The Beatles and David Mason
The Beatles and David Mason
Classical trumpeter David Mason was called in to do a session with the Fabs for their latest record at the time. With this relatively short session, Mason entered the rarified world of Beatle Related Immortality.
The story is another well known one in Beatles folklore: Paul was putting on the finishing touches to what was essentially a finished song (Penny Lane), when he happened to have watched the BBC TV show on January 11, 1967 featuring London's New Philharmonia playing something wonderful. It was Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F Major. What really caught Paul's ear was the sound of a screamingly high trumpet being played during this famous and grand Baroque classic. He wondered to himself if that sound wouldn't sound good on Penny Lane.
The following day he explained his thought to Producer George Martin and Martin agreed to call up the Philharmonia and find out who the player was and would he mind coming over to Abbey Road studios to play a solo on a Beatles single? On January 17th, David Mason walked into the front doors of the Abbey Road studios to begin his session with the Beatles. Just to cover all bases, Mason brought with him 9 different trumpets to make sure he got the sound Paul wanted. Obviously, Mason was fairly excited about the moment.
Paul hummed out what he wanted, George Martin transposed the notes McCartney was humming to a score sheet and Mason played it. His choice of instrument was a Bb piccolo trumpet, like what Paul had seen on TV. This trumpet is exactly one octave higher than its common cousin that most trumpeters play. In relatively short order the solo was recorded and that was that. The final touch on a masterpiece and at the time, quite a novelty. Once agan, in keeping with the Beatles' approach to sounds and new explorations. Piccolo trumpets became rather commonplace in the late 1960s.
The lineup for this song was impressive:
1) Paul McCartney: Vocals, piano, bass guitar, harmonium, main song writer.
2) John Lennon: Piano, guitar, vocals, congas, handclaps, composed a small part of the song.
3) George Harrison: Guitar, vocals.
4) Ringo: Drums, handbell.
5) George Martin: piano.
6) Ray Swinfield: Flute, Piccolo.
7) David Mason: Piccolo trumpet, Flugelhorn.
8) Freddy Clayton: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
9) Bert Courtley: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
10 Leon Calvert: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
11) Duncan Campbell: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
10) Manny Winters: Flute, Piccolo.
12) P. Goody: Flute, Piccolo.
13) Denis Wilton: Flute, Piccolo.
14) Dick Morgan: Oboe, Cor Anglais.
15) Mike Winfield: Oboe, Cor Anglais.
16) Frank Clarke: Doulbe Bass *Yes, double bass: you can hear it towards the end of the song with the banker and the fireman who comes rushing in.
Recorded: Dec. 29, 30 1966 and January 4,5,6,9,10, 11,17 1967
Released: Feb. 13, 1967. Top spot: #1 US Billboard charts.
David Mason grew up with a broad background in Classical music having begun lessons as a youth. He was educated at the Royal College of Music and eventually wound up in the Philharmonia. He would go on to become a Professor of Music at the Royal College and literally taught what became the core of the UK's trumpet players in subsequent generations.
"Penny Lane" was his most famous solo, but the Beatles were not finished with David Mason. He was to return for several more sessions in the coming months eventually appearing on "A Day In The Life," "Magical Mystery Tour," "It's All Too Much," and "All You Need Is Love."
David Mason still from the YouTube short that shows him playing the famous horn riff for "Penny Lane."
As he has jokingly said on many occasions, he spent his entire life dedicated to the classic arts, but he is by far the most well known for playing a short solo on a rock and roll song. Life is full of its little ironies isn't it? Mason was paid 27 Pounds, 10 Shillings (about 47 US dollars at the time). Not bad: he played the riff and even got paid, to become immortal.
Go and watch the retired David Mason play his famous solo on YouTube. Retired? Listen to the man blow that trumpet and you'll agree, he never actually "retired."
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) Find us www.beatletracksband.com
Classical trumpeter David Mason was called in to do a session with the Fabs for their latest record at the time. With this relatively short session, Mason entered the rarified world of Beatle Related Immortality.
The story is another well known one in Beatles folklore: Paul was putting on the finishing touches to what was essentially a finished song (Penny Lane), when he happened to have watched the BBC TV show on January 11, 1967 featuring London's New Philharmonia playing something wonderful. It was Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F Major. What really caught Paul's ear was the sound of a screamingly high trumpet being played during this famous and grand Baroque classic. He wondered to himself if that sound wouldn't sound good on Penny Lane.
