The Beatles did simple. They did complex. They did simple that sounded complex. They did complex that sounded simple. And they did it all magnificently.
OMG on this one! One of the most iconic rock songs of all time with perhaps the greatest bass-drum performances on any recording. Amazing John song with incredible performances by Paul on bass and Ringo on drums.
One of my favorite Beatles stories was Paul telling back when he and John were just beginning to write their own songs. Paul said that one December evening he and John were walking through his neighborhood heading to his house for a writing session. Paul said they finished up close to midnight, and he decided to walk John back home. On the way back, they passed by a house when John said “Man, do you see those people over there still outside playing cards at this hour” ? Paul said he looked over and saw a nativity scene set up outside the house John was looking at. Since John was virtually blind without his glasses (and refused to wear them), he thought there were a group of card players outside this house that hadn’t moved for the several hours since they had passed them by earlier. Paul said he cracked up laughing and never forgot it.
Next song....Oh Darling........or....Got to get you into my life.........Super reviews....love your work and indepth reviews......,both of those songs are fire
My favorite track of all-time since the first time I heard back in '69. Each member doing what they do best. A perfect balance of the elements. It is unlike anything before or since, but that was standard for this group.
Paul's bass line in this song has to be one of the most iconic and recognized bass lines in music history. How he and Ringo "locked in" on this song is incredible. The bass line and the drum fills just stand out at the beginning of this song. A masterpiece of a musical backing for John's amazing vocals with Paul doing backing vocals by doubling with John on some of John's vocal lines.
totally agree - outstanding skill and vision on display. Also Paul's bass on Something is sublime. Turn up load and listen to the bass like you've never heard it before ❤
@@twj2002 you're way past my pay grade dude! Would have to hear the demo you are referring to and compare to the finished mix. I am certain there was a lot of evolution to the song along the way.
@@DJBilodeau I probably am passed my pay grade, but my ears hear the basic handclap shoot me intro from John. of course the end product was a little bit different but the basic essence of Paul’s bass line was John intro..
The electric piano part was by McCartney - to my ear, it sounds like he was feeling some influence from sharing the studio with Billy Preston earlier in the year.
Beautiful reaction program, Philip! It was definitely your Beatles reactions that brought me home to your channel. This one's the latest and one of the best!
Well, you considering this as one of John Lennon's most captivating performances says a lot, given how much a Lennon fan you are Philip, both with the Beatles and solo.
The monotone minimalism of the sound production is what gets me on Come Together, thanks to George Martin. The discipline it takes to do this! When I first heard this song in 1969 as a teenager, the opening bass/drums sounded very much to me like someone dialing "ZERO" on an old rotary phone - and it still does!
Interesting backstory about the lyrics of this little gem. Lennon was asked to contribute a song for the longshot campaign for Governor of California by "LSD guru" Timothy Leary, but the guy had to quit running after a marijuana bust landed him in jail. Since John had already started on the song he decided to finish writing it anyways, but it seems he opted more for a mocking theme of Leary rather than a supportive one. "Come Together" was actually the campaign slogan of Leary before he dropped out. I'm guessing that Lennon's loose use of language had to do with his being in the "Beat Generation", which I think is also why they called themselves The Beatles.
Yep. Leary shows up in the bed sit video for "Give Peace A Chance" if I recall correctly. Also, the following snippet is from a University of Delaware exhibition on the Beat Poets: "The Beatles and the Beats: Although its origins are somewhat obscure, the very name of the Beatles (changed by John Lennon from the “Beetles”) seems to be a sly allusion to the Beat culture of the late 1950s and early 1960s. As an art student in the late 1950s, John Lennon edited a homemade magazine called the Daily Howl, and he eagerly read Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Dubbed the “writing Beatle,” Lennon would publish his own book of verse in 1964. He later stated that had he not become a musician and songwriter, he might have been a “Beat Poet.” Both Lennon and Paul McCartney formed lasting friendships with Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. Beat artist Wallace Berman and Burroughs appear on the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. Brion Gysin and Burroughs’s innovative cut-up techniques also may inform the tape-splicing sequences featured in the album."
So! We discover that RINGO is your favorite band member? Interesting, and I can totally see that! John in an interview spoke of the fact that, long before the Beatles were famous, Ringo was already a star (pardon the pun) when he was a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, which was, at the time, the biggest band in Liverpool. So I get from John's remarks and those of the other Beatles they had the utmost respect for Ringo as a professional musician. In early Beatlemania Ringo was, by some accounts, the most popular of the Beatles as he was reported to receive the most fan mail of all of the Beatles. Pretty hard not to like Ringo for all of his aspects as a human being!
Lennon was going to be sued by the folks who owned the Chuck Berry catalog. Lennon ripped off Berry's You Can't Catch Me in Come Together. Instead of suing Lennon, they forced him to do his Rock and Roll album for them instead which they would market.
True, but rip-off is (I think) a bit extreme. While Lennon was definitely inspired by Chuck Berry’s original, the two songs are vastly different. If Lennon hadn’t borrowed a few lyrics like the ‘flat top’ line, I doubt the lawsuit would have been successful. You can’t win a lawsuit based on a blues chord progression. The courts would be clogged up for decades.
