But do the Beatles shwing?

[JSngry]

technical term, eh?

I think? hope?

But for swing, hell, Motown! Jamerson! Stax! Al Jackson! NY 50! Panama Francis! LA 60s! Earl Palmer! Hal Blaine!

And Keith Moon! Ricky Wellman!

Swing is the lifeblood of Popular Music. When it's not there (and too often over the last 25-30 years, it hasn't been), worry.

[BruceH]

That's why I'm worried about those kids on my lawn...they're just not swinging!

Not only did the Beatles swing, but as "Come Together" will attest, they could also lay down a little funk.

And then there's "She's A Woman"---reggae, or ska, or something close to it.

[Brad]

Great cuts Jim. I know that record company execs probably dictated the length of the songs, but in listening to some of these songs after all these years, in my mind I always thought they were longer than the 2:10 to 2:45 they were; shows that the Beatles got the message succinctly and skillfully.

[neveronfriday]

Well, of course, they certainly shwing.

[Brad]

and this, one of the best they did in my view.

[BruceH]

Well, of course, they certainly shwing.

Like a bicycle.

[danasgoodstuff]

Hell, once upon a time, rock and roll in general swung, more often than not.

Like John Bonham. I'd say he swung.

IMHO John Bonham did NOT swing...one of several reasons I don't like Led Zep...but on the other hand, denying their influence or that they did speak to many people in a way they don't speak to me, would be totally irrational, VMMV, etc.

[7/4]

I know it's a radical suggestion in this context, but that was the next wave of rock drums at that point. Blame it on

Carmine Appice.

...

[Walt Richmond]

The Beatles definitly did "shwing," although my favorite tracks where were they did something unusual: "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," "Within You Without You," for example. But tracks like "One After 909" swing like nothing else.

Edited September 20, 2009 by Walt Richmond

[7/4]

The Beatles definitly did "shwing," although my favorite tracks where were they did something unusual: "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," "Within You Without You," for example. But tracks like "One After 909" swing like nothing else.

TNK is a killer track!

[JSngry]

I've had good results playing it with an "Elvin" feel. Not much of a stretch at all.

And speaking of rock, swing, and Elvin, at some point we must mention Keith Moon, whose hero might have been Gene Krupa, but who approach to band drumming was closer in spirit to Elvin, I think.

[7/4]

I've had good results playing it with an "Elvin" feel. Not much of a stretch at all.

And speaking of rock, swing, and Elvin, at some point we must mention Keith Moon, whose hero might have been Gene Krupa, but who approach to band drumming was closer in spirit to Elvin, I think.

And Mitch Mitchell too.

[JSngry]

True, but I consider Mitchell an already-jazz drummer who crossed over to rock. I mean, "Third Stone From The Sun" is not the work of somebody who just "liked" jazz...

[7/4]

I agree.

...

[jazzbo]

I also agree. Mitch was jazz, and Jimi knew it. Amazing drummer.

[ep1str0phy]

That's why I'm worried about those kids on my lawn...they're just not swinging!

Not only did the Beatles swing, but as "Come Together" will attest, they could also lay down a little funk.

And then there's "She's A Woman"---reggae, or ska, or something close to it.

Reminds me a lot of the Monks' "I Can't Get Over You," which employs a similar rhythmic conceit:

Funny how raw the early Beatles actually do sound in comparison to the much more overtly dark and aggressive Monks; on a purely aesthetic level, the Beatles at their most grungy can stand up with the best garage rock. (And I for one think that the Monks were one of the hardest swinging rock groups of the day.)

[clifford_thornton]

Used to play the shit out of that 2.13.61 Monks CD compilation. Great stuff.

[Werf]

The Stones swing, but the Beatles SING!

Not sure how serious you are (and it doesn't really matter, as this is subjective, and I have no strong position on the matter), but coincidentally I happened to watch some of the Beatles Anthology documentary on Youtube last night, and was really struck by how UNswinging the Stones' performance was on "I wanna be your man", as compared to the Beatles. Nothing to base broad judgements upon, but I couldn't help noticing the stark difference with the clips played one after the other.

I was kind of serious, based on recent listens to the early Stones catalog on Abko...I think why is because of Charlie Watts, as opposed to Ringo Starr.

[JETman]

Hell, once upon a time, rock and roll in general swung, more often than not.

Like John Bonham. I'd say he swung.

IMHO John Bonham did NOT swing...one of several reasons I don't like Led Zep...but on the other hand, denying their influence or that they did speak to many people in a way they don't speak to me, would be totally irrational, VMMV, etc.

Does music need to swing to be good?

[BruceH]

[JETman]