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If I Needed Someone
Dear Mona and Lisa;
The intro of the song sounds exactly like the Beatles intro and I was wondering if it was really from the Rick. I have a Rick (a different model than yours…..I have a 330) and I have a hard time making the same sound from it……but, of course, your talent level far exceeds mine. My Rick sound is a little more “thinner” than the sound from the intro. So, I was just wondering if a different guitar was used for the intro. Sorry for being such a “gear-head”. Mike.
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32 Replies
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Oh, that was definitely the Rick. 😉 Played through an AC30 with reverb, delay and an ADT (automatic double-tracking) effect added to it to give it maximum jingle and Beatley vibes. ADT is something the Beatles used a lot, especially on their more psychedelic records. It gives it a bit of a richer, slightly “phasey” sound. Not sure if it was actually being used on the original guitar track for that song but it sounded fitting to us.
Also playing around with the different pick-up combinations changes the sound quite drastically. But you’re right, on its own, without some effects and especially without a whole bunch of delay, the Rick would sound a lot thinner.Hope that helps!
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Hi Mona;
Yes it does. Sounds like pretty high level enhancements to get the sound. Thank you so much for the answer. You are so kind. Mike.
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Good question Mike
Hi Mona
That helps me heaps too. I have since listened to this song several more times bearing your explanation in mind. A brilliant sound and it really has that sixties, wiry twang I like so much. The first time I became aware of double tracking was in the early seventies when I read how the Beatle’s “No Reply”, from their ‘Beatles For Sale’ album, recorded John Lennon’s vocals double tracked.
The following is from Wikipedia:
“’No Reply’ was written mainly by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is in the key of C major. The song form is standard AABA (verse-verse-bridge-verse), without a chorus as such, but including the refrain “No reply”. The main instrumentation on the Beatles recording comprises acoustic guitars (played by Lennon and Harrison on their Gibson J-160Es), bass guitar and drums. In addition to handclaps by all four members of the group, the overdubs included a piano part by their producer, George Martin, and electric guitar played by Harrison (he played his Gretsch, which is very subtle in the final mix but can be heard in the last chord). The rhythm over the song’s verses is partly bossa nova. The bridge, or middle sixteen, reverts to a standard rock rhythm. Lennon had intended to sing the higher harmony part, as this was the original melody. However, his voice had deteriorated due to excessive use, forcing McCartney to sing the part, and relegating Lennon to the lower harmony line.”I would love to hear a MonaLisa Twins cover of ‘No Reply’, and can well imagine Mona on acoustic guitar and drums and Lisa on bass while she seems to be enjoying it so much. I don’t think you would need any double tracking of your vocals and I’m sure either of you could tackle the higher harmony part.
One can dream I guess!
Key to listening: Headphones turned up loud and imagine Mona and Lisa harmonizing!
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That’s a nice song Howard. First time hearing it and I like it. I could imagine the wonderful possibilities Mona and Lisa’s harmonies could do for this song.
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Mona, those guitar riffs from your Rick throughout the song just sounded supremely sweet. I’ve listened to that song quite a bit lately on Rubber Soul, but your version blew me away.
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Did the Beatles use a good dose of Automatic Double tracking on their awesome “Norwegian Woods” too? I hear the wonderful twangy jingly sounds. I love this song, and I think some of the nicest Beatles psychedelic guitar sounds, maybe on par with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. I wouldn’t be surprised if Norwegian Woods is one of the songs on Rubber Soul album that had the biggest impact on Brian Wilson, a real ground breaking sound at the time, and the beautiful harmony
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Yes, this is a lovely song that is really pre-psychedelic period.
I think it had more of an influence on Bob Dylan than Brian Wilson though. Dylan responded to this track with ‘Fourth Time Around’, from his ‘Blonde On Blonde’ album, released in 1966.
Norwegian Wood was a landmark recording for The Beatles, being one of the first Western pop songs to feature the sitar, an Indian instrument. Those psychedelic guitar sounds you hear are more sitar than guitar, Jung.
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 12, 21 October 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman SmithJohn Lennon: vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
George Harrison: sitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
Ringo Starr: bass drum, tambourineLennon was asked about ‘Fourth Time Around’ in a 1968 Rolling Stone interview, and said this:
“I was very paranoid about that. I remember he played it to me when he was in London. He said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I don’t like it.’ I didn’t like it. I was very paranoid. I just didn’t like what I felt I was feeling – I thought it was an out-and-out skit, you know, but it wasn’t. It was great. I mean, he wasn’t playing any tricks on me. I was just going through the bit.”This is from Wikipedia:
“Fourth Time Around” was commonly speculated to be a response to The Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood” – written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for the 1965 album Rubber Soul – as the two tracks share a reasonably similar melody, lyrical premise, and 3/4 time signature. “4th Time Around” has been seen as either a playful homage, or a satirical warning to Lennon about co-opting Dylan’s well-known songwriting devices. Lennon expressed a range of opinions on this topic in interviews between 1970 and 1980. He initially felt it to be a somewhat pointed parody of “Norwegian Wood”, but later he considered Dylan’s effort to be more a playful homage. Still, the last line of “4th Time Around” (“I never asked for your crutch / Now don’t ask for mine.”) played into Lennon’s apparent paranoia about Dylan in 1966–67, when he interpreted this line as a warning not to use Dylan’s songs as a “crutch” for Lennon’s songwriting.”