@@tomheim9516 Tell it to George Harrison who ripped of He's My guy. The entire beat, rhythmic structure and even the lyrics are direct rip offs. Play one against the other. It is unmistakable. Lennon played the original hundreds of times. The Beatles were incredibly influenced by Chuck Berry. If you have seen the way the beatles created, they would start with a riff, and continue to play around with it and then George Martin did his magic. But zero doubt the original riff for the song was straight out of Barry and so were John's original lyrics.
@@learnsteelguitarinretirement I’m sorry, are you talking about Come Together or He’s My Guy? If the former, I couldn’t disagree more. Not sure why you’re bringing in George Harrison, unless you’re attempting to paint the Beatles as plagiarists.
@@tomheim9516 They both were sued for plagiarism. By definition they ARE plagiarists. In the same way that Johnny Cash ripped off Crescent City Blues when he "wrote" Folsom Prison Blues. The same way Led Zepplin ripped off almost every chicago blues guy.
@@learnsteelguitarinretirement that’s like saying anyone who ever received a traffic violation is a criminal. Technically accurate but exceedingly misleading. The Beatles were known for their originality. If you label the Beatles as plagiarists, you may as well attach the same label to everyone.
The Ringo's drums, Paul's bass, George's guitar and Lennon's voice, every song, every time!
The Beatles did simple. They did complex. They did simple that sounded complex. They did complex that sounded simple. And they did it all magnificently.
Greatest of all time!
Best description of the Beatles that I’ve read in a while.
Perfectly said!
Great👏
Very well put. The Beatles had no genra. They did everything first and moved on.Wonderful comment.
Greatest musical act of all time! Glad you're enjoying them.
I can read joy on your face from the sheer genius of this song! No group like the Beatles, not before or since!
Ringos bad ass drum beat, Pauls amazingly groovy bass line and the vocals.. this is timeless.
These guys were all masters of playing to the song.
On John's delivery: Confident, effortless, enigmatic. Well said!
OMG on this one! One of the most iconic rock songs of all time with perhaps the greatest bass-drum performances on any recording. Amazing John song with incredible performances by Paul on bass and Ringo on drums.
"Master of musical minimalism. . .and groove"-wow!
I grew up to this must’ve heard it 100s times and it never bores me
"Mysterious and laid-back vibe"- yes, exactly!!!
This is one of the best reaction channels. You are insightful and appreciative of the music. Well done.
Wow thank you so much..you just made my my day with this comment
I love what Ringo did on this classic!
One of my favorite Beatles stories was Paul telling back when he and John were just beginning to write their own songs. Paul said that one December evening he and John were walking through his neighborhood heading to his house for a writing session. Paul said they finished up close to midnight, and he decided to walk John back home. On the way back, they passed by a house when John said “Man, do you see those people over there still outside playing cards at this hour” ? Paul said he looked over and saw a nativity scene set up outside the house John was looking at. Since John was virtually blind without his glasses (and refused to wear them), he thought there were a group of card players outside this house that hadn’t moved for the several hours since they had passed them by earlier. Paul said he cracked up laughing and never forgot it.
Next song....Oh Darling........or....Got to get you into my life.........Super reviews....love your work and indepth reviews......,both of those songs are fire
My favorite track of all-time since the first time I heard back in '69. Each member doing what they do best. A perfect balance of the elements. It is unlike anything before or since, but that was standard for this group.
Paul's bass line in this song has to be one of the most iconic and recognized bass lines in music history. How he and Ringo "locked in" on this song is incredible. The bass line and the drum fills just stand out at the beginning of this song. A masterpiece of a musical backing for John's amazing vocals with Paul doing backing vocals by doubling with John on some of John's vocal lines.
totally agree - outstanding skill and vision on display.
Also Paul's bass on Something is sublime. Turn up load and listen to the bass like you've never heard it before ❤
Wasn’t this bass-line basically created by John with his original demo handclap/shoot me intro?
@@twj2002 you're way past my pay grade dude! Would have to hear the demo you are referring to and compare to the finished mix. I am certain there was a lot of evolution to the song along the way.
@@DJBilodeau I probably am passed my pay grade, but my ears hear the basic handclap shoot me intro from John. of course the end product was a little bit different but the basic essence of Paul’s bass line was John intro..
@@twj2002 got it! Thanks for making that connection-learned something new!
I have a very distinct memory of riding in the car with my mom and hearing this on the radio. I was 8 when this came out.
wow..that was quite a long time ago
Such a groove !
Over a half century later The Beatles still telling us to ( Come Together ) !!!!! When are we going to start really Listening to This Group ?
The electric piano part was by McCartney - to my ear, it sounds like he was feeling some influence from sharing the studio with Billy Preston earlier in the year.
One of my all time favorite songs. Everything sounds so great. Loved your reactions .
Aren't those continuous drum fills from Ringo just perfect on this song? And the way he an Paul go back and forth-like from another planet musically!
Man these guys are good!!!!!
I may be wrong, but I believe that's Billy Preston on piano. I enjoyed listening to this classic song with you! 😊
Great reaction!
