George's slide guitar work in The Beatles?

[Derek]

To this day, i don't know what to think of "Free As a Bird". Sometimes it sounds like Paul joined the Wilburys, but other times it sounds "Beatley". It's kinda hard for me to imagine a Beatle song with George's signature slide guitar. With that in mind i will say that the guitar on "Something" does sound like a slide, or he's playing it like a slide. But with that song alone, you can hear in his guitar playing the transition from "Beatle George" to just George of the solo years. But my main question is this: Could The Beatles have carried on with that slide guitar sound. Or would it cease to be a "Beatle sound"? I just can't imagine The Beatles with that sound. I wonder if George purposely changed his style for the solo career.

[mervap]

His sound was evolving quickly by the end of the 60's...he was introduced to the slide guitar by Delaney Bramlett around 1968. I think the "Beatles Sound" would have evolved nicely to include his slide playing, but I think staying in the group would have stunted his growth as a songwriter somewhat.

[Derek]

I think staying in the group would have stunted his growth as a songwriter somewhat.

That's what i always thought. I kinda think if John wasnt killed, i think John & Paul wouldve reunited with Ringo...but not George.
If any of the 4 ever needed to go solo the most, it was George. He seemed to have benefitted the most from the "divorce"

[mervap]

Yeah, it always seemed that George was the most uncomfortable Beatle, at least after the initial rush of fame overtook them.

[Paperback Writer]

No doubt, George's slide guitar would fit into the Beatles sound, AS IT DID on "Something" and "For You Blue."

I also heard a lot of quasi-slide over the earlier years, there was often a brief hold-slide move on the 12-string which enhanced the bell ringing sound on some songs, to my ears.

[2 of 3]

I love his slide work on Day after Day. There are a lot of different stories about that song. Some say it's George, some say it's Pete Ham(who was a great slider too)...other stories say it's an amalgamation of both guys. In any case, I do love that George "sound". He does have a sound IMO...and  the only person so far that fooled me was Tom Petty's guitarist.....he plays exactly like George. 

[dotwalrus]

No doubt, George's slide guitar would fit into the Beatles sound, AS IT DID on "Something" and "For You Blue."

I also heard a lot of quasi-slide over the earlier years, there was often a brief hold-slide move on the 12-string which enhanced the bell ringing sound on some songs, to my ears.

oh totally, i agree. georges slide work was definitely an extension of the beatles sound, a perfect fit for many songs. the beatles were very careful not to overdo some things and some songe genres. however, i was under the impression that it was john playing guitar on For You Blue, but i also think of george when i hear that song.