It's always fun to listen to hits of years past and dissect the parts, and today's song is no exception. It's "I Feel Fine" by
The Beatles, a big hit for them from way back in 1964. This might have been the first example of feedback electric guitar (
John Lennon's amplified
Gibson acoustic J-160E) on record, but it was discovered accidentally when Lennon leaned his guitar up against the amp after a take. The band loved it and later edited it in to the beginning of the song.
John, who wrote and sang the song, claimed that the riff was based around a
Bobby Parker song the band used to play live called "
Watch Your Step." What you'll hear comes from the last of 8 basic track takes. Here's what to listen for (it starts at 0:05):
1. John plays the main riff on his Gibson while
George Harrison sometimes doubles, and other times plays rhythm on his
Gretsch Tennessean.
2. As was the production norm of the day, the parts of the two guitars aren't really defined. They both drift from playing the riff to playing the chords at different times. Today the parts would be much more worked out with every lick in mind.
3. Georges rhythm is a little out of tune, especially in the beginning, but you don't it notice in the track.
4. Listen through to the end to hear the ending not on the record.
The Beatles, and John Lennon in particular, loved to double track vocals but hated the act of doing it. Not only that, back in the 4 and 8 track days, the doubled vocal would take up a track that could have been used for another element of the production.
