Why did Glyn Johns leave the Red Rose Speedway album?
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He was the original producer of the RRS album & then left abruptly in 1972. Anyone know why? He would have added an interesting take on the album, especially with his knowledge of Paul's strengths in the studio.
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One story has it that there was a lot of the naughty stuff being smoked at the sessions and the band wasn't focused on what they were doing and endlessly kept jamming,which didn't go down well with Glyn,who didn't even bother starting the tapes to record them. I do think that RRS would have been a better album had he stayed with the project.
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JoeySmith:
He was the original producer of the RRS album & then left abruptly in 1972. Anyone know why? He would have added an interesting take on the album, especially with his knowledge of Paul's strengths in the studio.
He left after one month, basically because he was annoyed by the band smoking too much pot. I included this John's quote in my book Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013): "One evening they (Seiwell and Laine ? author?s note) said, ?We?re not happy with you as a producer. You?re not taking any interest in what we are doing.? I said, ?If you think that everything you do is a gem of marvelous music, you?re wrong. And if you want to sit and play shite and get stoned for a few hours (...) don?t expect me to record everything you?re doing, because frankly it?s a waste of tape and it?s a waste of my energy." Original source: H.Sounes, Fab, An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney.
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Did he leave Get Back with The Beatles because of all the fighting within the group too? Or did he put up with that? I'm sure there was little smoking going on there also...
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Luca:
JoeySmith:
He was the original producer of the RRS album & then left abruptly in 1972. Anyone know why? He would have added an interesting take on the album, especially with his knowledge of Paul's strengths in the studio.
He left after one month, basically because he was annoyed by the band smoking too much pot. I included this John's quote in my book Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013): "One evening they (Seiwell and Laine ? author?s note) said, ?We?re not happy with you as a producer. You?re not taking any interest in what we are doing.? I said, ?If you think that everything you do is a gem of marvelous music, you?re wrong. And if you want to sit and play shite and get stoned for a few hours (...) don?t expect me to record everything you?re doing, because frankly it?s a waste of tape and it?s a waste of my energy." Original source: H.Sounes, Fab, An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney.
Thanks. Very insightful.
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Kestrel:
One story has it that there was a lot of the naughty stuff being smoked at the sessions and the band wasn't focused on what they were doing and endlessly kept jamming,which didn't go down well with Glyn,who didn't even bother starting the tapes to record them. I do think that RRS would have been a better album had he stayed with the project.
Me too. Paul needed someone in the studio to tell him 'Loup' was garbage or maybe the 'Medley' was half-baked and needed some work. Someone like Glyn could have done that.
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JoeySmith:
Me too. Paul needed someone in the studio to tell him 'Loup' was garbage or maybe the 'Medley' was half-baked and needed some work. Someone like Glyn could have done that.
I'm sure Glyn would have made sure that tracks like The Mess, 1882 and Country Dreamer would have been included to strengthen the album.
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Kestrel:
JoeySmith:
Me too. Paul needed someone in the studio to tell him 'Loup' was garbage or maybe the 'Medley' was half-baked and needed some work. Someone like Glyn could have done that.
I'm sure Glyn would have made sure that tracks like The Mess, 1882 and Country Dreamer would have been included to strengthen the album.
__________________________________________________________ Couldn't agree with you guys more. The first half of RRS was terrific but then from the Loup on was second rate relative to a talent like Paul. And you're so right...look at the songs that didn't make the proper album. There were a couple more that they added to the 1993 Collections Remaster right?
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Kestrel:
JoeySmith:
Me too. Paul needed someone in the studio to tell him 'Loup' was garbage or maybe the 'Medley' was half-baked and needed some work. Someone like Glyn could have done that.
I'm sure Glyn would have made sure that tracks like The Mess, 1882 and Country Dreamer would have been included to strengthen the album.
And this is Paul's problem in a nutshell: He's a genius in need of an editor, and he hasn't always had one who could tell him "no" when it was necessary.
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Well, that explains that closing medley.
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audi:
Well, that explains that closing medley.
Ahhhh, that medley...... might've been okay if condensed into one song. Even then... nup, still on the side of lazy and uninspiring.
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Kestrel:
JoeySmith:
Me too. Paul needed someone in the studio to tell him 'Loup' was garbage or maybe the 'Medley' was half-baked and needed some work. Someone like Glyn could have done that.
I'm sure Glyn would have made sure that tracks like The Mess, 1882 and Country Dreamer would have been included to strengthen the album.
We all know that Red Rose Speedway was originally planned as a double album but EMI vetoed the idea, not wanting also any other lead vocalis than Paul. John's tracks included on Red Rose Speedway are very likely Single Pigeon, When the ight and Big Barn Bed, all taped at Olympic Studios. Glyn Johns also engineered Mary Had a Little Lamb.
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Big Barn Bed, Get On The Right Thing and Single Pigeon. I'd be on the first flight out if he'd do any of those 3 in concert.
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^ Single Pigeon....such a beautiful song which deserves to be given a new lease of life. To think that Paul probably hasn't performed the song once in the 43 years since he recorded it?
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toris:
audi:
Well, that explains that closing medley.
Ahhhh, that medley...... might've been okay if condensed into one song. Even then... nup, still on the side of lazy and uninspiring.
From Big Barn Bed to When the Night, the songs are melodic, sublime & wistful with tempo changes only Macca could do. The best of the bunch is the Lennon tribute 'Little Lamb Drogonfly'. Then.... the last 15 minutes are such a letdown. The medley music is interesting & could have been as good as 'You Never Give Me Your Money' medley or even a 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant' type song, if Paul had actually come up with story songs to tie the music together. Its too bad Paul didnt have a tough producer like Glyn to push him hard in his prime.
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Kestrel:
^ Single Pigeon....such a beautiful song which deserves to be given a new lease of life. To think that Paul probably hasn't performed the song once in the 43 years since he recorded it?
. ___________________________________________________ Kestrel, You are so right....one of my favorites and a song that I believe would be in Macca's vocal wheelhouse even today. Can someone close to Paul make this recommendation! An easy song for Paul to sing that his real fans would love.
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Kestrel:
^ Single Pigeon....such a beautiful song which deserves to be given a new lease of life. To think that Paul probably hasn't performed the song once in the 43 years since he recorded it?
. Single Pigeon was my favorite song on the album from the very first listen, and still is.
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Little Lamb is one of all time favorites!
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Martin Luther:
Little Lamb is one of all time favorites!
...with spuds, greens and gravy...
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Kestrel:
One story has it that there was a lot of the naughty stuff being smoked at the sessions and the band wasn't focused on what they were doing and endlessly kept jamming,which didn't go down well with Glyn,who didn't even bother starting the tapes to record them. I do think that RRS would have been a better album had he stayed with the project.
If he was so put off by "naughty stuff being smoked", one wonders how he sat through numerous sessions with the Stones!!!
