I interviewed the red headed kid (Kevin Harrington) who carried all of The Beatles' gear up on the roof. He's a great guy and I think you'll dig it. Here's one of the videos. ua-cam.com/video/DQ5H8spatu8/v-deo.html
Watched the interviews with Kevin. Loved hearing his anecdotes relating to his front row seat at the greatest show on earth, the Fab Four… Keep up the great work Otis. Your videos are a musician’s wet dream. 😎
My biggest takeaway from Get Back is that Paul was constantly giving direction to John and George, but not once to Ringo. Ringo intuitively knew the perfect groove for each song. Mad respect for Ringo.
He most certainly did give direction to Ringo, and you can see it in 'Get Back' - at one point he says something like, "And you must play this on the cymbals" (it might be with regard to 'Let It Be', but I cannot remember).
Yeah, he did give direction to Ringo but not as much as say with George and John. But to your point I think you were probably amazed as I was how he came up with unique drumbeats that nobody but Ringo would have come up with given the riff or little bit of the song he was shown, and it completely transformed the song as we know it today. Can’t remember the specific song, it was big and it was amazing to see the genius of Ringo.
I remember as a kid a new Beatles album would be released every year it seems and each one sounded like a different, but better band. It was the best time to grow up, imo.
I'll be seventy in a few weeks and and am a lifelong Beatles (and Stones) fan, I saw them live all three weeks on the Ed Sullivan Show and play bass because of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', which was their first American hit single in early 1964. Every single they released sounded completely different than the preceding one, it was a magical time to be alive, Beatlemania was amazing to live through. I believe the 60's ended the day we all found out they had broken up. It was unbelievably depressing, but we all clung to the 'fact' that they would get together again someday. When Lennon got assassinated we mourned him and also mourned the fact that The Beatles would never again play together, the dream was over. We do have their music though.
I remember the 1st show on Ed Sullivan, I might have felt we had just watched a Really exciting Show, but the memory that sticks out the most was my Parents, esp. MOM, oh my Gosh look at their Long Hair. My Dad might have said they all look like MOE of the 3 Stooges. LOL. I did not become a BIG FAN til about 66, but remember those Times so well, the anticipation for the next Record.
@@ksharpe10 I fell hook, line and sinker right after my cousins showed me 'Meet The Beatles'; being the ten year old little brat I was I said I didn't like them (without hearing them) but that planted the seed and shortly afterward I was hooked, still am.
Love hearing from Tom. I agree, the rooftop performance was awesome. I don’t know why, but I was also struck by the bit where George was helping Ringo write “Octopus’s Garden”. It was a cool moment.
The Billy Preston comment is soooo on-point. I love the part in the doc where he shows up and sits down at the piano and just fits right in and elevates the whole thing. It was like he lightened the whole vibe- "no big deal, man let's just play some music" The camera cuts to Paul (I think?), and he just gets this huge smile on his face like "Goddamn, this guy is GREAT".
Yes, that was amazing, they were somewhat floundering and a bit down at that point and right after he sat down at the electric piano it was beautiful-so cool. Everybody lit up with that great vibe--yeah Paul was grinning! All that time Billy played with Ray Charles I think rubbed off on him because there's that "I'm here to make it happen and support you guys regardless, show or tell me the changes". Love that!
I was amazed and loved every minute of Get Back. I did not go in with any preconceived notions that they walked on water, or split the seas. I knew they were 4 guys who just loved music. All 4 were songwriters, and all 4 had normal amounts of brat, adolescent angst, and personal shit. I was just so happy to get a glimpse of them being them.
They were truly Blessed, 1 by the 5th Beatle George Martin, and by the GOD you mentioned, the one who walked on water, or split the seas. And it was a Blessing To Us.
I'm with Tom. I've loved the Beatles music since I was literally a baby. When I uttered my first syllables, some of the first words out of my mouth were, "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah". I know this because my mom recorded it. 😄 It's the pure genius of the instrumentation and their use of sound that gets to me more than anything else. I'm in awe every time I listen to their music.
Listen for the use of the PLATE reverb on their Records. George Martin really knew what he was doing. And the Gibson was a plugged into their AC30 Vox amps, and Miked, most likely at least it sounds like it.
Holy shit man. Out of the millions of Beatles conversations that have taken place, the soft playing acoustic guitar because of being singers is by far the most interesting points ever made about them.. Cool.
Yeah that was truly original, but he neglected that the Gibson with the pickup was Actually miked up into their Vox amps. and recorded that way. Listen to some of those old songs, they sound pretty Good.
Alright Otis! You got some gems of interviews with Tom, man. Best assessment ever of The Beatles in general but of the Get Back documentary especially. Billy Preston absolutely brought about a million percent to those sessions and the rooftop performance.
