Another Beatle Death
 

Many people don't know that there were five Beatle in the studio making all of those great hit records.

George Martin was undoubtedly the fifth Beatle. He contributed as much to their records as any of the other four.

Sir George Martin, Beatles producer, dead at 90 - CNN.com

He contributed a lot, but he did not contribute as much the four musicians. M.H.R.I.P.

The Fifth Beatle
 

I agree, Doc. Many people don't realize the impact the producer has on a recording. How loud is the back-up singing compared to the lead? Is the bass prominent or in the background? Where do the strings and horns come in? And in George Martin's case, actually writing the arrangements (the string quartet in "Yesterday" was his idea and he co-wrote it) and even performing (he wrote and played the incredible piano solo in "In My Life"). Beatles fans owe a very great Thank You to Mr. Martin, as the Beatles songs we know would not be the same without his influence.

You're absolutely correct, Bill. He actually played a lot of instruments on many, many of recordings.

Integral part of The Beatles success and history? Yes.

One of The Beatles? No.

People who don't know the story probably don't understand that if not for George Martin, the world might not have ever heard of The Beatles.

You certainly have the right to your opinion, but Paul McCartney said this, this morning “If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle, it was George".

Just for the record, I never meant any disrespect toward George Martin. And I also totally respect what Paul said. But he didn't give George the title. He just said "If anybody has earned the title"...I just don't think anybody did. IMHO of course. (And yes...I do know the story.)

Lots of great groups have great people behind them who don't go on stage.

Mary Lu Zahalan is a friend of mine and is one of the foremost authority on The Beatles. she has a Masters degree in Beatles studies and here is what she had to say.

https://www.facebook.com/CTVNewsChan...1970844864246/

I think that it's important that people understand what this man did.

https://www.facebook.com/soundbreaki...0883832655699/

Today's Wall Street Journal has a short but comprehensive article on George Martin. What a guy and what he did for the Beatles!

Besides doing all of the arranging and producing, he also played on may of he songs. Here's a list that I complied very quickly. It's probably not 100% accurate nor complete, but it's pretty close.

Piano
Misery
You’ve Really Got on Hold on Me
A Hard Day’s Night
Tell Me Why
No Reply
Rock and Roll Music
What You’re Doing
You Like Me Too Much
The Word
In My Life
Good Day Sunshine
Lovely Rits
Octopus’s Garder
You Never Give Me Your Money

Celesta
Baby It’s You


Organ
I Wanna Be Your Man
With a Little Help From My Friends
Sun King

Harmonium
12 Bar Original
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite

Harpsichord
Fixing a Hole
Because

Vocal
Yellow Submarine

Tape Loops
Tomorrow Never Knows
Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite

Moog Synthesizer
I Want You

If not for George Martin it's likely that the world would never have heard of The Beatles. Surely, their music would have been very different.