Meet the Beatles for Real: sitar

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Wonderwall in memory of Peter Tork

I have never made it a secret that I have always disliked the Monkees. Sure, I think some of their songs are good, but overall, I just don't care for the Monkees. In the days when I was very immature, I used to call Monkee Peter -- Peter Dork.

In spite of my feelings towards the Monkees, I am so sorry to hear of the death of Peter Tork today. As I am dealing with my own grief right now, I am overwhelmed hearing of someone else's' death and my heart aches for Peter's family, friends, and fans because I know exactly how they are feeling right now.

In hearing of Peter's death, I am reminded that Peter played on the Wonderwall album with George in the autumn of 1967. Here is what Peter had to say about that meeting with the "quiet" Beatle

I’d met George when he was visiting Cass Elliot in Los Angeles, and I was dating Cass’s sister, Leah,” Peter Tork says. “Later, the Monkees met the Beatles in England, and he invited me to his house. He played the sitar and said: ‘I’m working on a soundtrack album, I’d love to have you play a little banjo.’” Tork had travelled without his instrument, so Harrison borrowed McCartney’s five-string banjo for the session – “which Paul couldn’t play – at least conventionally, because the folk five-string banjo can’t be restrung in reverse order for left-handers, it must be custom made. I played for 45 minutes, George said, ‘Thanks very much,’ and we went our separate ways.”

Tork’s breezy contribution didn’t make the record, but it can be heard 15 minutes into the film, after Collins is chided by his mother for spying through the wall. “And I did not get paid,” he laughs. “George said: ‘We’ll figure that out later.’ He knew that the honour itself was payment enough!”

Thursday, July 7, 2016

The Beatles go to Rikhi Ram

The Beatles had been listening to Indian music during the 1966 world tour quite often. People that were around them recall hearing Indian music being played in the hotel rooms and on the yacht in Manila. The Beatles newest album that hadn't been released but had been recorded had an Indian song on it. And so it wasn't shocking that the Beatles, especially George Harrison, wanted to go to to the premiere Indian music store in India, Rikhi Ram. All four Beatles went to the store (including Ringo, who some people claim wasn't there) and tested out the instruments. George had a sitar lesson while he was there. A lot of photographs of the Beatles at the Rikhi Ram store were taken, including some nice ones of the guys with people at the store.