R.I.P. Sir George Martin
For Sir George Martin, It was all about trust.
Trust and a sense of adventurousness.
George Martin put his trust in four young musicians who were full of original ideas. He was 36 years old when they first walked into EMI studios to record ‘Love Me Do’. For that first recording session the group’s drummer was asked to sit out while a ‘professional’ played on a few takes. But for the second session, the group requested that their drummer be permitted to play – no ringers. The drummer completed their sound. George Martin put his faith in them.
Other producers who were at the helm back in the 60s when their group had recorded a hit song would usually offer only one suggestion: “Make the next one exactly like the last one, and we’ll get another hit!” But that would never do for George Martin. THAT would have been boring. And these four kids from Liverpool had all these influences … Elvis, Orbison, Motown … and they were writing original songs that held up when compared to those of their idols. He trusted them. He let them fly.
And, just as importantly, he trusted a whole generation of young ears. Folks like Dave Dexter, the self-proclaimed Jazz aficionado who handled the group’s records for Capitol Records in the U.S., didn’t get it. He thought that those rock and roll ‘kids’ were primitives. Let’s just soak the music in reverb! They’re not really ‘listening’ to it anyway, right? But George Martin did not think that way. He knew the kids were listening. They wanted to hear John’s mildly suggestive lyrics. They wanted to hear Ringo’s inventive fills, and George and Paul’s incredible dexterity on their respective instruments. And when a song called for strings or horns, well that was good. Make it happen. It was a sign of growth. The ‘kids’ would get it. He trusted the audience. And the whole WORLD was their audience. It still is, isn’t it? The Beatles knew what they were doing every step of the way. So did George Martin.
In tribute today, let’s all go and listen to some Beatles music. But I have one suggestion. Don’t sing along. And don’t leave it on as background noise while you work. (Though for many of us it IS essentially the background music to our lives.) For today … just for a little while, anyway … just LISTEN. Like you did the first time you heard it, when it first took you away. And perhaps say a quick prayer for the amazing man who said "Gentlemen, you have just made your first number one record!"
Thank you for putting your trust in those four scruffs from Liverpool.
Rest in Peace, Sir George.
Tony Traguardo 03/09/16
Trust and a sense of adventurousness.
George Martin put his trust in four young musicians who were full of original ideas. He was 36 years old when they first walked into EMI studios to record ‘Love Me Do’. For that first recording session the group’s drummer was asked to sit out while a ‘professional’ played on a few takes. But for the second session, the group requested that their drummer be permitted to play – no ringers. The drummer completed their sound. George Martin put his faith in them.
Other producers who were at the helm back in the 60s when their group had recorded a hit song would usually offer only one suggestion: “Make the next one exactly like the last one, and we’ll get another hit!” But that would never do for George Martin. THAT would have been boring. And these four kids from Liverpool had all these influences … Elvis, Orbison, Motown … and they were writing original songs that held up when compared to those of their idols. He trusted them. He let them fly.
And, just as importantly, he trusted a whole generation of young ears. Folks like Dave Dexter, the self-proclaimed Jazz aficionado who handled the group’s records for Capitol Records in the U.S., didn’t get it. He thought that those rock and roll ‘kids’ were primitives. Let’s just soak the music in reverb! They’re not really ‘listening’ to it anyway, right? But George Martin did not think that way. He knew the kids were listening. They wanted to hear John’s mildly suggestive lyrics. They wanted to hear Ringo’s inventive fills, and George and Paul’s incredible dexterity on their respective instruments. And when a song called for strings or horns, well that was good. Make it happen. It was a sign of growth. The ‘kids’ would get it. He trusted the audience. And the whole WORLD was their audience. It still is, isn’t it? The Beatles knew what they were doing every step of the way. So did George Martin.
In tribute today, let’s all go and listen to some Beatles music. But I have one suggestion. Don’t sing along. And don’t leave it on as background noise while you work. (Though for many of us it IS essentially the background music to our lives.) For today … just for a little while, anyway … just LISTEN. Like you did the first time you heard it, when it first took you away. And perhaps say a quick prayer for the amazing man who said "Gentlemen, you have just made your first number one record!"
Thank you for putting your trust in those four scruffs from Liverpool.
Rest in Peace, Sir George.
Tony Traguardo 03/09/16