Thank you, Otis! I appreciate Tom's insights and his appreciation for The Beatles and music in general. Great stories and interview as always Be good to you 🤍💛
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❤ always always appreciate your content Otis, and without saying Tom Bukovac is my favorite guitar player and I like the way he presents musical life on video, and now I have to go watch the rooftop concert, but that’s a good thing
Our dear, sweet Uncle Larry is just the best. So insightful and deeply experienced, yet always with that child's sparkle in his eye. On the J-160E, if Jerry Hammack got it right in his The Beatles Recording Reference Manual, referring to A Hard Day's Night, Norman Smith blended an acoustic signal with an amplified signal "to create a unique acoustic guitar tone." One of the many things which are so impressive about the rooftop performance was John's lead on Get Back. Ever try to play it? Damned hard to do and is yet another example of John's sense for unusual rhythm and that incredible right hand of his.
Thank you Tom, i enjoy your video's. BTW, regarding your comments about the rooftop performance- i am almost sure in the movie Paul stated that The Beatles were always at their best when their backs were against the wall. Paul was sure right about that. To me and for me also being a HUGE Beatles fan that movie was just amazing. The clarity was so great that it made you feel like you were in the room with them, and that it was made yesterday not 50 years ago. The most amazing thing is - how in the hell could anyone other than The Beatles do what they did- to say OK we are going to come up with about dozen new songs and we have to do it in 3 weeks. Then not only do they pull it off but also a handful of the songs become ICONIC Masterpieces that are still being played and loved on TV and radio around the world to this day.
The Astonishing thing to me is a couple weeks later they go in to Record Abbey Road. And who has Arguably the 2 best Songs on the album, George. here comes the sun, SOMETHING, but back then ALL the SONGS even the MEDLEY were played on the Radio, not like today, we get Gipped today. And music artists are the ones being hurt by it too.
Yeah very good point. And from An audio engineer perspective they follow that in the “mix” as well. Vocals are way up front, and then bass is actually louder and more prominent than the guitars and even drums too (except the snare on SOME songs). And the only times the guitars get pushed up front is during the little interlude “hook” parts that temporarily become the focal point. Then after that’s gone it’s back to vocals bass in front. And that’s why you never have any problem singing along to Beatles songs.
I had watched the first 2 episodes of the "Get Back" documentary and to me it was excruciatingly painful. I wasn't going to watch the final episode but Tom has given me a different perspective on it so now I will. Great interview Otis!
Yep. Very astute and honest and frank, perceptive comments. Get Back--what a great contribution, perhaps the greatest, about the Beatles' process and relationships. Great comments--thanks to Otis and Tom. Thanks.
The roof top....much respect. Considering the compromise that it resulted from. Wow!! Plus, it was dang cold!! I wish they showed more of the shlepping of equipment up there. Twins weigh a ton!!!
I heard a producer say almost the exact same thing about working with The Rolling Stones. He said they would mess around and jam and play for hours and hours, and they sounded terrible, as bad or worse than amatures. And then all of a sudden, something would click, they'd hit a groove, and there they were, THE Rolling Stones in full glory, churning out another rock and roll masterpiece. It's inspiring to hear these stories and learn that the greatest bands of all time were confident enough and loose enough to experiment and just let things flow. They didn't try to make gold or turn rocks into diamonds, but rather just panned and mined patiently until the precious metals and gems were uncovered. That is a genius of its own kind, as is the ability to edit and recognize what's great. Separating the wheat from the chaff without getting too attached to the chaff. Always love these interviews Otis, and Uncle Larry is a GREAT storyteller (and even better musician). Thanks for bringing these to us. 🤘🤘🖖
Gibby 160e, those ones that the Beatles used were laminate back and sides and ladder bracing…if you try a solid wood one and x bracing they sound pretty good, the scale is a bit long because of the pick up though, so there’s not as much sustain.
Otis sent us over to his channel. I hadn’t heard of Tom before seeing him on this channel. Great story voice, as you said. He also has just the greatest expression on his face when he plays.
Man I get out of work and see this…I feel better already. Uncle Larry is my favorite person on UA-cam. Best content creator I’ve ever come across. Your channel is really awesome too Otis 🙂 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
Great perspective. Very interesting, and about the acoustic guitars. And absolutely right about it being all about the singing. The Get Back doc really grew on me. Hard to grasp at first, but it really blew my mind over all. I'm a backline guy, so the even all the tech stuff was fascinating to me. I enjoyed the interviews Otis did with Keven before I watched Get Back, so that was really cool to have that perspective too. I don't think there's no way to overestimate Billy Preston's contribution to the effort, both musically, and to the over all vibe. Might have been how the final edit presents, but IMHO everything turns around and moves forward when Billy shows up.
All your stuff is cool, no doubt. However I've '"discovered" Mr Bukovac and Several others all damn Good from you Otis, THANKYOU! I've viewed many of Tom's videos & really dig so much about Tom! SO both'yall AND the subject matter makes this Top Shelf of your stuff I really, really love! Thanks Otis!