The following day he explained his thought to Producer George Martin and Martin agreed to call up the Philharmonia and find out who the player was and would he mind coming over to Abbey Road studios to play a solo on a Beatles single? On January 17th, David Mason walked into the front doors of the Abbey Road studios to begin his session with the Beatles. Just to cover all bases, Mason brought with him 9 different trumpets to make sure he got the sound Paul wanted. Obviously, Mason was fairly excited about the moment.
Paul hummed out what he wanted, George Martin transposed the notes McCartney was humming to a score sheet and Mason played it. His choice of instrument was a Bb piccolo trumpet, like what Paul had seen on TV. This trumpet is exactly one octave higher than its common cousin that most trumpeters play. In relatively short order the solo was recorded and that was that. The final touch on a masterpiece and at the time, quite a novelty. Once agan, in keeping with the Beatles' approach to sounds and new explorations. Piccolo trumpets became rather commonplace in the late 1960s.
The lineup for this song was impressive:
1) Paul McCartney: Vocals, piano, bass guitar, harmonium, main song writer.
2) John Lennon: Piano, guitar, vocals, congas, handclaps, composed a small part of the song.
3) George Harrison: Guitar, vocals.
4) Ringo: Drums, handbell.
5) George Martin: piano.
6) Ray Swinfield: Flute, Piccolo.
7) David Mason: Piccolo trumpet, Flugelhorn.
8) Freddy Clayton: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
9) Bert Courtley: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
10 Leon Calvert: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
11) Duncan Campbell: Trumpet, Flugelhorn.
10) Manny Winters: Flute, Piccolo.
12) P. Goody: Flute, Piccolo.
13) Denis Wilton: Flute, Piccolo.
14) Dick Morgan: Oboe, Cor Anglais.
15) Mike Winfield: Oboe, Cor Anglais.
16) Frank Clarke: Doulbe Bass *Yes, double bass: you can hear it towards the end of the song with the banker and the fireman who comes rushing in.
Recorded: Dec. 29, 30 1966 and January 4,5,6,9,10, 11,17 1967
Released: Feb. 13, 1967. Top spot: #1 US Billboard charts.
David Mason grew up with a broad background in Classical music having begun lessons as a youth. He was educated at the Royal College of Music and eventually wound up in the Philharmonia. He would go on to become a Professor of Music at the Royal College and literally taught what became the core of the UK's trumpet players in subsequent generations.
"Penny Lane" was his most famous solo, but the Beatles were not finished with David Mason. He was to return for several more sessions in the coming months eventually appearing on "A Day In The Life," "Magical Mystery Tour," "It's All Too Much," and "All You Need Is Love."
David Mason still from the YouTube short that shows him playing the famous horn riff for "Penny Lane." As he has jokingly said on many occasions, he spent his entire life dedicated to the classic arts, but he is by far the most well known for playing a short solo on a rock and roll song. Life is full of its little ironies isn't it? Mason was paid 27 Pounds, 10 Shillings (about 47 US dollars at the time). Not bad: he played the riff and even got paid, to become immortal.
Go and watch the retired David Mason play his famous solo on YouTube. Retired? Listen to the man blow that trumpet and you'll agree, he never actually "retired."
By John Haberstroh (Bassist for BeatleTracks) Find us www.beatletracksband.com
How many places do they have an unused and forgotten trumpet ending on Penny Lane?
Reply to this
How many places do they have the unused and unforgotten trumpet ending of Penny Lane?
Reply to this
Thanks for writing in. As far as I know, the UK Ending of Penny Lane, as we call it, appears on the mono UK releases as well as the US album called "Rarities" released in the early 1980's. Santa actually brought me the UK Monos this past X-mas and I have yet to plow throught the Magical Mystery Tour LP to check it out.
JH
Reply to this
How about the USA promo single? It might have the forgotten trumpet ending.
Reply to this
To Beatletracks:
I think that some of the info which you have answered Daniel's question with is not completely correct. Daniel asked about the rare version of PENNY LANE with the extra trumpet ending. This version does NOT appear on the offical common UK mono single mix (of which I have several copies of), nor does it on any offical copy of MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR.This rare mono mix only appeared in early 1967 on the US and Canadian Promotonal 45s, which were only sent to radio stations, and not on any offical 45 sold anywhere in the world.
However, a stereo version with the rare trumpet ending was offically released on the US RARITIES LP (Capitol SHAL 12060), and on the UK 8 LP set called THE BEATLES BOX (Parlophone/World Records SM 701-8.
However, a very different mix of PENNY LANE on ANTHOLOGY 2 also includes the trumpet ending, but please be warned that the ANTHOLOGY 2 mix of PENNY LANE is MINUS the famous David Mason trumpet solo in the middle of the song! I hope that this info better answers Daniel's question and is also helpful to all.
Reply to this