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Audio Analysis of the Beatles Multitrack Masters

Posted Oct 11, 2009

While digging through Usenet, I stumbled on these three unidentified tracks that pick apart three of the Beatles' original multitrack masters, isolating and highlighting pieces from "She's Leaving Home," "A Day in the Life," and "Come Together." It's an astounding, and very listenable, glimpse into their recording process.

  • Multitrack Analysis of She's Leaving Home
  • Multitrack Analysis of A Day In the Life
  • Multitrack Analysis of Come Together

Unfortunately, I don't have any information about the source. In the "Come Together" one, they mention one of the narrators is named "Steve." Beyond that, I haven't had any luck finding where they came from. Can anyone identify them? I'd love, love, love to hear more.

Update: It's a BBC Radio 6 program called Record Producers: The Extended Cut, hosted by Richard Allinson and Steve Levine, that aired last month. Unfortunately, the original BBC broadcast is no longer available on their site.

34 Comments (Add Yours)

Oct 11, 2009
3:09 AM  
Tom wrote:

It's this, right?


Oct 11, 2009
10:15 AM  
Francis wrote:

I would love to hear the tax man session.


Oct 11, 2009
10:41 AM  
Matt wrote:

Thanks Andy !


Oct 11, 2009
5:31 PM  
Patrick Nielsen Hayden wrote:

Seconding Francis. I really, really want to hear the "Taxman" part of this, referred to in the "Day in the Life" section.


Oct 12, 2009
1:09 AM  
Sugarbear wrote:

HEADPHONES,HEADPHONES,GET YOUR HEADPHONES,More fuel added to the fire of the genesis of the Beatles and of the people they surrounded themselves with. I could have listened for hours of this.thanks for bringing this to us,the fans.


Oct 12, 2009
2:48 AM  
Ian Douglas wrote:

This is amazing. I wish the BBC would let us listen to the whole programme.


Oct 12, 2009
10:29 AM  
Zac wrote:

More more more!
I could listen to this stuff for a thousand hours.


Oct 12, 2009
11:00 AM  
Jerry wrote:

There are a lot of multitrack bits on the Purple Chick editions of the Beatles albums as well.


Oct 12, 2009
11:24 AM  
Brian wrote:

If you want to know how every single Beatles song was recorded, run and get a copy of RECORDING THE BEATLES. It costs $100, but is totally worth it. You can order it from http://recordingthebeatles.com/


Oct 12, 2009
12:19 PM  
Keith wrote:

I only listened to the "she's leaving home" analysis and was quite blown away. Of course George Martin was one of the Beatles. All I can say is sit and listen to that boy bands, girl bands and learn from the masters. Thank you for posting these recordings. Wonderful stuff !


Oct 12, 2009
12:50 PM  
Emmet wrote:

This is the most enjoyable thing I've encountered in quite a while. Thank you Andy.


Oct 12, 2009
1:10 PM  
Pedro wrote:

A fascinating look into the recordings. I sure wish more were available. Thanks for sharing!


Oct 12, 2009
2:15 PM  
Edmundo wrote:

not quite as exciting, but have you seen the youtube clip Deconstructing Sgt. Peppers? awesome.


Oct 12, 2009
2:17 PM  
illnoise wrote:

i'm so tired of the Beatles, but this gave me chills.

I think this is more of a testament to how much everything better woulda sounded if they'd played it a bit looser and not overproduced everything. The recording is all so nice and clear, too bad the final is so busy and muddy.


Oct 12, 2009
3:03 PM  
Johnny wrote:

That's not Mark Kermode? Crazy, it sounds just like him...


Oct 12, 2009
5:02 PM  
Anatol wrote:

awesome stuff! thanx guys!


Oct 12, 2009
8:31 PM  
silsurf wrote:

The entire show is available via torrent.

The Record Producers The Fifth Beatle - Audio Documentary - BBC 6Music via DVB-T
1 x 120 minutes episode - 128k - MP3 - Slimoo

The Record Producers profiles a man often labelled "The Fifth Beatle" - Sir George Martin.

Richard Allinson and Steve Levine examine his work as a producer, arranger and, through his experiments with sound, technical innovator. Highlights include the first chance to hear newly restored versions of the original master tapes for Please Please Me, along with analysis of the original multi-track of Come Together.

