Comments on: 12-Bar Original

By: Sergio Genzon

Sergio Genzon — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 17:54:09 +0000

There is mention that George Martin plays a harmonium on this piece as well as on The Word, which was also recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions. That is not a harmonium, which is an acoustic keyboard instrunent used in church as a replacement of the larger and more expensive pipe organ, and sounds more like an accordion. What Martin most likely played in both recordings is an electronic
combo organ, probably the Vox Continental that John Lennon used in live performances in 1965/66, also used on I’m Down. However, The Beatles did ues the harmonium on other songs like We Can Work it Out, Cry Baby Cry, Rocky Raccoon, etc.

By: Trennon King

Trennon King — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:27:14 +0000

I actually love the simplicity of that solo, it’s acceptable for blues

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 20:33:39 +0000

Paul.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 05:58:10 +0000

Who counts in at the start? “1234..”

By: T

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:01:06 +0000

Rightly as in correctly, left as in remain

By: T

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 08:58:50 +0000

It’s not really that wild, being literally 12 bar blues.

By: Ahmed Riad

Ahmed Riad — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 11:41:18 +0000

I think George plays a stratocaster and John his Epiphone.

By: Brandon Nelson

Brandon Nelson — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 14:04:07 +0000

Ringo said they rarely recorded in the studio when stoned because the music always seemed great at the time but never was that good on playback. I think this is an example. (Fits the timeline for their early days smoking cannabis.)

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 18:49:43 +0000

I’m listening to the full version now and that’s some fine lead guitar tone. Anybody know what guitar and amp? I’m gonna guess casino in an ac100? Sounds a little throaty to be a strat. It’s got that plunka plunka sound of a casino with dead or flat strings.

It’s really like CCR 3 years before CCR hit the shelves. If they worked on it more, it coulda made for a really nice Fogarty-esque jam. But instead it woulda been known as Harrison-esque. 😛

By: castironshore

castironshore — Fri, 22 May 2015 09:25:06 +0000

quite like “12-bar original” a cool wee instrumental, from what i’ve read it was an emergency standby for “rubber soul” if they didn’t have enough tracks.

Unfortunately harrison is no steve cropper but you can’t have everything.

By: Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 04:44:03 +0000

This song is…… Iffy. I listened to the seven minute version. It’s not one of my favorites, but I love all of them 🙂

By: Roland St Germain

Roland St Germain — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:20:40 +0000

12-Bar Original is by far the most boring Beatles track short of the original lead guitar solo on Yer Blues (to hear it, grab your copy of the White Album, and when the solo come on at the end, pan your balance knob (or slider) to hear only the left channel. Not exactly the tune you remember, is it? But then, you’ve got to admire how George Martin was able to fix it!

By: daddybcat

daddybcat — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:06:40 +0000

Rightly left?

By: vanityofvanitys

vanityofvanitys — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:14:17 +0000

Having you said that… I still find this “warm up” more enjoyable to listen to than most rock sounds that have been sweated over, polished up and released. Excellent musicianship does not really make the song, but composition does. That is why great bands can have a lousy song on their album, if the composition or melody is junk. Not too often if ever the case with the Beatles. Their compositions continue to amaze. I really do like this song, because it has a pleasant sound.

By: Johnny Boy

Johnny Boy — Tue, 27 May 2014 16:39:09 +0000

No one ever noticed Paul’s screams right before the last 12-bar part kick in (around 2;18 on the anthology version)!? It’s far from the microphone, but if you pay attention, you can clearly hear something like “Yeahhh, c’mon!”
Hope I add something new here 😉

By: vectisfabber

vectisfabber — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 11:00:57 +0000

This is an absolutely generic 12-bar of the type knocked out by every budding group in the country as a warm up. There is nothing exceptional about it apart from the fact that it is outside The Beatles’ comfort zone, and this fact is absolutely clear from the lacklustre performance captured on tape.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:15:08 +0000

Quite rightly left in the can at the time. Interesting to listen to once or twice, but far below the caliber of other songs being cut for Rubber Soul at the time. Might have been ok for an average rock & roll band of the day, but The Beatles were not your average band. Maybe the Stones could’ve used it as a sequel to “Now I’ve Got A Witness”.

By: vonbontee

vonbontee — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:55:16 +0000

It can be haerd in all it’s “glory” on the full 6-minute take.

By: RingoStarr39

RingoStarr39 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:30:05 +0000

Actually the Harmonium was muted on the Anthology 2 version. The only Harmonium in it is bleed through from the other instruments.

By: David

David — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:14:37 +0000

It’s a shame Paul didn’t overdub some rock ‘n roll piano. I don’t have very sophisticated equipment but I can’t hear the harmonium at all…