I absolutely love all your Beatles-related videos. I couldn't agree more about the rooftop concert. It really struck me how John, especially, got his act together for that performance. He went from sort of jerking around half the time in the studio to being the same John Lennon that awed tens of millions watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show in February '64.
Excellent! Finally you got it, Paul was actually the one that really cared and was more evolved, Lennon...a true co-dependant of the rest of them, George frustrated etc, and Ringo actually quit! Paul is the one that kept the train rolling
I could listen to interviews of Tom Bukovac all day long. I am not a musician so the technical jargon goes over my head but he is a great interview. By the way the is a great book called "Beatles Gear" and a 5 volume series called "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual" which detail all of the technical recording equipment (instruments and microphones) the Beatles used for all of their studio sessions.
I never wanted to spoil their magic in my heart of hearts, I haven't watched it yet. They mean too much to me. When I was 8 or 9 I was smitten by the Beatles after seeing Hard Days night. Ran straight home and begged my Dad to let me have his Sears silvertone.
Paul was the freaking man in that documentary! Totally moving the process forward, like a bandleader. Also… dude’s fashion sense was timeless. One could rock that look today and look great! Also, I feel ya, Tom, regarding crying at everything once you have kids. What did I get myself into?? 😞
I would love to hangout with ole Unkle Larry and drink some whiskey and talk music . Unk looks so damn relaxed here LOL . That cozy fire going , ole T B has the YuengLEAN HAHA . He works hard , takes care of his kids . He deserves to knock a few back and relax .
Tom's observation on those Gibson J-160's is spot on. Years ago I eagerly grabbed one of the wall at the Gibson Showcase at Opry Mills and began strumming away....and i was stunned to find it completely uninspiring and very quiet. I persisted for ten minutes or so until i caught the eye of my friend who had been wandering around the store . She gave me a really ugly look????I I said what ????? She said I don't like that guitar ! But this is the guitar that the Beatles used on many of their early records . She said.....I don't care it doesn't sound good ! And to be honest.....I was already thinking the same thing ! I've tried a few others since then with the same result . Uninspiring and no volume . I don't know how they recorded those guitars to get such a great sound ? It really is a mystery . If i were a Beatle and was looking for a guitar that would inspire and record well.....the J-160 would not be it !
Great comments! That moment during the first try of Get Back, when it breaks, they all jump with elation. My favorite moment. There was way more sweat in the process than I ever imagined. Those guys worked really hard, maybe harder than everyone else.
Agreed exactly 💯! My faves were John and George, but it was Paul and Ringo that held them together as long as they were, and Billy Preston at the end. That concert on the roof was epic!
Tom, I appreciated your take on the perennial question of "favorite Beatle". Of course, it is sort of silly to even ask such a subjective question, but I will say that Paul was/is a musical genius by any measure. But the movie also showed how much more self-aware and emotionally mature he was. Regardless, I feel pretty lucky to have been alive during their heyday and have such a body of work to look back upon and enjoy from time to time.
I love hearing Toms stories and perspective. Hes played with so many big names in so many styles live and studio, i think he brings more knowledge and interesting things than the bands themselves, cause guys like him sort of take a peice with all of them with him. Being a barely decent bass player and well aware of my limits, i could only dream of being in a successful band for a living. Just cant imagine how great it would be to play music for a living. But after hearing all these great stories from Tom, now im not so sure being in one band would be the best. As if i ever had any choice anyway, nevertheless, i really wonder now if being able to experience playing with so many greats and so many styles would have even been better than playing in just one band. The fame was never the fantasy for me. It really was wishing i had the ability to play about anything with anyone. That actually sounds much more interesting, challenging and just plain fun to me. And never dreamed of multi millions, just enough to live comfortably while playing with all sorts of bands and artists. The fans might not know who you are, but you can beat some of the greatest to ever grace the stage and our radio know him well. That to me seems more rewarding than staying in one place (or two or three) your whole life. Who knows, maybe its why really talented guys like Tom choose this route.
Ha, I was in the same boat. I'm a lifelong Beatles nut - I was three and a half when they went on Ed Sullivan, but was already becoming a music fan even before that. Once I saw and heard them I was hooked. For me there has always been The Beatles and then everyone else. But like Tom, when 'Get Back' came out I wasn't in any big hurry to see it. I'd already seen 'Let It Be' years before, which was a bit of a disappointment because so much of it focused on the negative stuff. A friend's daughter (also a Beatles nut) asked me if I'd seen 'Get Back' and I told her I didn't have Disney+, so she gave me her ID and I watched it over a couple of days. Having already seen 'Let It Be' made me appreciate 'Get Back' that much more. To see the development of so many different songs was incredible, and all the little jams they'd do, all the interplay between everybody there. A great piece of history. I'll watch it again eventually. I've said this many times, and I'll say it again - my life would have been different (i.e. lesser) without The Beatles. No exaggeration.