“And when I was through
I filled up my shoe
And brought it to you
And you, you took me in
You loved me then
You didn’t waste time
And I, I never took much
I never asked for your crutch
Now don’t ask for mine.”“Both songs hold too many similarities to be seen just a coincidence. Dylan’s piece is a clear reference to Lennon’s intentions. We can see this exchange in a negative or positive light, perhaps Dylan wrote the song as a thank you to The Beatles for being inspired by his work. In all of this, the fans are the true winners, they can enjoy these two creations, which marked a key moment in the music industry.”
I would truly love to see the MonaLisa Twins attempt a cover of Dylan’s ‘Fourth Time Around’, featuring Lisa on acoustic guitar and Mona on harmonica.
“I once wrote a song or should I say the song found me. I rewrote a tune. It still sounds good, Norwegian Wood.”
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I meant to add. I would love for either Lisa or Mona to take on a sitar guitar for ‘Norwegian Wood’!
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Wow Howard, thanks for that epic insight. I guess I often mistake the guitar sound to the harpsichord and Sitar. 🙂
I agree, I think Mona and Lisa would be awesome with the Sitar one day.
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I can’t imagine anything the twins attempted they wouldn’t be good – excuse me AMAZING – at. Even the cooking show sounds hilarious to me.
I kind of just play my favorite songs and videos over and over then stumble across new covers (to me anyway) or new songs that I love. I hadn’t heard “the Night Before” until recently and again the beauty of their voices takes a good song and makes it better. It’s my vote for a new video. I listen to the music, but much more often have the videos playing in the background while working, etc.
Each new song, video, etc. just keeps “Getting Better”.
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John, well said. MLT are just getting better indeed. If you haven’t seen their cooking show, it’s definitely a must watch. You can catch it in the Advent Calendar 2018 in the TidBits section at the very bottom. The month of December 2018 was very special with all the special things MLT did with the Advent Calendar, making last Christmas that much more special.
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I think you and others will find this video very interesting Jung. Lisa and Mona may find it interesting too. “How The Beatles made “Norwegian Woods”.
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That’s an interesting explanation of Norwegian Wood Howard, thanks for sharing it. The lyrics at the end, “..I lit a fire, isn’t it good, Norwegian Wood” makes more sense with that explanation. That’s is art, taking a real life circumstance, positive or negative, and expressing it in a an emotional way either beautifully as the case with this song, or vividly to make a profound statement.
The last song on Rubber Soul, “Run for your life” sounds really catchy with great guitar sounds, Beatles genius at work, but the lyrics are quite morbid. Same principle at play here I think.
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I must say Jung that “Run for your life” has never been a favourite of mine. Mainly because of the lyrics. I could not imagine them being written by a Beatle today. Maybe a rap singer! They are not only misogynistic but today the ‘girl’ would be advised to take out an AVO against the writer. In my country, an AVO is an Apprehended Violence Order. In fact, In the early 1990s, the song was banned by Ottawa radio station CFRA for its misogynistic message.
Lennon designated it as his “least favourite Beatles song” in a 1973 interview and later said it was the song he most regretted writing. He also stated that it was one of George Harrison’s favourites on Rubber Soul at that time, despite Lennon’s dislike of it.
This is not a song I would be requesting Mona and Lisa record. Read these lyrics and then decide for yourself!
“Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or you won’t know where I amYou better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That’s the end’a little girlWell, you know that I’m a wicked guy
And I was born with a jealous mind
And I can’t spend my whole life
Trying just to make you toe the lineYou better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That’s the end’a little girlLet this be a sermon
I mean everything I’ve said
Baby, I’m determined
And I’d rather see you dead
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your…”John Lennon attributes his song to one written by Arthur Gunter and recorded by Elvis Presley in 1955 – “Baby, Let’s Play House”
“Now listen to me, baby
Try to understand.
I’d rather see you dead, little girl,
Than to be with another man.
Now baby,
Come back, baby gone.
Come back, baby gone.
Come back, baby, I wanna play house with you.” -
Really..?!… CFRA banned that.?!..Wow..I don’t think I’ve recalled any of our radio stns… CFRA included to ban a song that I’m aware of… Well something I learned of my stomping grounds I was not aware of before now… … Well I was kid back at that time… CFRA is no longer a music station… It’s an all news station now and interesting how you happened to mention Ottawa in your post?!… Lol…
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Just to clarify Jacki.
“Run for Your Life” was the first song recorded for Rubber Soul, on 12 October 1965; “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” was also recorded later that day. As with most other songs on Rubber Soul, McCartney sings the higher register of the three-part harmony.
The song was written primarily by John, who appropriated the line “I’d rather see you dead little girl then to be with another man” from “Baby Let’s Play House.” No doubt that John knew the Elvis Presley version of the song, which was written and done originally by Arthur Gunter.
Ian MacDonald criticized the vocal performance and added these comments about the guitar: “The guitar-work, some of which is badly out of tune, is similarly rough, the piercingly simplistic blues solo suggesting that the player was not Harrison but Lennon himself.”
One of the first acts to do the song after the Beatles version was Nancy Sinatra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQHRHIMOeHM
In the early 1990s, the song was banned by Ottawa radio station CFRA for its misogynistic message. When the radio station was asked if it had also banned Presley’s “Baby, Let’s Play House”, the program director confessed to not being familiar with that song. Upon listening to the Presley song, however, the program director banned it as well.
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Wow… Had no idea… Sounds like music director at CFRA back in the day at that time… Was anti-Beatles and/or 60s similar type songs in general….. We need to have good ol decent radio stns again that play all genres of real music… Not programmed stuff aimed at a specific age demographic….. This boggles my mind…. Wow!!!!
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I don’t think he was anti Beatles Jacki. It was purely to do with the very predatory aggression of the lyrics of those particular songs.
I can’t imagine Lisa and Mona writing anything this negative and hostile.
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