Another great analysis, Phil. I always love your thoughtful responses and articulate expression regarding what you've heard. 👍
Great reaction, It's such a great track from 1969!
Thank you for tuning in and for the comment
Beautiful reaction program, Philip! It was definitely your Beatles reactions that brought me home to your channel. This one's the latest and one of the best!
Fantastic review of a classic track from a classic band
Well, you considering this as one of John Lennon's most captivating performances says a lot, given how much a Lennon fan you are Philip, both with the Beatles and solo.
Ringo's drums on this one. ❤😊
Just like "I am the Walrus", a nonsensical song. Love it!
A few more Beatles classics with Lennon in lead to check out are "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Nowhere Man", and "I'm Only Sleeping".
all noted.. thanks for the suggestions and for tuning in
I know it looks like the channel's community pushed you to do this one-great! And they're absolutely correct; this song is essential Beatles.
The monotone minimalism of the sound production is what gets me on Come Together, thanks to George Martin. The discipline it takes to do this! When I first heard this song in 1969 as a teenager, the opening bass/drums sounded very much to me like someone dialing "ZERO" on an old rotary phone - and it still does!
🔥👍🏻
418 views in 4 hours. . .whew!
Interesting backstory about the lyrics of this little gem. Lennon was asked to contribute a song for the longshot campaign for Governor of California by "LSD guru" Timothy Leary, but the guy had to quit running after a marijuana bust landed him in jail. Since John had already started on the song he decided to finish writing it anyways, but it seems he opted more for a mocking theme of Leary rather than a supportive one. "Come Together" was actually the campaign slogan of Leary before he dropped out. I'm guessing that Lennon's loose use of language had to do with his being in the "Beat Generation", which I think is also why they called themselves The Beatles.
Thanks for the back story!
Yep. Leary shows up in the bed sit video for "Give Peace A Chance" if I recall correctly. Also, the following snippet is from a University of Delaware exhibition on the Beat Poets: "The Beatles and the Beats: Although its origins are somewhat obscure, the very name of the Beatles (changed by John Lennon from the “Beetles”) seems to be a sly allusion to the Beat culture of the late 1950s and early 1960s. As an art student in the late 1950s, John Lennon edited a homemade magazine called the Daily Howl, and he eagerly read Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Dubbed the “writing Beatle,” Lennon would publish his own book of verse in 1964. He later stated that had he not become a musician and songwriter, he might have been a “Beat Poet.” Both Lennon and Paul McCartney formed lasting friendships with Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. Beat artist Wallace Berman and Burroughs appear on the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. Brion Gysin and Burroughs’s innovative cut-up techniques also may inform the tape-splicing sequences featured in the album."
Listen to the ENTIRE 'Abbey Road' Album! This is the OPENING TRACK!
So! We discover that RINGO is your favorite band member? Interesting, and I can totally see that! John in an interview spoke of the fact that, long before the Beatles were famous, Ringo was already a star (pardon the pun) when he was a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, which was, at the time, the biggest band in Liverpool. So I get from John's remarks and those of the other Beatles they had the utmost respect for Ringo as a professional musician. In early Beatlemania Ringo was, by some accounts, the most popular of the Beatles as he was reported to receive the most fan mail of all of the Beatles.
Pretty hard not to like Ringo for all of his aspects as a human being!
Lennon was going to be sued by the folks who owned the Chuck Berry catalog. Lennon ripped off Berry's You Can't Catch Me in Come Together. Instead of suing Lennon, they forced him to do his Rock and Roll album for them instead which they would market.
True, but rip-off is (I think) a bit extreme. While Lennon was definitely inspired by Chuck Berry’s original, the two songs are vastly different. If Lennon hadn’t borrowed a few lyrics like the ‘flat top’ line, I doubt the lawsuit would have been successful. You can’t win a lawsuit based on a blues chord progression. The courts would be clogged up for decades.
@@tomheim9516 Tell it to George Harrison who ripped of He's My guy. The entire beat, rhythmic structure and even the lyrics are direct rip offs. Play one against the other. It is unmistakable. Lennon played the original hundreds of times. The Beatles were incredibly influenced by Chuck Berry. If you have seen the way the beatles created, they would start with a riff, and continue to play around with it and then George Martin did his magic. But zero doubt the original riff for the song was straight out of Barry and so were John's original lyrics.
@@learnsteelguitarinretirement I’m sorry, are you talking about Come Together or He’s My Guy? If the former, I couldn’t disagree more. Not sure why you’re bringing in George Harrison, unless you’re attempting to paint the Beatles as plagiarists.
@@tomheim9516 They both were sued for plagiarism. By definition they ARE plagiarists. In the same way that Johnny Cash ripped off Crescent City Blues when he "wrote" Folsom Prison Blues. The same way Led Zepplin ripped off almost every chicago blues guy.
@@learnsteelguitarinretirement that’s like saying anyone who ever received a traffic violation is a criminal. Technically accurate but exceedingly misleading. The Beatles were known for their originality. If you label the Beatles as plagiarists, you may as well attach the same label to everyone.