Today we reach "Helter Skelter". The Wikipedia article contains a fabulous quote summarizing the song: "A product of McCartney's deliberate effort to create a sound as loud and dirty as possible, the clangorous piece has been noted for both its "proto-metal roar" and "unique textures."
Recording the song was appropriately difficult, taking 18 takes. "After the 18th take, Ringo Starr flung his drum sticks across the studio and screamed, 'I got blisters on my fingers!'" The article also mentions how raucous the session itself was:
According to Chris Thomas, who was present, the 18 July session was especially spirited. "While Paul was doing his vocal, George Harrison had set fire to an ashtray and was running around the studio with it above his head, doing an Arthur Brown." Starr's recollection is less detailed, but agrees in spirit: "'Helter Skelter' was a track we did in total madness and hysterics in the studio. Sometimes you just had to shake out the jams."
"Helter Skelter" is hard not to like. It's wild, chaotic, with blistering (no pun intended) instruments and equally devastating vocals, and some pretty interesting lyrics as well. Lennon credits the entire business to McCartney; he said in a 1980 interview, "That's Paul completely ... It has nothing to do with anything, and least of all to do with me." Not sure if he meant to compliment Paul or if that was a snide remark, but "Helter Skelter" remains one of the most popular Beatles songs. :P
That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)
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Heard It Tally: 39
Songs Completed: 161
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