What is the Worst Playing by a Beatle on a Song Written by One of the Others?

Determining the worst playing by a Beatle on a song written by one of the others can be subjective and often varies based on personal opinions. For instance, Paul McCartney's vocal delivery on John Lennon's composition stands out for many listeners.

John Lennon's Struggles with "Let It Down"

During the Get Back sessions, John Lennon exhibited difficulty with chord changes in George Harrison's song, Let It Down. In the tapes from these sessions, it is described as a tricky song to play, suggesting that Lennon was not as comfortable with the chords as expected.

When George Harrison brought Let It Down back to the band, more time was indeed spent on the song along with a few other compositions by Harrison. Unfortunately, despite the additional effort, the song was not recorded, possibly due to a lack of interest from Paul and John.

Interestingly, Let It Down eventually made it on to George Harrison's album, All Things Must Pass, and featured contributions from five guitarists who did not struggle with the chord changes.

While some music critics believe that The Beatles missed out on a great opportunity with this song, others like myself have different opinions. It's a conflicted situation without a clear right or wrong.

The Controversial Guitar Solo in "I'll Follow the Sun"

A particularly divisive moment in The Beatles' history features George Harrison's guitar solo on the song "I'll Follow the Sun." In an interview, The Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick dismissed the solo as inadequate, claiming it was only included because George Harrison had been sulking. According to Emerick, George told John and Paul, 'I am the lead guitarist.'

Emerick's criticism of George's guitar playing in this solo has sparked debates. Despite his criticisms, I personally find the solo to be quite strong and enjoyable. The overall song is a favorite, and the solo adds to its charm rather than detract from it.

For those unfamiliar with Emerick's book, it is definitely worth a read, as it provides insightful perspectives on the recording process of The Beatles.

John Lennon's Opinion: The Worst Guitar Solo

John Lennon famously loathed certain guitar solos performed by George Harrison. One such example is the I Need You joke in the film Anthology. John's disdain for George's talent on the guitar is well known, and it is evident in his harsh criticisms.

For a specific instance, consider the line from the song: 'All you need is a great Lennon song with a really good sing-along feel and the worst guitar solo George Harrison has ever recorded.' This statement was not just a frequent comment but an intense feeling often expressed by John.

From the laughter in the studio to John's more nuanced opinions in private, it's clear that George's guitar performances were sometimes a point of contention among the members themselves.