- UK release date:
- May 30, 1969
- Publisher:
- Apple Records
- Reference:
- R 5786
Timeline
More from year 1969
Related sessions
This album has been recorded during the following studio sessions
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Track list
Side 1
1.
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.
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
About
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
Last updated on November 27, 2021
Going further
Solid State: The Story of "Abbey Road" and the End of the Beatles
Acclaimed Beatles historian Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account yet of the writing, recording, mixing, and reception of Abbey Road. In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun," which all emerged as classics.
If we like to think, in all modesty, that the Paul McCartney Project is the best online ressource for everything Paul McCartney, The Beatles Bible is for sure the definitive online site focused on the Beatles. There are obviously some overlap in terms of content between the two sites, but also some major differences in terms of approach.
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