I agree completely... For me it was amazing ..how all through the series ...you never heard anything that would lead you to believe that they would create that Magical Sound on the Rooftop. The Vocals on "One After 909" and "Don't Let Me Down", are amazing, magical, and so strong. But I was so sad after I watched it,, because it felt like they broke up all over again.. .. I think Paul's acoustic was an Epiphone in the early days.. but not totally sure..
I'm becoming a Colts fan from listening to these Uncle Larry videos. I knew Jim Irsay was a different kind of owner, but had no idea he was as cool as he sounds.
i dig this cat mucho esp for a name id not known till otis thanks yall julesy otis is here for the next one caught back up after recovering from putting on saint john prine tirbute day mon in the santa fe film festival glad i had these and doug sham to help me recoup some life force lol as ever many thanks SJOCR
IMHO - they were all about songwriting and singing- the J-160E allowed Lennon to exhibit his new song composition to the band with just plugging in. In similar fashion I'm convinced they used Hofner Beatle Bass, and Epiphone Casino guitars on tour in 1966 because they could compose in hotel rooms acoustically - without amps
Same here...when they came around in 64 I never cared about other singers....I never got into anyone else until after 1970. ..then everyone else came along including the Stones.
Love these videos with Uncle Larry. His insights and stories are so interesting. Hope to see more of them on your channel, Otis. Thanks for putting them together.
Man, you are killin it with the Beatles love. Mind blown that Tom said something that I have been thinking about - Get Back really made you reassess your perception on the lads. Then mind double blown that he’s played George’s SG - that guitar and Rocky are the most defining tone of the Beatles … sorry, Lucy.
Paul and Ringo should hook up with Tom Bukovac, Alan Parsons at the board, and record an album that would cause a rift in the music/time continuum and bring back the greatness of music through a cosmic wormhole and save the universe from autotune and soul-less recycled formulaic production.
Good point on the acoustically quiet J160e, but plugged in> look out! All those songs. It is the one guitar used on every record, for the record. No pun intended.
I think this is the acoustics the 4 lads used... 1965 Epiphone Texan Flat-top-79, 1967 Martin D-28, Gibson J-200 , J-160E, and a 1965 Martin D-28 Cheers Fellas
I remember reading a story (30 years ago?) about a guy in Arizona that answered a "Martin guitar for sale" ad. He went to the address and it turned out to be Paul selling a D-28 I think. Maybe too loud? :^)
I am glad to know that I didn't get a bad 160. I thought I would love it but I have never warmed to my Gibson J160. I thought maybe something was wrong with mine but it was described to a T.
Tom has a lot of great points here but the one regarding the Gibson j160e was so great to hear it is the most un-acoustic guitar i've ever played. it's funny from seeing the Beatles play those back in the day, I thought they had to be part of the magic but then I played a bunch of them and i was like these are awful. It's funny he brought this up.
I interviewed the red headed kid (Kevin Harrington) who carried all of The Beatles' gear up on the roof. He's a great guy and I think you'll dig it. Here's one of the videos. ua-cam.com/video/DQ5H8spatu8/v-deo.html
I saw that when you posted. He's a funny guy, but a great voice on the history of the Beatles.
What a charming guy! How the heck does one get to be a roadie with the world’s greatest band? I’d love to hear that tale.
That's a great interview.
Watched the interviews with Kevin. Loved hearing his anecdotes relating to his front row seat at the greatest show on earth, the Fab Four… Keep up the great work Otis. Your videos are a musician’s wet dream. 😎
Tom is as good a story teller as he is a brilliant musician.
I love me some more Buko please !
My biggest takeaway from Get Back is that Paul was constantly giving direction to John and George, but not once to Ringo. Ringo intuitively knew the perfect groove for each song. Mad respect for Ringo.
He most certainly did give direction to Ringo, and you can see it in 'Get Back' - at one point he says something like, "And you must play this on the cymbals" (it might be with regard to 'Let It Be', but I cannot remember).
Yeah, he did give direction to Ringo but not as much as say with George and John. But to your point I think you were probably amazed as I was how he came up with unique drumbeats that nobody but Ringo would have come up with given the riff or little bit of the song he was shown, and it completely transformed the song as we know it today. Can’t remember the specific song, it was big and it was amazing to see the genius of Ringo.
Everyone forgets how young the Beatles were when they were creating some of the best music ever.
I remember as a kid a new Beatles album would be released every year it seems and each one sounded like a different, but better band. It was the best time to grow up, imo.
I'll be seventy in a few weeks and and am a lifelong Beatles (and Stones) fan, I saw them live all three weeks on the Ed Sullivan Show and play bass because of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', which was their first American hit single in early 1964. Every single they released sounded completely different than the preceding one, it was a magical time to be alive, Beatlemania was amazing to live through. I believe the 60's ended the day we all found out they had broken up. It was unbelievably depressing, but we all clung to the 'fact' that they would get together again someday. When Lennon got assassinated we mourned him and also mourned the fact that The Beatles would never again play together, the dream was over. We do have their music though.
