Getting Better - Take 1 episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 1, 2017 · 2 MIN

Getting Better - Take 1

from BDJ's Cellar Full of Remixes · host BDJ

Here's a different (new!) mix of Getting Better. This song was featured (of course) on Sgt Pepper, following Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds.Getting Better is mostly a Paul song, although Lennon contributed significantly to the lyrics and the vocals.On March 9, 1967, recording started at Abbey Road studios. They first recorded the 'rhythm' tracks, including drums, pianet (Wurlitzer?), rhythm guitar and - some - bass. The bass is only heard when the pianet is not playing, suggesting that Paul played both instruments. Seven takes were recorded, the last one being labelled 'best'. This take 7 forms the basis of the version heard on Sgt. Pepper. However, on the 50th anniversary release of Sgt Pepper, also Take 1 of the rhythm track is included. It is remarkably lively, and appears to 'rock' more than take 7. Therefore, we used this rhythm track Take 1 and combined it with the vocals (recorded on 21 and 23 March). we also used the conga and piano in places.Notable differences are the prominence of the pianet in the mix, the absence of the high pitched guitar and the tamboura drone. The high energy of the track is probably also due to the speed: they played Take 1 significantly faster than Take 7. Take 7 starts at 118 bpm, increasing to 126 bpm at the end. Take 1 starts at 122 bpm, reaching 132 bpm at some points (Ringo's drumming is more uneven than in take 7).Musically, Getting Better combines aspects of other McCartney songs: the 'drone effect', a single note played for a long time, is also heard in e.g. Paperback Writer. The drone (a G note) is much more proounced in Take 7, since the high pitched guitar plays this note throughout (except the verses), as well as the tamboura (starting 2/3 into the song).Here, There, and Everywhere appears to be the model for the refrain ("I've got to admit...') It consists of rising chords, going up the musical scale step by step. This is much more noticeable on the pianet in Take 1 of Getting Better. Lennon would use this same sequence later in Sexy Sadie.Paul wrote this song on a piano, so it is no surprise the pianet is played throughout take 1, probably by Paul. Other evidence is that Getting Better is written in the key of C, a typical key for less experienced piano players; Paul could play the whole song on the white piano keys only!There is the well-known story of Lennon feeling ill after taking LSD, and George Martin taking him to the roof....This took place during the recording of the vocals on March 21, which may explain why some of the - backing- vocals sound slightly off-key.So here it is, new mix based on Take 1. Is it -compared to take 7- Getting Better?

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Getting Better - Take 1

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