SOUND MAN: Remembering George Martin

Sir George Martin (photo credit:unknown)

2016 hasn't been so good about rock music with a lot of musicians passing away beginning from the latter part of the previous year with artists ranging from Scott Weiland to Lemmy and Glenn Frey.And the entertainment world was appalled once again with the passing of another rock icon,Sir George Martin who was the Beatles' producer at age 90.

The Beatles have always been known as the most popular and influential rock band of all time and space.They invented and revolutionized everything-from modern rock, hairstyle,band setting,recording and the way people listened.Considering those 13 albums which were known by everyone young and old to be one of the great rock n' roll treasures.But the fab four couldn't have done it all by themselves without the help of their producer who made their ideas into reality.Engineer Geoff Emerick has always said that John Lennon had a good imagination but it was George Martin who made life to those thoughts,considering the incredible sound the band has made in the studio particularly during the period when the band retired from touring and was at the highest peak of creativity in the latter part of the 60s.

George Martin produced almost all of the Beatles' albums except Let It Be in which he was only given a thanks credit.The said album was actually produced by Phil Spector who is currently serving a life sentence in prison with second degree murder charges of actress Lana Clarkson.Martin,on the other hand,have been considered by many as the fifth Beatle and is the subject of much dispute because some  Beatle experts are also considering Brian Epstein for that title.When the Beatles were rejected by Decca Records back in 1962,it was George Martin who decided to give the band a break when the group auditioned for Parlophone right after.Having trained in classical music and conducting,Martin knew that the band had a unique gift when he signed them up for a record contract and had concentrated first on the band's vocal harmonies,thus,hereby enhancing their own sound.He would later do arrangements on the band's albums as we have known them today.

 One of Martin's "special tricks" involves the mixing of these great albums in the studio.By the time Sgt Pepper was in its production phase Lennon was said to have approached him citing his song Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite,wherein he said he wanted to "smell the saw dust from the floor"-wanted to smell the atmosphere of the circus.The said song has been known to had had the most sonic manipulations in the legendary album wherein Martin had used calliope music mixed with tape loops and hammond organ.Other songs of that caliber was the piano solo of  In My Life from Rubber Soul,wherein he had slowed down his recording of the said piece and mixed it on the master tape-making the solo sound like it came from a mellotron.Many sound experts have been deceived for years believing it was a mellotron until Martin himself revealed his little 'secret'.

George Martin with Paul McCartney,1964(Getty Images)

When the Beatles broke up Martin busied himself in mixing the band's compilation albums in the seventies and has worked with several bands like the Jeff Beck Group,America and Cheap Trick.He got to work with Paul again when he produced the Wings' song "Live And Let Die" and had worked again with McCartney on his 1982 album Tug Of War as producer and arranger.Paul McCartney once mentioned in an interview that he would love to work with him forever and being spoiled by George Martin's generosity when it comes to creativity in the studio.One wouldn't forget the fact that it was Martin who had the idea to add the string arrangements to Paul's song Yesterday in which McCartney was reluctant at first.Martin convinced him to try it,promising that he would remove it if Paul doesn't like it and the result was perfect.Yesterday went on to become one of the Beatles' most beloved ballads and was in fact awarded by the Guiness Book Of World Records as the most covered song of all time.Going back to his work relationship and being a friend of McCartney's,Paul mentioned him several times during an interview 2005 when he compared him to producer Nigel Godrich who worked with him on his album Chaos And Creation In The Backyard.McCartney even described his small rift with Godrich citing that he was spoiled by Martin or perhaps missed his presence in the studio.Martin retired in 1998 due to hearing loss.Nevertheless,he still got himself involved in later Beatles projects with his son Giles taking over his duties.Having worked with other artists like the one mentioned above,one singer outside rock music's inner circle has her own story to tell on how George Martin made an impact to her career.The artist is none other than Celine Dion whom Martin has produced an album with as well.She later described in an interview on how she was honored and overwhelmed by Martin's presence considering his astounding resume and having worked with the Beatles.

George Martin passed away under natural causes and his death was mourned by rock musicians and Beatles fans across the globe.One heartfelt message came from none other than Paul McCartney himself who wrote this message on his facebook page:

I’m so sad to hear the news of the passing of dear George Martin. I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me. He guided the career of The Beatles with such skill and good humour that he became a true friend to me and my family. If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.

It’s hard to choose favourite memories of my time with George, there are so many but one that comes to mind was the time I brought the song 'Yesterday’ to a recording session and the guys in the band suggested that I sang it solo and accompany myself on guitar. After I had done this George Martin said to me, "Paul I have an idea of putting a string quartet on the record". I said, “Oh no George, we are a rock and roll band and I don’t think it’s a good idea”. With the gentle bedside manner of a great producer he said to me, "Let us try it and if it doesn’t work we won’t use it and we’ll go with your solo version". I agreed to this and went round to his house the next day to work on the arrangement.
He took my chords that I showed him and spread the notes out across the piano, putting the cello in the low octave and the first violin in a high octave and gave me my first lesson in how strings were voiced for a quartet. When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks. His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.
This is just one of the many memories I have of George who went on to help me with arrangements on 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Live and Let Die' and many other songs of mine.
I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him.
My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.
The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music.
God bless you George and all who sail in you!
Paul




Sleep well Sir George Martin  3rd January 1926-8th March 2016

(c) 2016 Keith Vernon Adagio


RELATED ARTICLES:

The Manager

The Roadie