I know somewhere, some wise-ass will want to take issue, but it can be reasonably argued that electric guitar is the cornerstone of rock and roll. It's not the only element and it doesn't have to be the most important element, but if you wanted to "explain" rock and roll to someone, you might just play them an electric guitar riff.
I bring that up because isn't it funny that the Beatles, arguably the greatest rock band of all time, weren't a great guitar band? They weren't, and I say this as someone who will tell you George Harrison is his favorite Beatle without a trace of irony. I like the "lead guitarist" of a band that didn't know what to do with a lead guitarist most of the time. The "best" Beatles guitar solo might have been the one Eric Clapton provided on Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," all of which suggests George was more than just a lead guitarist in the band.
I bring this up because I just got done listening to "Day Tripper," which has one of the Beatles' finest, most memorable riffs. It's like the Beatles go metal! Okay, so it's not. "Revolution" gets us closer to that. "Revolution" is loud and distorted and that's cool. "Day Tripper" has that memorable, snarling lead that McCartney mostly mimics on bass.
The Beatles have a lot of great songs that are great for any number of reasons. They don't have many that are great because of their guitar work. "Day Tripper" is one of them.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jon Sobel
Somewhat related: I always found it interesting that most of the greatest foundational rock bands had a lead singer who was just a singer. Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, the Doors, the Who, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Queen. I guess this means vocals are just as fundamental as guitar... the Beatles are actually an exception, in that sense.
2 - roger nowosielski
Interesting point, Jon. Where would the Rolling Stones be without Mick or the Doors without Jim Morrison?
3 - roger nowosielski
Dire Straits might be another counterexample.
4 - Kit O'Toole
Josh, being the "Beatlesgeek," I have to comment on this! Yes, "Daytripper" is a wonderful example of how a guitar riff can power a song. But I disagree that The Beatles aren't known for their guitar work--just check out "Taxman" off Revolver, the "Yer Blues" jam on the White Album (an extended jam on bootleg is even better), and the fantastic guitar duel on "The End," to name but a few examples. The closest the Beatles ever got to metal was "Helter Skelter," which Paul McCartney wanted to make the "loudest, dirtiest" song The Beatles ever recorded, particularly since he had been listening to The Who at the time. Just my 2 cents. :-)
5 - Glen Boyd
Better throw Paperback Writer into this mix while were at it...
-Glen
6 - Tom Johnson
GREAT song! Way, way back when, long before I knew all that much about the Beatles, I couldn't figure out where the hell this song came from. It wasn't on any of the albums. Totally confused. Then, of course, I discovered Past Masters 2. And then it quickly rose to be among my very favorite Beatles releases.
(And "Paperback Writer," holy crap, what a killer song. I am convinced a good portion of "indie" rock couldn't exist without this one song alone. It's structure and style seem to have formed the basis for so much that passes for that ill-termed genre.)
7 - Tom Johnson
Ha, Glen, we are sharing a brain. I was writing this, got stopped by a coworker asking some questions, and then finished up to that you beat me to the punch.
8 - zingzing
jon, i'm sure you could come up with plenty of examples that go against your argument. i guess if you're being strict about the word "band," as opposed to artist (in which case elvis would lead your list), you might have a point, but your list is pretty selective, and plays loose with the term "foundational." if van halen makes the list, then so do the stooges, new york dolls, sex pistols, etc.
then again, the velvet underground (and the beatles) had a guitar-playing lead man, so that pretty much takes care of your "foundational" argument. bam! joosta lika dat! as far as rock bands go, there aren't any more important.
9 - El Bicho
How about The Kinks?
And while they did have some fantastic bits, the Beatles aren't consider a great guitar band outside of Beatles geekdom. The guitar parts rarely stood out from the arrangements. Maybe the remasters and video game will change that view.
10 - Josh Hathaway
I'm not saying the band had zero good guitar moments, but guitar isn't what they're famous for or the first thought that comes to mind with The Beatles' music. "Paperback" is another great, great example and one I thought about as I wrote this.
Interesting notion, Jon. I hadn't thought about the number of bands who had singers that were primarily and/or exclusively singers but there were many of them.
11 - zingzing
the beatles are definitely not remembered primarily for their guitars. and thank god for it. they were a much more complete band. they had a good guitarist (or three), but they never showed off just for showing off. it was their songwriting and ideas that make them so special. virtuoso guitarists are a dime a dozen. true genius is not. two geniuses, maybe a third, is once in a lifetime.
luckily, i wasn't around when they were, so we've got another one coming... when those of you that were around when they were are no longer around. so get to dying already, because i'm impatient. lalala.
12 - roger nowosielski
What are you? An eighteen-year old lad?
13 - zingzing
no, just born after 1970.
14 - roger nowosielski
Well, then you've seen Beatles live.
15 - Donald Gibson
A couple electric guitar-heavy favorites --- as a whole 'nother column could comprise acoustic-driven songs: "She Said, She Said," "Birthday," "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," "Get Back," and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
16 - Donald Gibson
In reference to Jon's point, a few of his examples -- particularly Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, and Steven Tyler -- are their respective group's primary songwriters (certainly in the context of lyrics). So while, on stage, they often serve(d) the sole function of a lead singer, they're primary sources of the songs themselves.
17 - El Bicho
Interesting that you mention "Get Back," Donald, because the first thing that comes to my mind with that song is the horns.
Not sure you can make the case that the lyrics are always the primary source of the songs.
18 - zingzing
roger: "Well, then you've seen Beatles live."
i have, on tape... other than that i'm rather confused as to what you're getting at.
i just want my parents' generation to die. nothing more. (smiley)
and donald--i want you is one of my favorite beatles songs. the formal qualities of it are just so amazing. they understood what made a song a song, and how to deconstruct it. everything about that song is takes itself apart. amazing.
19 - roger nowosielski
Shoot, zing. You're mature for your age but you're still a kid. I was in the graduate school when you were born. So must kind of wish it was dead too.
20 - zingzing
i'm not mature for my age. i'm 30 and still messing with college girls. total man-child. i dunno if i can handle a woman my age (because i've never tried). i'll grow up one day. but life is life and music is music and i understand music. life, not so much. but i have the best music taste you've ever seen (if you're me).
21 - roger nowosielski
Well, then I don't feel too bad because I, too, am still messing with college girls when I can.
22 - Ruvy
i'm not mature for my age. i'm 30 and still messing with college girls. total man-child
I'll keep that in mind the next time I see one of your comments and, as my neighbor says when dismissing the remarks of her retarded daughter, "consider the source". Not that you're retarded, of course....
23 - Ruvy
Roger, at your age, messing with college girls might well be considered an accomplishment - or robbing the cradle....
24 - roger nowosielski
What I said, Ruvy, when I can. Espeically since zing is so eager to kill off my generation, I wouldn't want him to think I'm a fuzzy daddy.
25 - Ruvy
Zing is probably eager to kill off my generation, too, Roger - especially me.... ;o))