The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (UK - 1969)

Track list

Side 1

1. The Ballad Of John And Yoko

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:01 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Drums, Harmony vocals, Maracas, Piano John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Guitar-thumps percussion, Lead guitar, Vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

   Session Recording & overdubs: Apr 14, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   Session Mixing: Apr 14, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Side 2

1. Old Brown Shoe

   Written by George Harrison

   3:18 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Drums (?), Piano (?) Ringo Starr : Drums (?) John Lennon : Backing vocals, Piano (?) George Harrison : Guitars, Lead vocal, Organ George Martin : Producer Chris Thomas : Producer Jeff Jarratt : Recording engineer

   Session Recording & Overdubs: Apr 16, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   Session Overdubs & Mixing: Apr 18, 1969 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road

From Wikipedia:

Backed with Harrison’s “Old Brown Shoe”, the single was released in the United Kingdom on 30 May 1969; Lennon and Ono were performing a second Bed-In at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal at the time. The United States release followed a few days later on 4 June.

In the UK and Europe, it was the first Beatles single to be released in stereo. It was therefore the first release not given a mono mix.

A new Beatles single may be released almost immediately – only two weeks after the group’s “Get Back”, which climbs to No. 3 in this week’s NME Chart! The new record is called “The Ballad Of John And Yoko” and was recorded at an impromptu session at EMI’s St. John’s Wood, London, studios last week by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. An Apple spokesman confirmed the title and said it was possible that the new single could be released shortly, although no date was definite. Sales of the Beatles’ “Get Back” on Apple are expected to reach half-a-million within the next few days. […]

“The Ballad Of John And Yoko” features only Lennon and McCartney – Paul on drims and piano, John on guitar. It is described as “a very catchy song in typical ballad style”. […]

“The Ballad Of John And Yoko” tells the story of recent events in their life, including their marriage in Gibraltar, their “bed-in” in Amsterdam and their visit to Paris. […]

From New Musical Express, April 26, 1969

John Lennon this week confirmed that “Ballad Of John And Yoko” – reported in detail on last week’s NME News Pages – would be the Beatles’ next single. But he added that plans for the record to be released almost immediately by Apple had been abandoned because it was felt that it might affect sales of “Get Back”, which is No. 1 in this week’s NME Chart. […]

From New Musical Express, May 3, 1969

The Beatles’ new single – their official follow-up to “Get Back”, which is currently number one in the MM Pop 30 – is released tomorrow (Friday). It is “The Ballad Of John And Yoko”, which features John And Paul.

The B side is “Old Brown Shoe”, a George Harrison composition, which features all four Beatles. […]

From Melody Maker – May 31, 1969

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