A multi-site collaborative memorial.
Boppinsblog tribute – Jeff Beck Blow By Blow album review
Do you use social media? If so, you probably know the same sinking feeling that I do.
You wake up in the morning and open your Facebook and/or Twitter. Your feed is flooded with a certain musical artist. “This was my favourite song of theirs…”, or “I still remember the first time I heard them.”
I knew this morning was one of those days when I saw Sir George Martin’s face, and heard tons of his music, all over my social media. Another legend lost. This time we can say he lived a long, fruitful life. Sir George was 90.
Music writer Dale Sherman today highlighted that George Martin was the first real “modern” producer. It was he who learned to push the recording studio to the limits. He put his stamp on the songs, and was one of the first to do so. They called him the “Fifth Beatle” and I think that is very true. He was a collaborator, a teacher, and a genius. Of course, he produced so many more bands than just the Beatles, but who will he always be identified with? There is only one correct answer.
My personal favourite non-Beatles recording of his was Aerosmith’s cover of “Come Together”, and for the Beatles it would have to be “Tomorrow Never Knows”. “Tomorrow Never Knows” was the most brilliant thing the Beatles ever did, sounding as modern today as it did in 1966. Though it’s not the song that best represents the George/Beatles sound, I think this is their greatest achievement.
RIP, Sir George!
mikeladano.com 
R.I.P. George Martin. Another great is taken away from us. Let’s hope that March isn’t going to be a repeat of January.
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No kidding I second that!
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A great producer for sure, but I rather think Phil Spector was the first modern producer, treating the production and arranging of a track as an art in itself.
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No knock against Phil who had his own impact and sound, but Martin was producing before him.
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Yeah, but anything of importance that would gain him that title before The Beatles?
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I think so, yes.
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Oh Mike I’ve gotten to know that sinking feeling all too well recently.
Nice call on Tomorrow Never Knows, I love how Revolver has that, Elanor Rigby, and Yellow Submarine. Pretty hard to pinpoint a specific ‘George/Beatle’ sound!
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These songs have all been in my head the last few days. Immersing in the Beatles is never a bad thing. Just that this time it’s a sad thing.
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Nice, Mike.
There was an interview Martin did on radio in Australia in the 90s where the interviewer asked him about being ‘the fifth Beatle’. He roundly poo-poohed the idea, stating (every so slightly testily for such a well-brought up man) ‘There were four Beatles.’ But he went on to say that, in the studio, they worked as a team, all having input and sharing ideas. That’s the key, isn’t it? Being able to share ideas in the service of a group goal.
Like the group post guys.
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Of course George Martin would poo-pooh the idea. What a wonderful man he was. They learned so much from him.
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