Beatles?

[lenron]

So here's one for you all: Are the Beatles...er....were the Beatles "prog"? Oh sure, they were progressive in many ways in terms of success and taking pop/rock music to a new level of success. But how about their music itself? Their early stuff notwithstanding, can it be said that the latter years of Beatles music is truly "prog", the term we use to describe our most beloved of musics?

Some commentary about some key Beatles tunes that might be worthy of being called "prog":

1968's "Revolution 9", a drug-induced exploration of sound and sound textures, spoken word, and noise, ushered in a new era of experimentation at Abbey Road studios. One of the first noise pieces on a major rock record. Prog?

1965, the song is "Norwegian Wood". Ok, so all it had was a sitar in it. But it was 1965, not 1968. Prog?

"What's The New Mary Jane". A never released song from 1968's White Album sessions, this tune had a 2 to 3 minute interlude of experimental noise and sound textures, but was more structured than "Revolution 9". Prog?

"Strawberry Fields Forever" utilized a then-brand new and super expensive Mellotron for its intro. As well as several Moog overdubs, a 40 piece orchestra, reverse tape tracks, numerous sound effects, and more. "I Am The Walrus" was the same story, but also adding a 1960's UK radio show broadcast over the tumultous coda. Prog?

1966's Revolution record ended with the decidedly twisted "Tomorrow Never Knows". The tune, complete with a great yet uncomfortable drum beat, "nowhere near in key" randomly spliced recordings of synthesizers and strings "cut and pasted" to be used as a sort of "riff", reverse tape (on lead guitar esp.), vocal effects, Moogs abound, and more, culminate into one of 1966's most experimental recordings on a major rock record. Prog?

So was all this before the famed prog movement of the 1970's? Can they even be compared? There are many more examples, but I think I'll leave you with the preceeding, and see if I can't get some others' insight into this question. And yes, I am very much a devout Beatles fan, and have been since my birth in 1975 (thanks a lot, Dad). hehe.

Comments?