The key change in "Here there and Everywhere"

[Wyllys]

Originally Posted by JonPR

Well yes, that's just why it sounds good. I mean, including the B they sing, as well as omitting the C# they don't.

Even though they played the C# themselves...

It's not just the B note, it's the B-C-B-B of "watching her eyes". Context.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Wyllys

It's not just the B note, it's the B-C-B-B of "watching her eyes". Context.

Sure, that's what I meant.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Bronsky

Best encouragement I ever received!
Thank you!

The more you study them, the more you realise that. They seem like Gods from a distance. The closer you get, the more you see they were just a bunch of totally obsessed teenagers, in thrall to rock'n'roll, sponges for any influence around, immune to any pressure to conform.

It's hard to imagine now the impact of rock'n'roll on 1950s teenagers, especially in the UK. When the music you heard on the radio as kids was of the "how much is that doggie in the window" kind, and then you hear Little Richard... that's going to blow the top of your head off. They didn't need drugs to turn themselves wild on those days. But then they had drugs too!! (The Beatles were on pills in Hamburg.)

You get a similar lesson the closer you look at Bob Dylan's influences, at how much he stole and assimilated, while also twisting it all his own way. It's that element of supreme self-confidence again. Like Lennon used to say to the others in 61-62 (whenever they were feeling down): "Where are we going boys?", knowing he'd get the reply: "To the toppermost of the poppermost, Johnny!"

Dylan himself said "open your eyes and ears and you're influenced". Implying, of course, that the wider you can open them, the more you'll take in. Geniuses are simply gluttons for influence!

[Wyllys]

It would be interesting to know who and what other bands were playing concurrently in Hamburg. Then there are those who give breakthrough credit to Sister Rosetta...who's being channeled these days by Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Wyllys

It would be interesting to know who and what other bands were playing concurrently in Hamburg.

AFAIK it was mostly other Liverpool bands, but none of them had the breadth of influence of the Beatles (they were basically just rock'n'rollers), and maybe not the same chutzpah. The German owner of a couole of clubs had had success with an earlier visiting Liverpool band, and wanted more of the same.

Originally Posted by Wyllys

Then there are those who give breakthrough credit to Sister Rosetta...who's being channeled these days by Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes.

Rosetta Tharpe was one of many visiting American blues and gospel artists who toured Britain in the late 50s/early 60s. But by the time musicians here saw her in person, they'd already absorbed influences from records. She would have been impressive for at least two reasons: 1, being female; 2, playing electric guitar. Shock value on both accounts in those days (let alone the energy and powerful voice).

EDIT: embarrassing typo fixed.

[Wyllys]

That would be Tharpe, I sink...

A clip of her on a rainy day in Old Blighty:

https://youtu.be/SR2gR6SZC2M

Contrary to "Back to the Future", Marvin and Chuck Berry got a lot of their stuff from her, not Marty McFly...

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Wyllys

That would be Tharpe, I sink...

Oops! Typo now corrected...