Deconstructing Martha My Dear - The Beatles (Isolated Tracks)

This classic McCartney tune, Martha My Dear was recorded on October 4th and 5th in 1968 at the back half of the White Album sessions. On the surface the song was written about Paul's English Sheepdog Martha, however in retrospect that song has a different meaning. Paul stated in his book The Lyrics that, "The funny thing is, at the time almost no one listening to the song knew that Martha was a dog. And actually, as the song proceeds, Martha morphs into a person. As it happens, I had a relative who was having an affair and came down to London to tell me about it. Maybe for some hand-holding. If you think about it, by 1968 I represented a breath of freedom. I was now slightly outside the circle. This relative could confide in me in a way that maybe wouldn't have been possible with other members of a gossipy Liverpool family. I'm the only person who knew the song was about someone having an affair, and that gives a line like 'When you find yourself in the think of it' an added layer of poignancy." So the idea that this song was also about a family member's affair or even his own against Jane Asher does have some credence.

Although some sources point to this being a solo Paul effort, session photos reveal that at least George was present to play guitar. Mal Evens also placed Ringo in the sessions recalling, "Ringo bashed a hole in his brand new bass drum skin the night we started this track". The only member not on the recording was John.

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Piano (0:00)
Guitar (2:26)
Drums (3:30)
Bass (4:36)
Double Tracked Vocals (6:26)
Single Tracked Vocal (Track 1) (8:15)
Single Tracked Vocal (Track 2) (10:06)
Strings (11:53)
Tuba/Trombone/Trumpet/French Horn (13:38)
French Horn/Trumpet (15:04)
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Paul McCartney - Lead Vocals, Piano (Bechstein Grand #44064), Bass (1964 Rickenbacker 4001 S), handclaps
George Harrison - Rhythm Guitar (1957 Gibson Les Paul)
Ringo Starr - Drums (1964 Ludwig Super Classic black Oyster Pearl)
Bernard Miller - violin
Dennis McConnell - violin
Lou Sofier - violin
Les Maddox - violin
Leo Birnbaum - viola
Henry Myerscough - viola
Reginald Kilbey - cello
Frederick Alexander - cello
Leon Calvert - trumpet, flugelhorn
Stanley Reynolds - trumpet
Ronnie Hughes - trumpet
Tony Tunstall - french horn
Ted Barker - trombone
Alf Reece - tuba
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