Comments on: Octopus’s Garden

By: candlemas

candlemas — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 21:06:47 +0000

Is that not John’s vocals on the Frankie Valli-esque “aaaaaaa”s starting at about the 1:34 point in the song?

By: Is there anybody

Is there anybody — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 18:31:07 +0000

Not as more than an interesting document.

By: Is there anybody...

Is there anybody... — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 04:30:53 +0000

It has valua of a friendly moment, and as a document.
And shows how primitive Ringo s original was.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 13:31:21 +0000

This little segment was always one of my favorites in LIB

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 05 May 2018 17:41:21 +0000

I swear I hear John singing

By: Is there anybody going to listen

Is there anybody going to listen — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 07:44:53 +0000

There´s one document of Ringo´s first attempts.
You can notice, how much the rest of the Beatles arrangements has improved the song.

By: biff roberts

biff roberts — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 11:48:50 +0000

nothing on this track remotely sounds like lennon, he isnt audible at all either guitarwise or vocally

By: Is there anybody going to listen

Is there anybody going to listen — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 22:40:35 +0000

P.s. The verse A second variation (shorter E, c#m, A, B run)) has a function as the song’s chorus.

By: Is there anybody going to listen

Is there anybody going to listen — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 22:27:08 +0000

On the surface the song appears simple, which it was before the Beatles (mainly George?) re-arranged it.
Verse A has two variations, shorter and longer, the middle eight or verse B starting by the vi minor grade of the key (c#m), i.e. these go on E major. The clever part, typical to the Beatles arrs, is the guitar solo section, which modulates to the key A major, and that part finishes in v grade of A, which is the E, which was the verse key – and as a transition chord before going back to verse, the chord B, which is the v grade of the verse key! Clever.
Harrison’s all guitar work is brilliant: the discant arpeggio pattern, solo and transition /break additions, all really tasty.
Good job, Beatles!

By: Lars Arvid Kollstrøm

Lars Arvid Kollstrøm — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 13:27:49 +0000

It’s a bit of a moot point where writing ends and arranging starts. One could call Octopus’s Garden a Ringo song, interpreted by George Harrison. Although, if you ever get the chance to see the Let It Be movie, you’ll notice that what Ringo presented to George was far from being the finished product. The middle eight [I’d ask my friends…] I seem to remember being completely missing, or at best unfinished.

The main verse was pretty much there, musically, but he only had words for the first one. That’s how I remember it, anyway.

By: yannboyer

yannboyer — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:32:17 +0000

Yellow submarine is NOT unisson oriented!! 3 parts harmony…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 18:29:27 +0000

The Boss is here…

By: Sgt. Pepper 67

Sgt. Pepper 67 — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:02:15 +0000

I only hear John singing backing vocals during the Chorus, Solo and the Coda.

By: Sgt. Pepper 67

Sgt. Pepper 67 — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:59:24 +0000

I only hear John singing backing vocals during the Chorus and the Coda.

By: Sgt. Pepper 67

Sgt. Pepper 67 — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:54:20 +0000

I hear two pianos in this song

By: judg3

judg3 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:53:21 +0000

Those chords are typical. You got the Emaj. And the next minor naturally does exactly what it does…sic’ C#m and then an A then B.
But I wouldn’t mind googling, Shostakovich. I never heard of him. I enjoy classical music. But I don’t know the names of very many composers.
I get lost after..Mozart..Beethoven. .Schubert..Bach…and..and..?? Ya know..
🙂

By: judg3

judg3 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:33:24 +0000

This is a late reply. I think Maxwell is pretty decent song. A lot of words in the song. It sits well with Octopus. Bith unusual songs for a “rock” band.
I’m aware of all growling and complaining by Lennon and Harrison. Especially Lennon. And sometimes I side with him.
All those takes and rehearsals. .etc.
But the sonic texture and the finished recording are great. That Moog is awesome. A lot of stuff going on in that song. And it’s smooth clean too. IMHO.
Thank God McCartney didn’t use Teddy Boy or something else as bad that he had on a back burner list during those days.

By: judg3

judg3 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:06:18 +0000

Sgt.P1909.
Yes pretty much. Actually, it’s sort of ddifficult to do.
I pulled it off a couple times in the late 90’s early 2000.
I’m not a “great” guitarist. I’m probably about equivalent to Lennon on guitar.
And I’m just guessing “pentatonic” from memory of when I played the run (from the Complete Beatle Scores book. By Hal Leonard) and also, years ago I’ve sort of went through Gtr Scales books. I still don’t know My scales per se.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 22:52:28 +0000

Sorry to those asserting that John did not sing on this track. He clearly sings on the backup vocals. Just use your ears, gents.

By: RM Hand

RM Hand — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:10:52 +0000

The guitar solo section switches to the key of A; and then back to the key of E for the last verse. I don’t know who thought of this but it’s brilliant.