(Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
Sun 7 December 2025 7:30, UK
Producing The Beatles in the mid-1960s was a completely chaotic experience.
When the band first burst onto the global scene in 1963, they were nothing more than kids. Wide-eyed with excitement of travelling the world through their music and lapping up every ounce of media attention that came their way, they mischievously embraced this newfound fame. It was the same mischief that made their youthful songs so charming, but ultimately, it needed a producer to help keep it streamlined.
George Martin was the perfect producer to adopt this role in those early days. Somewhat straight-laced and well-spoken, he represented something of a school teacher to the Liverpudlian kids and kept them on their musical track. But when they retired from touring in 1966 and decided to start embracing in-studio psychedelia, many would wonder whether the prudish disposition of school-teacher Martin would be appropriate.
But he was an integral part of their esoteric exploration. While he may have had separate thoughts on their increased drug use, he understood how to articulate their ideas. He brought technicality and structure to their experimental songs by bringing musical theory and production technique to proceedings.
Speaking of ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, McCartney explained how crucial Martin was, stating, “This is one thing I always gave George Martin great credit for.”
Adding, “He was a slightly older man and we were pretty far out, but he didn’t flinch at all when John played it to him, he just said, ‘Hmmm, I see, yes. Hmm hmm.’ He could have said, ‘Bloody hell, it’s terrible!’”
Macca continued, “I think George was always intrigued to see what direction we’d gone in, probably in his mind thinking, How can I make this into a record? But by that point he was starting to trust that we must know vaguely what we were doing, but the material was really outside of his realm.”
Martin produced the band right up until Abbey Road and was integral to their growth in the latter part of their decade. His contribution to the band rightly earned him the title “the fifth Beatle”, and as history has rolled on, and the legacy of the band has continued to grow, each and every member of the band has ensured that his importance isn’t forgotten.
When Martin sadly died in March 2016, it provoked a number of earnest tributes within the music community and none more so than from his old collaborator, Paul McCartney. In his tribute, he encapsulated the humble brilliance of the man, reminding everyone of the indelible mark he left on artistic history.
He said, “I am proud to have known such a fine gentleman with such a keen sense of humour, who had the ability to poke fun at himself. Even when he was Knighted by the Queen there was never the slightest trace of snobbery about him. My family and I, to whom he was a dear friend, will miss him greatly and send our love to his wife Judy and their kids Giles and Lucy, and the grandkids.
“The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music. God bless you George and all who sail in you!”
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