The White Album was a tense time for the Beatles for a number of reasons, and Chris Thomas needs more credit. Ringo quit during the sessions feeling his drumming was not being appreciated by the band, and it is understandable how he may have felt that way when another member of the band would often try his own drum overdubs to achieve his ideal of perfection. George Martin wanted the album to be a single disk featuring only the best selection of tracks.
However, with four strong people with tremendous egos, that selection of tracks is not as easy as it may sound. George Martin got so distressed that he took an unexpected holiday from The Beatles sessions. Engineer Geoff Emerick also got upset during the recordings and decided to take leave of the Beatles sessions. Chris Thomas was given the green light by George Martin to handle things while Martin went on “holiday.” Not sure if the word holiday was a euphemism for darker circumstances?
Chris Thomas – The claims by several sources including Wikipedia
Chris Thomas produced (without credit) “Birthday” and “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”. He also played keyboards on four songs from The White Album: harpsichord on “Piggies”, mellotron on “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill”, piano on “Long, Long, Long” and electric piano on “Savoy Truffle”
Thomas was not credited as producer or co-producer on The Beatles, known as the White Album, although his name appears as co-producer on some of the original session sheets. Egos are fragile when it has to do with Beatles recordings and personally, I feel that Chris Thomas should have been given proper credit and accreditation for the Beatles tracks he produced.
Chris Thomas (music producer) – Wikipedia
Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Remastered 2009)
The White Album Tracks that Chris Thomas played on:
These are the White album tracks that list Chris Thomas playing on them:
Harpsichord on “Piggies”
Mellotron on “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill”
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (Remastered 2009)
Piano on “Long, Long, Long”
Long, Long, Long (Remastered 2009)
Electric piano on “Savoy Truffle”
Savoy Truffle (Remastered 2009)
My cover of the White Album which was signed by part-time White Album producer and keyboard player on four of the tracks, Chris Thomas!
The signature in my collection of the White Album cover designer, Richard Hamilton. Thanks to Philippe Colinge for acquiring this signed White album LP for me! You can see how the minimalist approach to the cover design may have caused a bit of tension as that was the preferred hallmark of the new person in the Beatles’ entourage, Yoko Ono. The use of pure white became a theme used by J and Y even in their choice of room color as is witnessed by Tittenhurst Park, their home in Ascot.
Other possible sources of tension within the band were Yoko seemed to be encouraging John to becoming more active in the songwriting realm since she met John. John’s songwriting output began to increase, and he became more demanding of space on the album which might have been perceived negatively by his former songwriting partner who had taken command of the Beatles since the death of Brian Espetin in 1967. The White Album sessions were essentially the individual Beatles using the other band members as session players. They were clearly drifting apart all wanting to be the masters of their own destinies!
Other Beatles-related production work by Chris Thomas:
The producer of Badfinger’s 1973 album Ass was Chris Thomas, with the band members themselves also credited as co‑producers on most tracks!
Mixed By Chris Thomas
Year of release: 1973 Label: Apple
Badfinger
Year of release :1974
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Chris Thomas
Badfinger – Apple Of My Eye [2006 remaster]
Wish You Were Here
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Chris Thomas
Year of Release 1974
Back to the Egg
Label
Parlophone (UK)Columbia (US)
Producer
Paul McCartney and Chris Thomas
Year of release: 1979
Getting Closer (Remastered 1993)
Winter Rose/Love Awake (Remastered 1993)
Run Devil Run
Label Parlophone
Producer
Paul McCartney/Chris Thomas
Year of release: 1999
Thanks, Chris, for your many contributions to music! Your reputation for quality productions is certainly assured!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK – IT’S ALL TOO MUCH
It’s All Too Much
It’s All Too Much is the unique memoir by music industry veteran David Stark, who grew up in north London during the 1960s as a dedicated Beatles fan and was lucky enough to meet his musical heroes on various memorable occasions. From gate-crashing the Yellow Submarine film premiere in 1968 (aged just fifteen) and ending up sitting directly behind the group, to meeting all of them individually in some extraordinary circumstances, David has some highly entertaining stories about his many Beatles…