I felt exactly the same way about the 60s ending when they broke up. Life was suddenly a little darker.
I remember the 1st show on Ed Sullivan, I might have felt we had just watched a Really exciting Show, but the memory that sticks out the most was my Parents, esp. MOM, oh my Gosh look at their Long Hair. My Dad might have said they all look like MOE of the 3 Stooges. LOL. I did not become a BIG FAN til about 66, but remember those Times so well, the anticipation for the next Record.
@@ksharpe10 I fell hook, line and sinker right after my cousins showed me 'Meet The Beatles'; being the ten year old little brat I was I said I didn't like them (without hearing them) but that planted the seed and shortly afterward I was hooked, still am.
Love hearing from Tom. I agree, the rooftop performance was awesome. I don’t know why, but I was also struck by the bit where George was helping Ringo write “Octopus’s Garden”. It was a cool moment.
The Billy Preston comment is soooo on-point. I love the part in the doc where he shows up and sits down at the piano and just fits right in and elevates the whole thing. It was like he lightened the whole vibe- "no big deal, man let's just play some music" The camera cuts to Paul (I think?), and he just gets this huge smile on his face like "Goddamn, this guy is GREAT".
Yes, that was amazing, they were somewhat floundering and a bit down at that point and right after he sat down at the electric piano it was beautiful-so cool. Everybody lit up with that great vibe--yeah Paul was grinning! All that time Billy played with Ray Charles I think rubbed off on him because there's that "I'm here to make it happen and support you guys regardless, show or tell me the changes". Love that!
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I was amazed and loved every minute of Get Back. I did not go in with any preconceived notions that they walked on water, or split the seas. I knew they were 4 guys who just loved music. All 4 were songwriters, and all 4 had normal amounts of brat, adolescent angst, and personal shit. I was just so happy to get a glimpse of them being them.
They were truly Blessed, 1 by the 5th Beatle George Martin, and by the GOD you mentioned, the one who walked on water, or split the seas. And it was a Blessing To Us.
I'm with Tom. I've loved the Beatles music since I was literally a baby. When I uttered my first syllables, some of the first words out of my mouth were, "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah". I know this because my mom recorded it. 😄 It's the pure genius of the instrumentation and their use of sound that gets to me more than anything else. I'm in awe every time I listen to their music.
Listen for the use of the PLATE reverb on their Records. George Martin really knew what he was doing. And the Gibson was a plugged into their AC30 Vox amps, and Miked, most likely at least it sounds like it.
Holy shit man. Out of the millions of Beatles conversations that have taken place, the soft playing acoustic guitar because of being singers is by far the most interesting points ever made about them.. Cool.
Yeah that was truly original, but he neglected that the Gibson with the pickup was Actually miked up into their Vox amps. and recorded that way. Listen to some of those old songs, they sound pretty Good.
I like Tom's "glass half full" attitude on life. His look at the Beatles warms from that kind of view.
Yeah I used to think of Paul as kinda the more pop, lightweight element of the band but Christ that guy was amazing.
Alright Otis! You got some gems of interviews with Tom, man. Best assessment ever of The Beatles in general but of the Get Back documentary especially. Billy Preston absolutely brought about a million percent to those sessions and the rooftop performance.
Thank you, Otis!
I appreciate Tom's insights and his appreciation for The Beatles and music in general.
Great stories and interview as always
Be good to you 🤍💛
I can listen to Tom all night long!!! Thank you so much for tuning me into him and his channel ✌️😎🙏
Great insights by Tommy as usual. His take on those crazy quiet acoustics and them being able to sing over them is gold!!
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How in the world did I miss this one!! Bravo to you both!
Awesome! Thank you Otis & Tom!Great cool vibes from both of y’all 😎✌🏼
He really nailed the essence of that movie. Well said.
what a wonderful and insightful interview. I really enjoyed his comments about the prominence of singing requiring low volume of the instruments.
loving these Buk vids Otis. new here, and like many, i could listen to Buk talk all day long.
Loved hearing this.. Tom for president!
Paul has always been my favorite Beatle but I love them all. What a unit! And they rocked live too!
❤ always always appreciate your content Otis, and without saying Tom Bukovac is my favorite guitar player and I like the way he presents musical life on video, and now I have to go watch the rooftop concert, but that’s a good thing
Our dear, sweet Uncle Larry is just the best. So insightful and deeply experienced, yet always with that child's sparkle in his eye. On the J-160E, if Jerry Hammack got it right in his The Beatles Recording Reference Manual, referring to A Hard Day's Night, Norman Smith blended an acoustic signal with an amplified signal "to create a unique acoustic guitar tone." One of the many things which are so impressive about the rooftop performance was John's lead on Get Back. Ever try to play it? Damned hard to do and is yet another example of John's sense for unusual rhythm and that incredible right hand of his.
