Expert: Steve - 5/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: Thirty years ago I had a tape of Beatles songs mixed from different albums.  One song had a distinct reverse symbol sound near the beginning.  I told my daughters about this, and then tried to find the song, but no luck.  Now my daughters think I have alzheimer's! Are they right?

ANSWER:  LOL Hiya Allan,
There could be a few pieces that you may had remembered reverse symbols. "Revolution 9" sounds as if it may start backwards. Also, there is a segment the Beatles placed at the end of the "Sgt. Pepper's..." album that doesn't allow the record needle to automatically end the vinyl disc (I always loved the thought of that trick).
 I am guessing that since you had a tape of songs, you may had placed the Abbey Road Side B medley on it rather than the two I just mentioned. The track "Because" might give the feeling of being a song that could be construed as something backwards, because it is. Lennon played the song with the melody of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" played in reverse.
 There are a few tracks that have backwards effects at the end of the songs. Once they fade out, they come back into a song again, and these could sound in reverse.  Versions of "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Helter Skelter" have these. Also, there is a section at the end of "Cry Baby Cry" from "The Beatles" (White Album) that goes into a throwaway ditty Paul had. The lyrics are "Can you take me back where I came from, can you take me back..."
 If you ever tried to play The White Album backward, John sounds as if he's saying, "Paul is a dead man miss him miss him miss him" in reverse at the end of "I'm So Tired" (or rather at the beginning, if you are playing it in reverse already).
Anyway, I hope your girls aren't correct in their prognosis on you, and I hope I was able to help out with your question.
 Take care - Steve

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Steve, I appear not to have phrased my question very well: the sound is at the start of, or in the early part of, a song. For years I wondered how the sound had been made but then I heard or read that it was the sound of a single symbol clash recorded and played backwards.  It is quite distinct.  But I can't find which song it was used in.
Regards, Allan

Answer
Hi Allan - I do have a backwards 30-second clip of the song, "Rain". I know what you're talking about (the reversal symbol clash). I also have about 30 seconds of the reversal of John's backwards words at the end of "Free As A Bird", but I didn't know if either one of them were ever released comercially.
Listen to "Revolution 9" - I do know there are backwards sounds in that piece.
 I wish you the best of luck in your search!!
  --Steve