John's voice

[Sun King]

What do you think were the reasons why John's voice changed so much over the years? Even just between say 1964 and 1967 it sounded very different, and even more different by the 70s. Not necessarily worse, just different. I think Paul's voice changed slightly too, but not as noticeably as John's. Was it just a natural change as he got older, or for some other reason?

[nowheregirl]

I know what you mean, Sun King, his voice definitely changed a lot, but I think there was more than one reason.

1. As you say, his voice would have changed naturally with time, though maybe not that quickly.

2. John didn't like the sound of his own voice (hard to believe but it's true) so he liked to use new recording techniques, double tracking, special effects etc to make it sound different.

3. Smoking and drinking can affect your voice. I've also heard some people suggest that weight can also have an effect, and John's weight did seem to go up and down a lot - maybe that would make a difference.

4. After 1966 when the Beatles stopped touring he would have been singing less often.

5. He had also started singing different types of songs which needed a different vocal style. I think he was choosing to sing in a way that was more appropriate to each individual song, if that makes sense!

There are probably other reasons I haven't thought of, but I think it was a combination of the things I've mentioned above.

[carlozzi006]

2. John didn't like the sound of his own voice (hard to believe but it's true) so he liked to use new recording techniques, double tracking, special effects etc to make it sound different.


John was so insecure about his voice during the recording of Double Fantasy that he layered it over and over, which took a very long time since he was a perfectionist.

[nocturnalquadruped]

One thing I did notice with John in interviews after he left England and was living in New York he acquired an American accent when talking. Having moved to Australia I can testify that the slang of the adopted nation creeps in, it is hard to avoid. I accept that singers tend to sing in an American accent no matter where they are from but surely talking it a lot would have affected the amount of Americanism that came through when he was singing. I think Walls and Bridges is a great example as it seems to me that it is hard to pick as an album recorded by an Englishman.

[bungalowbill]

carlozzi006 said:

John was so insecure about his voice during the recording of Double Fantasy that he layered it over and over, which took a very long time since he was a perfectionist.

I find it sad that he felt that way about his voice. I think he had one of the best voices in the history of music.

[bungalowbill]

nocturnalquadruped said:

One thing I did notice with John in interviews after he left England and was living in New York he acquired an American accent when talking. Having moved to Australia I can testify that the slang of the adopted nation creeps in, it is hard to avoid. I accept that singers tend to sing in an American accent no matter where they are from but surely talking it a lot would have affected the amount of Americanism that came through when he was singing. I think Walls and Bridges is a great example as it seems to me that it is hard to pick as an album recorded by an Englishman.

Yes, that is probably another factor in why his singing voice changed so much. I agree Walls and Bridges sounds more American than Imagine or Plastic Ono Band for example. Now, George Harrison spent most of his time until his death living in England (at Friar Park) and you could still hear his Liverpool accent on the Brainwashed album (the One Our Father three Hail Marys line in P2 Vatican Blues for example! ). Though not being English myself, what do I know? ;D

[nocturnalquadruped]

bungalowbill said:

nocturnalquadruped said:

One thing I did notice with John in interviews after he left England and was living in New York he acquired an American accent when talking. Having moved to Australia I can testify that the slang of the adopted nation creeps in, it is hard to avoid. I accept that singers tend to sing in an American accent no matter where they are from but surely talking it a lot would have affected the amount of Americanism that came through when he was singing. I think Walls and Bridges is a great example as it seems to me that it is hard to pick as an album recorded by an Englishman.

Yes, that is probably another factor in why his singing voice changed so much. I agree Walls and Bridges sounds more American than Imagine or Plastic Ono Band for example. Now, George Harrison spent most of his time until his death living in England (at Friar Park) and you could still hear his Liverpool accent on the Brainwashed album (the One Our Father three Hail Marys line in P2 Vatican Blues for example! ). Though not being English myself, what do I know? ;D

You might not be English so the accent thing can be difficult, but you make sense, I agree Georges accent is prominent on Brainwashed. He always did sound like a scouser, Mimi used to frown on him because of the broadness of his accent.

[nowheregirl]

Well, George always had a stronger accent than John anyway, but you're right bungalowbill, he never really lost his accent the way John did.

[nowheregirl]

nocturnalquadruped said:

He always did sound like a scouser, Mimi used to frown on him because of the broadness of his accent.

That reminds me of something I read in a biography - Paul and George were visiting John at Mendips one day, and when Mimi caught them sitting there wearing pink shirts and talking with Scouse accents she threw them out of the house because she thought they were a bad influence on John.

[chocolate_onion]

admin said:

nocturnalquadruped said:

He always did sound like a scouser, Mimi used to frown on him because of the broadness of his accent.

That reminds me of something I read in a biography - Paul and George were visiting John at Mendips one day, and when Mimi caught them sitting there wearing pink shirts and talking with Scouse accents she threw them out of the house because she thought they were a bad influence on John.

Oh I didn't knew that . But I've read that after John became famous Mimi berate him for speaking in a Liverpudlian accent, and then John answer her "That's showbusiness, they want me to speak more Liverpool" I knew that Mimi didn't want him to speak like that coz she don't want people to think that they were "working class" or so.

[misslennon08]

special effects
maturing with his vocal chords

i noticed in the later years
it sounded at a higher pitch..

ive never really payed attention
to the difference though..
its always brilliant to me!
=D

[taylor]

I never paid much attention to the change in his voice but I have noticed a change in the tone of his voice. For instance, he sang at a higher pitch on some of his songs with The Beatles and solo. I also notice when I listen to Double Fantasy he almost sounds American. I was a little surprised when I first listened closely to the song. I loved his Brittish accent and I miss it on his later cd's.