The Beatles And Prog Rock

If you'll look at the influences of Robert Fripp, who for the most part created prog, the Beatles are the largest influence.

The Beatles basically formed two roads, the pop road which now consists of all the comerical artists, and the experimental road which influened King Crimson and Yes and The Nice and Genesis and led to musical progression. Of course prog, the road less taken, has made all the difference.

I have Mark Lewisohn`s  book "The Beatles: Recording Sessions-The Official Abbey Road Studio Sessions Notes 1962-1970".(published in 1988). In this book:

-George Martin says that Ringo was their "metronome" and that he rarely did mistakes in the studio.

-Ringo returned to the studio during the "White Album" recording sessions mainly because he was called by the band because they had to appear on TV the next day to promote the "Hey Jude" single (they played the song live on TV; there are some scenes of this clip on the "Anthology" video).

-Ringo left the band for two weeks. He was tired of waiting for the rest of the members of the band to arrive to the studio. He also was criticized by Paul. During 1968 the Egos of some members of The Beatles were bigger than before. That`s why the "White Album" was a double album: The Beatles wanted to record all the songs they have composed then. George Martin suggested to them to only record the best songs for a single album. He lost. Recording Engineer Geoff Emerick left the recording sessions of this album because he was tired of seeing The Beatles fighting in the studio. George Martin also went to holidays for the same reason, and he was replaced by Chris Thomas. After Martin returned to the studio, he and Thomas worked together with The Beatles . During Ringo`s absence they only recorded two songs as a trio: "Back in the USSR" and "Dear Prudence", with Paul playing the drums. The rest of the booked recording sessions were used to record songs alone (Paul and John in different studios in Abbey Road;John began his "Revolution 9" song then) and some of them were canceled until Ringo`s return.

Progger wrote: I always associate prog with long complex pieces of music. What was the longest song the Beatles ever recorded?

Have a stab at ''Revolution 9''

NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!

Could play their instruments?! I will admit that Ringo isn't the greatest drummer ever, but as I've read in a different thread, he was the king of "less is more" drumming. Paul McCartney was one of the best bassists ever, in my opinion, and a lot of my defense comes from Abbey Road. Not only that, but he drummed on quite a few songs that were too complex for Ringo such as Back in the USSR, and others. Furthermore he played guitar AND piano on quite a few songs. The acoustic guitar solo at the end of Wild Honey Pie on The White Album was Paul. George is a whole different story. Not only is he one of my favorite guitar players of all time, he can play the sitar, and every brass instrument. His arrangements on Love You To and Within You and Without You are extraordinary. John, too, was a very good guitar and piano player and should be credited as highly as the other two.