Vastly under-rated as a bass player. I listened to Abbey Road again on youtube. I keyed on the bass parts. What a talented and innovative player. I do not think any one band or performer will ever reach the heights this band of beatles reached.
Composition, arrangement, melody, harmony, Lyrics, production, George Martin was called the fifth Beatle. He taught them well.
I hope Paul McCartney will recover from whatever ails him.
It’s a real bitch getting old.
Was that him on bass on Golden Slumbers? Magnificent.
Sir Paul would play complicated and sophisticated bass parts that other bassists would not attempt. Listening to McCartney, his playing makes me think that he isn't just a great bass player but instead is a great musician who happens to play bass guitar.
My teen-aged son has become quite a Beatles' fan. He made a great observation about While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Although Eric Clapton was brought in for the featured part, it was the rhythm parts of Paul and Ringo which combine to dominate the song. I've come to believe that this strong bottom-end to their songs is one of the reasons that their music was superior to their contemporaries and why it has such an enduring character.
I’m with you on your comments about his abilities and creativeness on bass. I’m not a musician, but it always seemed to me his playing on Beatles songs could be considered a second “lead”.
And not to go off topic, but Ringo is also vastly underrated for his drumming. I can’t think of one Beatles song that would have been better with a different drummer.
None of their songs featured extended “solo’s”, but their musicianship was superb.
Their politics notwithstanding, they changed music forever and there will never again be a group of 5 people (George Martin included) come together that will collectively be as talented and innovative as John, Paul, the Georges and Ringo.