What lead to the Beatles ballad period?

Cafe Society
1

I’ve never understood how the group that wrote I Am The Walrus and other… Uh, oddities

Created some of the greatest piano ballads of all time. Let It Be, Hey Jude, Yesterday, and rock ballads like Long and Winding Road, Here Comes the Sun, Hello Goodbye.

How did they get out of their psychedelic period and create such masterpieces?

Strangely enough, I can’t recall Paul writing similar piano pieces for Wings.

It’s like he wrote a few wonderful ballads and then backed away. He did some great keyboard collaboration with Stevie Wonder.

2

While it’s arguably not on the same level as some of his Beatles work, “Maybe I’m Amazed” would seem to qualify as such a piano-based ballad.

3

I forgot that one. Heading to YouTube to get reacquainted with this great song.

Thanks

4

Interesting that their greatest ballads came towards the end when the band was in turmoil.

The one outlier is Yesterday. For some reason, I always think of this song from the Hey Jude, Winding Road era.

Yesterday June, 14 1965
Hello Goodbye Nov 2, 67
Hey Jude Aug 9, 68
Long Winding Road Jan 31, 69
Here Comes the Sun,Aug 16, 69
Let it be March 1970

5

I never felt they really had a “ballad period.” All of their albums seem to have ballads on them. Here’s a list I picked out from their discography:

“Do You Want to Know a Secret?” 1963
“This Boy” 1963
“And I Love Her” 1964
“If I Fell” 1964
“I’ll Follow the Sun” 1964
“Girl” 1965
“In My Life” 1965
“Michelle” 1965
“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” 1965
“You’re Going to Lose That Girl” 1965
“Eleanor Rigby” 1966
“For No One” 1966
“Here, There and Everywhere” 1966
“She’s Leaving Home” 1967
“Blackbird” 1968
“Good Night” 1968
“I Will” 1968
“Julia” 1968
“Mother Nature’s Son” 1968
“Something” 1969

6

I don’t think there was a “ballad period” per se either. Paul always liked that stuff, and in general they always pushed the limits a bit on the musical styles appropriate for a “guitar group.”

7

Does “My Love” count?

8

What about Lonely Old People? (second half of Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People)

9

I tell my students what to study for the final, and I always add “…and for the extra credit section, Beatles trivia.”

I always ask about Pete Best, just so I can use him as an example (and talk about Ringo’s reliability). And something about Hamburg, so I can talk about Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours.

And the answer to “When did Paul McCartney write Silly Love Songs?” … [spoiler]Survey says…

1963-2017[/spoiler]

10

It probably wasn’t deliberate. I thought it was notable that several Beatles piano ballads hit the charts in a short time.

Even more notable because they were primarily a guitar band.

Sgt Pepper, June 1967 was such a complex studio album that relied heavily on overdubs.

It was a treat to hear that simple piano accompaniment for Hey Jude (intro). Then Ringo comes in on drums. Gorgeous song.

11

McCartney wrote When I’m sixty four when he was 16 so the answer to the last questions would be 1957-2017 at the latest.

12

I got curious,

Maybe I’m Amazed was recorded Feb 22, 1970. So before Wings?

Silly Love Songs Jan 1976 with Wings

I do understand the joke about writing love songs.

13

I think Maybe I’m amazed was on that solo album McCartney did that has a bowl of cherries on the cover and in which he played all the parts himself? Great song. Great album.

14

So, this McCartney fellow was in a band before Wings?

15

As Wikipedia notes, he wrote it in '69 (when he was still in the Beatles), and originally recorded it for his 1970 solo album, McCartney – so, yes, technically, before Wings.

But, the live version, recorded in 1976 with Wings, was the version that was actually released as a single, and is the version with which I suspect most people are familiar.

16

Sir Paul was in a band?

17

I thought the timing seemed off. Maybe I’m Amazed and Let E’m In were played constantly when I entered high school. Wings was a big part of my school years.

18

Thought someone should mention that “Yesterday” is a guitar ballad, no piano to be found. :slight_smile:

19

Paul is great, a phenomenal musician and tunesmith. But some of his songs are a little too sappy, saccharine or overwrought. Eleanor Rigby comes to mind. Blech. Good lord, what dreck. Some of his Wings stuff is fantastic, and really brings back that 70s vibe.

20

Amen! Sir Paul and Stevie Wonder (and maybe throw Elton in this mix) are musical geniuses but occasionally get mired in sentimentality. (Eboneeee and Ivoreeee…)('nuff said)

I’ve had a saying for decades: “Every McCartney needs a Lennon.”

Back when I was in a band my best mate was a tough, critical guy. He’d keep us from getting too bouncy/sappy, I’d keep us from getting too raw/cynical.