Love that lead, its so perfect
Thank you Tom, i enjoy your video's. BTW, regarding your comments about the rooftop performance- i am almost sure in the movie Paul stated that The Beatles were always at their best when their backs were against the wall. Paul was sure right about that. To me and for me also being a HUGE Beatles fan that movie was just amazing. The clarity was so great that it made you feel like you were in the room with them, and that it was made yesterday not 50 years ago. The most amazing thing is - how in the hell could anyone other than The Beatles do what they did- to say OK we are going to come up with about dozen new songs and we have to do it in 3 weeks. Then not only do they pull it off but also a handful of the songs become ICONIC Masterpieces that are still being played and loved on TV and radio around the world to this day.
The Astonishing thing to me is a couple weeks later they go in to Record Abbey Road. And who has Arguably the 2 best Songs on the album, George. here comes the sun, SOMETHING, but back then ALL the SONGS even the MEDLEY were played on the Radio, not like today, we get Gipped today. And music artists are the ones being hurt by it too.
Paul was asking john how his songs were coming along and john said , u know me im best when me back is against the wall.
Yeah very good point. And from An audio engineer perspective they follow that in the “mix” as well. Vocals are way up front, and then bass is actually louder and more prominent than the guitars and even drums too (except the snare on SOME songs). And the only times the guitars get pushed up front is during the little interlude “hook” parts that temporarily become the focal point. Then after that’s gone it’s back to vocals bass in front. And that’s why you never have any problem singing along to Beatles songs.
I know Chuck Berry wrote the book on Rock'n'Roll guitar licks, but John Lennon's guitar line on Get Back is the best. Dirty, slinky, immortal.
I had watched the first 2 episodes of the "Get Back" documentary and to me it was excruciatingly painful. I wasn't going to watch the final episode but Tom has given me a different perspective on it so now I will. Great interview Otis!
Yep. Very astute and honest and frank, perceptive comments. Get Back--what a great contribution, perhaps the greatest, about the Beatles' process and relationships. Great comments--thanks to Otis and Tom. Thanks.
I agree with Tom about Paul, "let's get down to biz!" On the other hand, a friend of mine saw him as a taskmaster (?)
Fantastic interview!
The roof top....much respect. Considering the compromise that it resulted from. Wow!! Plus, it was dang cold!! I wish they showed more of the shlepping of equipment up there. Twins weigh a ton!!!
Once again, favorite interview.
I heard a producer say almost the exact same thing about working with The Rolling Stones. He said they would mess around and jam and play for hours and hours, and they sounded terrible, as bad or worse than amatures. And then all of a sudden, something would click, they'd hit a groove, and there they were, THE Rolling Stones in full glory, churning out another rock and roll masterpiece.
It's inspiring to hear these stories and learn that the greatest bands of all time were confident enough and loose enough to experiment and just let things flow. They didn't try to make gold or turn rocks into diamonds, but rather just panned and mined patiently until the precious metals and gems were uncovered. That is a genius of its own kind, as is the ability to edit and recognize what's great. Separating the wheat from the chaff without getting too attached to the chaff.
Always love these interviews Otis, and Uncle Larry is a GREAT storyteller (and even better musician). Thanks for bringing these to us. 🤘🤘🖖
Another reason for me to like Tom! I feel and see the same things!
Gibby 160e, those ones that the Beatles used were laminate back and sides and ladder bracing…if you try a solid wood one and x bracing they sound pretty good, the scale is a bit long because of the pick up though, so there’s not as much sustain.
Tom has the coolest voice ever !
Otis sent us over to his channel. I hadn’t heard of Tom before seeing him on this channel. Great story voice, as you said. He also has just the greatest expression on his face when he plays.
Man I get out of work and see this…I feel better already. Uncle Larry is my favorite person on UA-cam. Best content creator I’ve ever come across. Your channel is really awesome too Otis 🙂 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
I love the part when George is working Octopuses garden with Ringo
Bwahahahaha, lol when Tom goes in on the Hard Day's Night Gibson acoustic guitars; this was so good
So very cool, Thankyou. Such an Amazing Storyteller. Cheers
Otis Gibbs + Tom Bukovac = Genius + Kindness + Experience + Joy of Life. Thank you, guys, for making life better than it is. Roar.
Great perspective. Very interesting, and about the acoustic guitars. And absolutely right about it being all about the singing. The Get Back doc really grew on me. Hard to grasp at first, but it really blew my mind over all. I'm a backline guy, so the even all the tech stuff was fascinating to me. I enjoyed the interviews Otis did with Keven before I watched Get Back, so that was really cool to have that perspective too. I don't think there's no way to overestimate Billy Preston's contribution to the effort, both musically, and to the over all vibe. Might have been how the final edit presents, but IMHO everything turns around and moves forward when Billy shows up.
I was about to be blown away if uncle Larry started talking about jamming with John and George LOL.
A fellow Ohioan. Very cool. He hits the things that hit me in the Get Back doc. Makes me want to see it again.
