a hotel bedroom as a specific three-part harmony exercise which they had never attempted before. The inspiration came from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, whom the Beatles adored. However, the band had become acquainted with three part harmony from the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him is to Love Him" which, incidentally was produced by Phil Spector. The Everly Brothers were a big influence as well.
The song was a huge fan favorite and was later re-named "This Boy (Ringo's Theme) because a George Martin instrumental arrangement was also used in the "A Hard Day's Night" film. Incidentally, the guitarist on that instrumental was a chap named Vic Flick who also played the menacing guitar riff on the James Bond musical theme.
"This Boy" remains one of the Beatles' most memorable ballads and arguably the most technically difficult ballad in their entire catalogue due to the three part harmony. Go and check out the Beatles' second Ed Sullivan appearance in Miami Beach the week after their seminal first appearance on Feb. 9, 1964. The perform "This Boy" live and it was perfect.
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) FInd us at www.beatletracksband.com
The Fab's first foray into three part harmony was a winner. Let's check it out:
The recording of this great song occured on October 17, 1963 and with this tune, the Beatles ushered in a new era at Abbey Road Studios; that of four track recording. 15 takes were recorded with takes 16 and 17 being overdubs. As Mark Lewisohn so well puts it: (to paraphrase) "This Boy" was intended at the B side to "I Want to Hold Your Hand." It was the technically superior song but "Hand" had more energy and the clever hooks that made it a #1. And to think that the Beatles could relegate such a great song to a B side of a 45 rpm single speaks volumes about their confidence levels and abundance of great material at the time.
It was written by John and Paul in a hotel bedroom as a specific three-part harmony exercise which they had never attempted before. The inspiration came from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, whom the Beatles adored. However, the band had become acquainted with three part harmony from the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him is to Love Him" which, incidentally was produced by Phil Spector. The Everly Brothers were a big influence as well.
The song was a huge fan favorite and was later re-named "This Boy (Ringo's Theme) because a George Martin instrumental arrangement was also used in the "A Hard Day's Night" film. Incidentally, the guitarist on that instrumental was a chap named Vic Flick who also played the menacing guitar riff on the James Bond musical theme.
"This Boy" remains one of the Beatles' most memorable ballads and arguably the most technically difficult ballad in their entire catalogue due to the three part harmony. Go and check out the Beatles' second Ed Sullivan appearance in Miami Beach the week after their seminal first appearance on Feb. 9, 1964. The perform "This Boy" live and it was perfect.
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) FInd us at www.beatletracksband.com
Very interesting history; thank you, John Haberstroh. I'd like to know more. Because of the following experience, I've often wondered if the Beatles were also influenced by The Fleetwoods.
I first heard the sound in a record store in North Beach, San Francisco, California. A recording of soft, soulful, three-part harmony was being played over the sound system.
"Listen!" said one customer to another, "It's The Fleetwoods!" I overheard and listened, too. It wasn't The Fleetwoods, but later that week, a lifelong friend enthusiastically brought out a new album he wanted me to hear - and played that song. It was "This Boy" by the Beatles. Because their sound had been mistaken for that of my own group, The Fleetwoods, I took special note of the Beatles and have since longed to know if they were influenced by our sound.
When, on each side of the pond, members of both groups were teenagers, The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly To Me" was Number One in the U.S.A. and Top Five on Britain's charts, beating out cover versions, including UK's popular Frankie Vaughn and the Kaye Sisters, which simultaneously made Britain's Top Ten.
Were the teen-aged singers John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison listening, as "Come Softly To Me" simultaneously held two spots on Britain's Top Ten and topped the charts of America? Who can tell? I'd love to know. If you have the answer, please contact Gretchen@TheFleetwoods.com
In retrospect, all this is particularly meaningful because, in 1959, Number One Hits "Come Softly To Me" and "Mr. Blue" made The Fleetwoods the first group in the world to have multiple Number One Records top the Billboard Hot 100 in a single year. No group exceeded that, until 1964; when the Supremes had three Number One Hits, and the Beatles had an astounding six! Great company for The Fleetwoods to be succeeded by. (:o) And to think, the Beatles first entered my life, by chance, with "This Boy".
And did the Beatles influence this girl? To give an opinion, visit www.GoldCupMusic.com - hear sound clips of GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16) - one of the 2007 Billboard Critics' Picks for 10 Best Albums of the Year -
and let me know what You think!
THE FLEETWOODS' Founder, Female Lead Singer/Songwriter/Vocal Arranger of
15 Fleetwoods LPs, 11 Hit singles;
plus Producer of the autobiographical 16-page booklet and 16-song CD,
GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16),
Gretchen Christopher
www.GretchenChristopher.com
www.TheFleetwoods.com
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