Perry Werner Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Howdy: I recently acquired a 2 CD "bootleg" recording of alternate takes from The Beatles iconic album "Rubber Soul" entitled "Soul Sessions" The main attraction, aside from the great music, was the cover photo which shows George Harrison holding what appears to be a six sided, rosewood ended English Concertina. George's fingers also appear to be quite knurled, as I'm asuming he never got to read any of the postings on fingering technique here on C.net! Additionally, John is shown seated, playing a harp, Ringo, some sort of ancient stringed instrument which looks like something you would see on an ancient greek vase and Paul is holding some sort of other strange stringed guitar looking instrument. I know that the English Concertina, played by Randy Stein, was used on John and Yoko's "Double Fantasy", released just about 25 years ago this month and completed just before John was assassinated 25 years ago on December 8, 1980. I was wondering if there were any other known uses of the concertina on any other Beatle related recordings. Did The Beatles utilize the concertina in any of their recordings as a group? I'm pretty sure that the cover art of this bootleg has nothing to do with the recordings which accompany it, though maybe that's not correct. Have fun! Perry Werner PS: I'm afraid I do not the ability to scan the cover art of this CD at this time. Sorry. If I ever get a scanner you'll get the scan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 John Lennon played accordion as a teen. I guess he got his musical education from it. As for a concertina, harp, lyra and other "greek" instruments - it's probably just for the cover. They could be pictured holding cucumbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 cucumbers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike byrne Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Howdy: I was wondering if there were any other known uses of the concertina on any other Beatle related recordings. I am sure one of our C.net members played concertina on Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus - We all stand together. Perhaps he could enlighten us as to whether this is true or not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henk van Aalten Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 cucumbers? A tendril-bearing, climbing or sprawling annual plant (Cucumis sativus) widely cultivated for its edible cylindrical fruit that has a green rind and crisp white flesh. The fruit of this plant, eaten fresh or pickled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 [*]A tendril-bearing, climbing or sprawling annual plant (Cucumis sativus) widely cultivated for its edible cylindrical fruit that has a green rind and crisp white flesh.[*]The fruit of this plant, eaten fresh or pickled Oh, I thought that might be the case . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 Oh, I thought that might be the case . No, you have to get the case separately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart estell Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 Interestingly, I've just been listening to the bonus tracks on the reissue of The Kinks' album "Arthur" - and I'm 99% certain there's an EC playing on the song "Drivin'"; sadly there are no credits for anyone other than the main band members on the inlay, and a cursory Google search revealed nothing of any use... anyone else familiar with the record? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 (edited) Apparently Paul McCartney played the concertina himself on the track Million Miles from the album Back to the Egg. Martyn Edited December 16, 2005 by martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Werner Posted December 16, 2005 Author Share Posted December 16, 2005 Howdy: Yep, that's what is says here... http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pctc257.html I'll have to find my copy of the LP and listen. Have fun, Perry Werner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucyljad Posted December 18, 2005 Share Posted December 18, 2005 "I am sure one of our C.net members played concertina on Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus - We all stand together." I heard/saw this song the other day on Magic on Cable TV. Think it was John Nixon playing. He can be heard clearly twice:- plays high (Tenor English?) at the beginning; and then about half way through plays again (very low bass English?) Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Werner Posted December 18, 2005 Author Share Posted December 18, 2005 Howdy: Do you think the "frog" refers to the sound of the instrument(s) in question? Is this another negative connotation for our instrument? Or do you think if Paul gave this nomer to his accompanists, was he trying to be cute (which I'm guessing is the case, whether it refers to the concertina or not) or was there an underlying dislike of the sound of the instrument? Also, now that I think of it, are there not negative connotations for just about all musical instruments. As a saxophonist for many years, I was hit up with many criticisms of not just my own playing, but of the sound and appearance of the instrument in all uses and by all players. It is of course, the "the devil's instrument" and it's uses in many media have given it the reputation of having evil, mysterious and of course seductive and romantic/ sexual connotation. I'm guessing that most of these originate from those who do not or have never attempted to play any instrument, though I know for sure, many of the comments come from players of other instruments which no doubt have a "better reputation" among the masses. Maybe a subject for another topic! Have fun, Perry Werner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Nixon Posted December 18, 2005 Share Posted December 18, 2005 Howdy: I was wondering if there were any other known uses of the concertina on any other Beatle related recordings. I am sure one of our C.net members played concertina on Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus - We all stand together. Perhaps he could enlighten us as to whether this is true or not! : Hi Friends, Yes I am guilty of taking part in the session with Paul cCartney and on the two sessions I attended in 1984 I played all 3-Wheatstones---Treble -Baritone and Double bass. All 3- can be heard together with The Kings Singers for the 13-bar introduction. Although the original Single disc and Music Video will probably be long out of print, there is a C.D. "PAUL McCARTNEY - ALL THE BEST" CDP 7 48507 2 . I found this C.D. in the shop in The Cavern in Liverpool. Good Luck and I Wish all .net friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. My location is in CHESHIRE U.K. JOHN NIXON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart estell Posted December 20, 2005 Share Posted December 20, 2005 Howdy: Do you think the "frog" refers to the sound of the instrument(s) in question? Is this another negative connotation for our instrument? Or do you think if Paul gave this nomer to his accompanists, was he trying to be cute (which I'm guessing is the case, whether it refers to the concertina or not) or was there an underlying dislike of the sound of the instrument? The answer's actually a lot simpler - the song was the soundtrack to a short animated film called "Rupert and the Frog Chorus" - featuring children's favourite Rupert The Bear. The film was full of cartoon frogs, who were given the non-McCartney voices in the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Werner Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) Back in December I promised....... "PS: I'm afraid I do not the ability to scan the cover art of this CD at this time. Sorry. If I ever get a scanner you'll get the scan!" Now I can deliver...... Howdy: 6 months later I finally have a scanner and as promised the CD cover art from this Beatles Bootleg (which by the way I tried to play on my CD player and can't. I'll try my computer next. That's what I get for buy a bootleg!) Here it is (I hope!) Have fun, Perry Werner Edited June 7, 2006 by Perry Werner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 cucumbers? I'm mystified by this quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 cucumbers? I'm mystified by this quote. Didn't you notice the post just before it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Why? Was that about cucumbers too? I don't like them much. Over-rated in my opinion. They repeat on you without having given sufficient satisfaction to be worth the trouble. Now turks-head squash; that's a different gourd altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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