All your stuff is cool, no doubt. However I've '"discovered" Mr Bukovac and Several others all damn Good from you Otis, THANKYOU! I've viewed many of Tom's videos & really dig so much about Tom! SO both'yall AND the subject matter makes this Top Shelf of your stuff I really, really love! Thanks Otis!
I've just started watching some of your more recent videos, and they're just great. Thanks Tom, for sharing your deep knowledge!
Totally agree with the J 160E insights. That is some magic recording technique to get them to sound like they do on the LPs.
Truely a high point in popular music !!!!
I absolutely love all your Beatles-related videos. I couldn't agree more about the rooftop concert. It really struck me how John, especially, got his act together for that performance. He went from sort of jerking around half the time in the studio to being the same John Lennon that awed tens of millions watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show in February '64.
Lovely @Otis Gibbs thank you hey Uncle Larry man!
Thanks guys, enjoyed it...
@otisgibbs thanks for introducing me to Tom B. Love these stories from him.
Excellent! Finally you got it, Paul was actually the one that really cared and was more evolved, Lennon...a true co-dependant of the rest of them, George frustrated etc, and Ringo actually quit! Paul is the one that kept the train rolling
I could listen to interviews of Tom Bukovac all day long. I am not a musician so the technical jargon goes over my head but he is a great interview. By the way the is a great book called "Beatles Gear" and a 5 volume series called "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual" which detail all of the technical recording equipment (instruments and microphones) the Beatles used for all of their studio sessions.
I never wanted to spoil their magic in my heart of hearts, I haven't watched it yet. They mean too much to me. When I was 8 or 9 I was smitten by the Beatles after seeing Hard Days night. Ran straight home and begged my Dad to let me have his Sears silvertone.
I don't think you'll be sorry if you watch it. It's really good, especially for true fans.
Paul was the freaking man in that documentary! Totally moving the process forward, like a bandleader. Also… dude’s fashion sense was timeless. One could rock that look today and look great!
Also, I feel ya, Tom, regarding crying at everything once you have kids. What did I get myself into?? 😞
Love the rooftop concert..... Long live the Beatles!
I would love to hangout with ole Unkle Larry and drink some whiskey and talk music . Unk looks so damn relaxed here LOL . That cozy fire going , ole T B has the YuengLEAN HAHA . He works hard , takes care of his kids . He deserves to knock a few back and relax .
Tom's observation on those Gibson J-160's is spot on. Years ago I eagerly grabbed one of the wall at the Gibson Showcase at Opry Mills and began strumming away....and i was stunned to find it completely uninspiring and very quiet. I persisted for ten minutes or so until i caught the eye of my friend who had been wandering around the store . She gave me a really ugly look????I I said what ????? She said I don't like that guitar ! But this is the guitar that the Beatles used on many of their early records . She said.....I don't care it doesn't sound good ! And to be honest.....I was already thinking the same thing ! I've tried a few others since then with the same result . Uninspiring and no volume . I don't know how they recorded those guitars to get such a great sound ? It really is a mystery . If i were a Beatle and was looking for a guitar that would inspire and record well.....the J-160 would not be it !
Great comments! That moment during the first try of Get Back, when it breaks, they all jump with elation. My favorite moment. There was way more sweat in the process than I ever imagined. Those guys worked really hard, maybe harder than everyone else.
Ringo has said on numerous occasions if it wasn’t for Paul, they would’ve made 5 fewer albums.
Agreed exactly 💯! My faves were John and George, but it was Paul and Ringo that held them together as long as they were, and Billy Preston at the end. That concert on the roof was epic!
Hey Otis. Of all the talking heads you have Bukovac is my favorite dude!
Tom, I appreciated your take on the perennial question of "favorite Beatle". Of course, it is sort of silly to even ask such a subjective question, but I will say that Paul was/is a musical genius by any measure. But the movie also showed how much more self-aware and emotionally mature he was. Regardless, I feel pretty lucky to have been alive during their heyday and have such a body of work to look back upon and enjoy from time to time.
So true about trying to sing over a band, worse yet when dynamics go out the window and things get really loud
Another great talk!
The Beatles are one of the best ever.But I still haven't seen the new show about them...
8:53 he made an excellent point and something I knew but never thought about until he mentioned it.
another great one!!!!!!
I love hearing Toms stories and perspective. Hes played with so many big names in so many styles live and studio, i think he brings more knowledge and interesting things than the bands themselves, cause guys like him sort of take a peice with all of them with him.
Being a barely decent bass player and well aware of my limits, i could only dream of being in a successful band for a living.
Just cant imagine how great it would be to play music for a living.
But after hearing all these great stories from Tom, now im not so sure being in one band would be the best.
As if i ever had any choice anyway, nevertheless, i really wonder now if being able to experience playing with so many greats and so many styles would have even been better than playing in just one band. The fame was never the fantasy for me.
It really was wishing i had the ability to play about anything with anyone. That actually sounds much more interesting, challenging and just plain fun to me. And never dreamed of multi millions, just enough to live comfortably while playing with all sorts of bands and artists.
