Say WHAT?!?! 5 Crazy Music Facts That Will Totally Blow Your Mind

By: Ivan Munoz

1. An Early Session - Almost 40 Years Early!

The first recorded session for Sgt. Pepper technically took place in 1929 – In Camden, NJ of all places! You know those wacky sounds you hear on Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite? Those are tape loops that were cut up and subsequently spliced by George Martin to achieve that signature nebulous sound. The origins of the the original source material can be traced back to none other than Camden, NJ. Recorded by Raymond Sooy in 1929, at Victor’s 5th Street Trinity Studios, these were early film track sound effects, using the photophone, an early tape recording device.

2.Decade Defining Anthems and a Prominent Piano

Would you believe Hey Jude and Bohemian Rhapsody were played on the exact same piano? Well believe it or not, it’s true! This piano at the Trident Record Studio in London is both the luckiest and coolest piano of all time! On top of all this, it was also used to record George Harrison’s first solo album All Things Must Pass, and David Bowie’s Space Oddity. If only instruments could talk, what stories this one would tell.

3. Jack of all Trades, Master of…Not This One!

Leo Fender, widely credited as the inventor of the solid-body electric guitar and the electric bass, didn’t even play guitar! Leo was a master of electronics and assembly line efficiency, but had the help of musician and inventor Freddie Tavares, designer George Fullerton, and some other California musicians to aid in the steps of testing his designs and refining his electric instruments.

4. Sisterhood of the Traveling…Guitars?

Remember that piano from Hey Jude and Bohemian Rhapsody? Well there are a couple other instruments that have changed famous hands over the years and played on more than one or two iconic records.

Joan Jett’s famous white Gibson Melody Maker was given to her by Eric Carmen of The Raspberries. This guitar can be seen and heard on their 1974 hit Go All The Way, before it was her’s.

Johnny Marr owned and played a 1964 Rickenbacker 1993/12 12 string that had once belonged to Pete Townshend of The Who. Fortunately Marr, a huge Who fan, was able to get his hands on one of the guitars that didn’t get smashed

George Harrison gave his 1964 Gibson SG to Pete Ham of Badfinger. This guitar was used extensively by Harrison, and sometimes Lennon, in the studio during his Beatles tenure and can be seen in the 1966 music video for Rain.

Eric Clapton had his 1964 Gibson SG painted by The Fool, a popular Dutch art collective at the time. The guitar ultimately passed through the hands of Jackie Lomax and ultimately became Todd Rundgren.

5. Super Fan with a Master Plan

Steve Jobs, a devout Beatle fan, based his entire company off The Beatles and even borrowed the name Apple from them! In describing his relationship with Bill Gates, his fiercest business competitor, during a famous interview they shared, he quoted The Beatles song Two Of US and said “you and I have memories, longer than the rode that stretches out ahead”. There have been countless instances where Jobs has passionately spoken on his affinity towards his favorite group. I mean, where do you think he got the idea to wear those signature round glasses?

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About The Author

Ivan Munoz is a musician, bassist, singer, musicians advocate, and member of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Along with this Ivan can be found devoting his time to various musical projects, compositions, and working on musical instruments. Click the photo for more!