Revisiting Beatles’ iconic album
Beatles’ producer’s son says famous record was infamously difficult to make
Producer Giles Martin wasn’t even born when his famous Beatles’ producing father, George — a.k.a. the Fifth Beatle — wrestled with The Fab Four while making their eponymous double disc, otherwise known as the White Album, released in November 1968.
But the 49-year-old couldn’t disagree more with John Lennon’s statement that the album, celebrating a 50th anniversary deluxe re-release, was the sound of the Beatles breaking up.
“I don’t think John Lennon is right,” said Martin. “I always thought that. And my father (who died in 2016) would always made a terrible grimace whenever anyone said, ‘You know what my favourite Beatles album is? It’s the White Album.’ I looked, out of morbid fascination, to see what I could find of them arguing on tape because I thought it was important. But if you listen to the conversations they’re having on the outtakes, it’s far from the truth that they are shouting at each other. They’re actually supporting each other.”
The 50th anniversary edition of the White Album gets remixed in stereo and 5.1 surround audio and includes 27 early acoustic demos — the famous Esher Demos made at Harrison’s bungalow Kinfauns in 1968 in Surrey, England (some were on Anthology 3) — and 50 session outtakes.
Q So how do you see this album now?
A I think the White Album was the band rejecting the process that they’d been used to. And I think they certainly ostracized my dad during that process. And they certainly ostracized the team they were used to working with. I also know from, bizarrely, all these people who write books now about their time with the Beatles (that) they’re the same people who didn’t want to work on Beatles sessions because they were pretty toxic for anyone being there who wasn’t a Beatle.
Q Do you think Lennon was just being provocative in his statements?
A John, funnily enough, called up my father in 1980. My dad went to go and see him. And John did an interview. I think it was for Playboy or something where he did this vitriolic interview where he told everyone that my dad ruined the Beatles. And my dad goes, “Why did you say these things John?” And he goes, “I’m sorry George, I was just high, you know.” Q So will this re-release correct that notion of it? A I wasn’t there. I wasn’t even born. I don’t believe in — and none of the Beatles, by the way, believe in — sugar-coating stuff, as you can tell by Paul’s recent interviews, the mood he’s in. He’s happy to say how it was. (He told GQ he, Lennon and three other friends had masturbated together as boys, among other things.)
Q Were you shocked by his recent revelations?
A Listen, he probably said it with a smile on his face, knowing Paul. But he’s kind of naughty, Paul. He’s still naughty. He’s a really intelligent man. He’s a really bright guy, Paul. Never underestimate him in a conversation. Sometimes he’ll say things and you just think, “Oh, God.”
Q How involved were Paul and Ringo in this process?
A The only people involved in listening to the mixes were the Beatles and their wives. That’s it. I consider (Paul and Ringo) to be my bosses, which they are. (Paul) has a place near Abbey Road and also I see him. I was over in New York mixing his concert at Grand Central Station, so I get involved in his things anyway and he’s always been incredibly kind to me. So there’s a trust there.
Q And Ringo?
A One of my jobs is head of sound for (electronic company) Sonos, which is based out of Santa Barbara, so I will go and give (Los Angeles-based) Ringo a call and say, “Listen, I’ve got the mixes with me.” And we’ll come and sit and listen to them. It’s their music, and especially the White Album because it was a band record, if that makes sense. If they’re not happy, they’re the people that really count.
Q Should fans be the most excited about the inclusion of all the Esher Demos?
A I listened to them and said, “These are really, super cool.” Being as stupid and crass as I am, I initially said, “They sound like MTV Unplugged Beatles. This is amazing!” For someone who does archive mixing, this is like a gift. So, yeah, that’s super-exciting for me.
Q Did your dad go on vacation while making this album?
A My dad loved efficiency. He was a very measured person. The only big argument me and my dad ever had was over me not measuring Pimm’s (cocktail) out properly when I made him a Pimm’s. He liked everything to be just so. But he was never a hanger-outer. He liked to get things done, and the White Album wasn’t that. So he brought Chris Thomas in, who was his assistant, and his first day he said, “I’m going on holiday. You sort it out.”