The fans might not know who you are, but you can beat some of the greatest to ever grace the stage and our radio know him well.
That to me seems more rewarding than staying in one place (or two or three) your whole life.
Who knows, maybe its why really talented guys like Tom choose this route.
Ha, I was in the same boat. I'm a lifelong Beatles nut - I was three and a half when they went on Ed Sullivan, but was already becoming a music fan even before that. Once I saw and heard them I was hooked. For me there has always been The Beatles and then everyone else. But like Tom, when 'Get Back' came out I wasn't in any big hurry to see it. I'd already seen 'Let It Be' years before, which was a bit of a disappointment because so much of it focused on the negative stuff. A friend's daughter (also a Beatles nut) asked me if I'd seen 'Get Back' and I told her I didn't have Disney+, so she gave me her ID and I watched it over a couple of days. Having already seen 'Let It Be' made me appreciate 'Get Back' that much more. To see the development of so many different songs was incredible, and all the little jams they'd do, all the interplay between everybody there. A great piece of history. I'll watch it again eventually. I've said this many times, and I'll say it again - my life would have been different (i.e. lesser) without The Beatles. No exaggeration.
I agree completely... For me it was amazing ..how all through the series ...you never heard anything that would lead you to believe that they would create that Magical Sound on the Rooftop. The Vocals on "One After 909" and "Don't Let Me Down", are amazing, magical, and so strong. But I was so sad after I watched it,, because it felt like they broke up all over again.. .. I think Paul's acoustic was an Epiphone in the early days.. but not totally sure..
My takeaways from the film were exactly the same as his . Magic
That opening chord of Hard Days Night to me is the closest thing to musically describing hip hopeful manifest destiny in rock
Uncle Larry is the coolest.
Thank you, Otis.
The song ‘Because’ made me a beatles fan
Uncle Larry is a gift!
I'm becoming a Colts fan from listening to these Uncle Larry videos. I knew Jim Irsay was a different kind of owner, but had no idea he was as cool as he sounds.
Incredible. Uncle Larry never disappoints:
i dig this cat mucho esp for a name id not known till otis thanks yall julesy otis is here for the next one caught back up after recovering from putting on saint john prine tirbute day mon in the santa fe film festival glad i had these and doug sham to help me recoup some life force lol as ever many thanks SJOCR
Forgot all about that Get Back film. Just ordered the DVD.
I can't find that 8 hour Beatles DVD anywhere. Are you sure that thing has been released?
IMHO - they were all about songwriting and singing- the J-160E allowed Lennon to exhibit his new song composition to the band with just plugging in. In similar fashion I'm convinced they used Hofner Beatle Bass, and Epiphone Casino guitars on tour in 1966 because they could compose in hotel rooms acoustically - without amps
Same here...when they came around in 64 I never cared about other singers....I never got into anyone else until after 1970. ..then everyone else came along including the Stones.
Love these videos with Uncle Larry. His insights and stories are so interesting. Hope to see more of them on your channel, Otis. Thanks for putting them together.
Wow. if you ever saw The Beatles live the one thing that struck you is that they were LOUD.
Man, you are killin it with the Beatles love. Mind blown that Tom said something that I have been thinking about - Get Back really made you reassess your perception on the lads. Then mind double blown that he’s played George’s SG - that guitar and Rocky are the most defining tone of the Beatles … sorry, Lucy.
Paul and Ringo should hook up with Tom Bukovac, Alan Parsons at the board, and record an album that would cause a rift in the music/time continuum and bring back the greatness of music through a cosmic wormhole and save the universe from autotune and soul-less recycled formulaic production.
George Martin played a big part in getting their songs as good as they are.
No question about it.
Good point on the acoustically quiet J160e, but plugged in> look out! All those songs. It is the one guitar used on every record, for the record. No pun intended.
I think this is the acoustics the 4 lads used... 1965 Epiphone Texan Flat-top-79,
1967 Martin D-28,
Gibson J-200
, J-160E, and a
1965 Martin D-28
Cheers Fellas
I remember reading a story (30 years ago?) about a guy in Arizona that answered a "Martin guitar for sale" ad. He went to the address and it turned out to be Paul selling a D-28 I think. Maybe too loud? :^)
I am glad to know that I didn't get a bad 160. I thought I would love it but I have never warmed to my Gibson J160. I thought maybe something was wrong with mine but it was described to a T.
Buk’s the man. Ps. The answer to every one of his many headscratching questions is: “George Martin.”😎🤙🏽
Paul called it and said they would pull it off when they got up on the roof, and they did. He knew.
Tom has a lot of great points here but the one regarding the Gibson j160e was so great to hear it is the most un-acoustic guitar i've ever played. it's funny from seeing the Beatles play those back in the day, I thought they had to be part of the magic but then I played a bunch of them and i was like these are awful. It's funny he brought this up.