R.I.P., George Martin

A little late, but he's worth his own thread, if only to share this wonderful photo from McCartney's tribute on his website.

http://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/paul-mccartney-on-george-martin

Very sad.

He put out a CD called "In My Life" in 1998 composed almost entirely of cover versions of The Beatles songs which he produced originally. Some weird stuff. Like this. 

Jim Carey having fun with "I Am the Walrus" and...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdzuR4Iunuw

...Sean Connery moping through "In My Life."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ4LJE9PktY

"Well for a start, I don't like your tie."

When the Beatles finished recording "Please Please Me" per George Martin's suggestions, the song was so belligerently alive he pressed the intercom and said to them: "Gentlemen, you've just made your first number one record."  He was right and he proceeded to produce the most successful act in the history of recorded sound.

The Beatles were so fortunate to work with him.  He was that rare breed who was content in helping to bring out the best in others, and did not seek the limelight.

ml1 said:

"Well for a start, I don't like your tie."

From the Scorsese documentary on George Harrison, Living in the Material World, this is exactly the reply I remember when George Martin asked the Beatles initially to tell him if there was something they didn't like and George Harrison replied as ml1 said...so funny.  It broke the ice and George Martin laughed it off.  RIP

He also didn't impose his musical tastes on them and make them record what he wanted.  His approach was "Let's hear what you've got" and then make some suggestions and refine what they created.  For their first single, he wanted them to record a song written by another writer ("How do you do it").  They recorded it but then told Martin they didn't want to release it but instead wanted to release their own songs.  Instead of pulling rank and saying to these neophytes "I'm the producer and you'll do what I say per your contract" he said "let's hear what you've got." 

Great piece in today's paper about his impact on 5 songs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/arts/music/george-martin-and-the-beatles-a-producers-impact-in-five-songs.html?_r=0

I think Philip Norman, who wrote the excellent Beatles' biography "Shout", summed up George Martin's value to the group:

"The importance of George Martin cannot be overemphasized.  First of all, he signed them.  Second, he did not cheat them.  Third, he did not adulterate them.  It would have been easy for him, as all powerful record producer, to insist that each release carry a B-side composed by himself.  Martin happened to be of the rare breed who are content to use their talents in improving other people's work.  To Lennon and McCartney, he was the editor which all creative promise strikes if it is lucky.  He took the raw songs; he shaped and pruned and polished them and, with scarcely believable altruism, asked nothing for himself but his EMI salary and the satisfaction of seeing the songs come out right.  As the songs grew more complex, so did George Martin's unsung, unsinging role."