This programme also gives Radio 2 listeners the opportunity to hear some of the Beatles most famous songs in a new way. Because of the limitations of tape machines during the 1960s, it was necessary to either record or mix various instruments and voices onto the same track. Once they'd been committed to tape there was no way of separating them. But now, through the use of revolutionary software, listeners can hear some of these parts in isolation for the very first time.

In his exclusive interview, Sir George talks about various aspects of the studio and recording process, the albums Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road, along with a number of songs, including Strawberry Fields Forever, Tomorrow Never Knows and Rain.

Audio Format : MP3
Duration Approx : 120mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits


Oct 13, 2009
9:28 AM  
unrelated_says wrote:

The entire show is also available at http://rapidshare.com/files/292517781/The_Record_Producers_-_The_Fifth_Beatle_-_The_Extended_Cut_.mp3.html

Alas only 128kbps.


Oct 13, 2009
12:37 PM  
Ed wrote:

Awesome! Just totally Awesome!


Oct 13, 2009
3:14 PM  
golly gosh wrote:

You'll find the whole MP3 here :-

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d7d3850207f1f48895af63b7d44918aaad61dc7f2962ed58


Oct 14, 2009
6:39 AM  
Jim Myers wrote:

Does anyone know if George Martin has done a documentary like this? I would love to see (and hear).

Aside:
There was a documentary called "The Complete Beatles" from the 80's that was amazing. I keep waiting for it to be released on DVD.


Oct 14, 2009
12:42 PM  
Robbie wrote:

Yes - George Martin has done such a documentary, at least about Sgt. Pepper:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6327011555352513615#


Oct 14, 2009
5:36 PM  
gerard pawling wrote:

this is bogus - and chris carter of breakfast with the beatles agrees


Oct 15, 2009
12:50 PM  
Danni Collaterali wrote:

This is great, Thanx!
@Jim Myers: YouTube-User mitaka201 has uploaded all kinds of vintage documentaries, including "The Complete Beatles".
I compiled the 14 parts into an ordered playlist, watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=23AD108F9D5150C1


Oct 18, 2009
12:16 PM  
Marv The Blogger wrote:

This is brilliant! Hm... I'd love to get my hands on these stems.. how does one go about that? heh.


Oct 18, 2009
8:54 PM  
Like The Desert wrote:

@illinoise I'm one of those that rejected the Beatles when I was a kid, so I'm still always discovering the details of what the Beatles did to make amazing compositions. I love hearing stuff like this. And hearing their process is actually helping us with ours, although we are cheating and using Logic Studio and Reason 4. With the Abbey Road refills. So yeah, REALLY cheating.

Love this deconstruction stuff. Keep it coming.


Oct 19, 2009
9:28 AM  
fieldcrow wrote:

Beatle breakdown clips fantastic. thanks so much. must hear entire BBC program! only blog I've ever enjoyed. very interesting and eclectic.

and not snarky.

I'll be back.


Oct 19, 2009
1:36 PM  
101 wrote:

This is even better than pulling out the headphone jack half-way to eliminate the stereo mix! Great stuff.

George (M) was so integral, and apparently really level-headed, good influence all around. Sad to think his hearing has suffered to the point of preventing him from working on the 'Love' sessions'.

Thanks for sharing.


Oct 26, 2009
1:59 PM  
Sair wrote:

I have both versions of the George Martin Record Producers programme, held at my apple idisk storage, but they are not lossless. If you want an invite to download just let me know via email Andy. :-)


Oct 29, 2009
7:39 AM  
Andrew wrote:

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.


Nov 13, 2009
8:00 AM  
wiz wrote:

That was GREAT...sent it on and all me old lads agree.
Thank You


Nov 15, 2009
3:39 PM  
jim dunn wrote:

WOW! just WOW! great stuff and lots of fun here. Thanks, Andy.


Nov 20, 2009
3:11 PM  
Mark M wrote:

There are a lot of great bands that I admire. However every time I hear The Beatles, it just reconfirms in my mind that they are THE GREATEST band ever. Hands down. I'm in my 50's now and I listen to a lot of modern music. But I wonder if in my life God will ever again put together 4 individuals, each bringing just the right talents in order to create musical perfection. BTY do yourself a favor and listen to listener supported radioparadise.c-m


Nov 22, 2009
1:56 PM  
uauuuuu wrote:

uauuuuu that is amazing.... Congrats for the work.


 

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