Perhaps the Beatles could have adopted a similar sound and approach to The Kinks during the late 1960s (as in Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur): i.e. more literate, observant and nostalgic music. McCartney was a big fan of traditional music hall, as demonstrated with 'Honey Pie' and 'When I'm Sixty Four' and Lennon was becoming fairly political by the late 1960s.
WI: The Beatles never went Psychedelic?
- Thread starter Emperor Norton I
- Start date
Germaniac
Donor
The easiest way for the Beatles to change course would be no Pet Sounds. Just saying that made me throw up and cry for a full hour, but moving on. Brian Wilson had, let's say for the ease of the reader, mental problems. At any given time he may have the another breakdown and not complete the album. Without Pet Sounds, which also means the Beach Boys are done its far too early for them to survive loosing Brian and no Good Vibrations, the Beatles continue the rock sound from revolver.
I like the idea of the Beatles moving in a Dylan direction but I think a mix of The Kinks Dylan and revolver is what we get...
This is a very sad timeline for me, I'd never get any of the Elephant 6 bands in the 90s
I like the idea of the Beatles moving in a Dylan direction but I think a mix of The Kinks Dylan and revolver is what we get...
This is a very sad timeline for me, I'd never get any of the Elephant 6 bands in the 90s
Revolver has some strong hints at the sound of a "no Pet Sounds" Beatles - There's some tracks on there that are well produced, but still sound like 4 guys in a room with hardly any flashy effects. (Taxman springs to mind right away, and 'She Said She Said').
It's a shame they never got the chance to develop as a live band, the end of touring was just as concerts evolved past "play the hits, just as they are on the record".
If there's less studio tricks it makes developing a different type of Beatles concert a lot easier, and they'd have more chances to play together as a band rather than overdubbing bits and waiting around to overdub bits. (There's the quote from Ringo "Sgt Pepper for me it's a fine album.. but I did learn to play chess on it.)
Couple with this the improvements in amplification that were happening at the time, and in the right venues they may actually be able to hear themselves.