Tuesday, January 21, 1969
Get Back sessions - January 21, 1969 - Day 10
For The Beatles
Last updated on February 17, 2024
Tuesday, January 21, 1969
For The Beatles
Last updated on February 17, 2024
The "Get Back / Let It Be" sessions
January 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be (Limited Edition)
Recording studio: Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Previous session Jan 16, 1969 • Get Back sessions - January 16, 1969 - Day 10
Article Jan 20, 1969 • The Beatles test their new recording studio at 3 Savile Row
Article Jan 21, 1969 • Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass is last seen
Session Jan 21, 1969 • Get Back sessions - January 21, 1969 - Day 10
Session Jan 22, 1969 • Get Back sessions - January 22, 1969 - Day 11
Session Jan 23, 1969 • Get Back sessions - January 23, 1969 - Day 12
AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "Let It Be (Limited Edition)" LP
This was the tenth day of rehearsals for the “Get Back” project and the first one at Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row.
On January 10, 1969, George Harrison had walked out from the “Get Back” sessions at Twickenham Studios. On January 15, the three other Beatles had convinced him to come back. One of the conditions imposed by George was that the sessions would have to move to the basement studio at Apple’s headquarters, being built by Alexis Mardas, nicknamed “Magic Alex”. On January 20, The Beatles entered the studios but quickly realized it was unusable. George Martin came to the rescue and borrowed two portable four-track recorders from EMI, and long-time Beatles’ engineer Geoff Emerick was given the task of building and setting up a recording studio with the loaned equipment. So on this day, January 21, The Beatles formally restarted the “Get Back” sessions after a one-week break.
First group rehearsal of “Dig A Pony”
From DSSI Book:
What a difference a week makes! Having moved to their new London studio in the Apple’s basement, The Beatles exhibit none of the disharmony that had plagued the group at Twickenham. Indeed, John and George arrive before Paul and seem to be getting along fine, to the point of singing “You Are My Sunshine” to each other as the cameras roll.
This appears to have been an abbreviated session, which didn’t begin until after lunch – perhaps because the recording equipment was not ready, or maybe because the group was simply tired of getting up earlier than usual to film a documentary no one was particularly enthusiastic about anymore.
If Paul’s psychological withdrawal on the 14th signified the collapse of The Beatles’ spiritual center, the morning of the 21st represents a new musical low. The performances are so bad that the tapes are barely listenable and, even though their personal issues have been worked out (or put aside) there are still some serious musical problems plaguing the group. Nonetheless, they have Glyn Johns record a few numbers on multi-track tape and, for the first time, they’re able to listen back to professional recordings of their new material. They couldn’t have been pleased with the results.
From 21 January 1969: Get Back/Let It Be sessions: day 10 (beatlesbible.com):
Harrison had agreed to rejoin The Beatles on 15 January 1969, though not without certain conditions being met. It was at his insistence that they work at Apple Studios, and made it clear that he would leave for good unless the notion of a live show before an audience was abandoned. He did, however, agree to be filmed making an album, and for a potential live performance in some form.
The Beatles had actually assembled at Apple Studios the previous day, to test the equipment installed by Alexis ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas. It was found to be unsatisfactory, and new kit was borrowed from EMI. This day’s session didn’t start until the afternoon, perhaps due to installation issues.
In terms of repertoire, The Beatles had barely moved on following their week off. They still spent much time working on ‘Dig A Pony’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, but their playing was often sloppy and aimless.
One of the takes of ‘Dig A Pony’ was introduced by Lennon as “I Dig A Pigmy by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids. Phase one, in which Doris gets her oats.” This was later used as the opening for the Let It Be album, immediately before ‘Two Of Us’.
Paul McCartney brought a new song, ‘Every Night’, to the session. This was performed again on 24 January, but was eventually held over until his debut solo album McCartney.
A song by Harrison, titled ‘Window, Window’, was introduced on this day and took shape on 24, 25 and 26 January. However, despite recording a solo demo over a year later, it was never released in his lifetime.
John Lennon played a new song idea, ‘All I Want Is You’, which was unrelated to ‘Dig A Pony’. He also revived ‘Madman’, a song previously played on 14 January, but it, too, was taken no further.
The only song from this day to have been officially released was a version of ‘She Came In Through The Bathroom Window’, which appeared on 1996’s Anthology 3 (the date was incorrectly listed as 22 January in the album booklet), featuring Lennon on Fender Rhodes electric piano.
It was the last time Paul McCartney’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass was publicly seen, leading to the rumour that the bass was stolen at Apple Studios.
The performances are sequentially numbered using the nomenclature from the book "Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image" by Doug Sulpy. DDSI 2.01 is, for example, the first performance from January 2nd, while DDSI 31.65 is the sixty-fifth performance from January 31st. This numbering is at times different from the DDSI numbers used on the bootleg collection "A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions", likely because "Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image" was updated since the release of this collection.
My Rock And Roll Finger Is Bleeding
Recording • DDSI.21.01 • 7:38 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Window, Window
Recording • DDSI.21.02 • 1:11 • George Harrison only
Instrumental
Recording • DDSI.21.03 • 2:28
Do The Bunny Hop
Recording • DDSI.21.04 • 1:01 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Unknown
Recording • DDSI.21.05 • 0:48 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Instrumental
Recording • DDSI.21.06 • 6:44 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Somethin' Else
Recording • DDSI.21.07 • 2:16 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Blossom Dearie They Call Me
Recording • DDSI.21.08 • 1:12 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Blossom Dearie They Call Me
Recording • DDSI.21.09 • 1:09 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Oh How I Love The 12-Bar Blues
Recording • DDSI.21.10 • 0:18 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Daydream
Recording • DDSI.21.11 • 1:26 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
You Are My Sunshine
Recording • DDSI.21.12 • 1:59 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Whispering / I'm Beginning To See The Light
Recording • DDSI.21.13 • 3:23 • John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr only ; Paul McCartney arrived late.
Instrumental
Recording • DDSI.21.14 • 5:33
Instrumental
Recording • DDSI.21.15 • 2:27
Unknown
Recording • DDSI.21.16 • 0:27
Recording • DDSI.21.17 • 2:17
Recording • DDSI.21.18 • 1:29
Written by Paul McCartney
Recording • DDSI.21.19 • 1:13
Recording • DDSI.21.20 • 0:23
Recording • DDSI.21.21 • 2:10
Recording • DDSI.21.22 • 0:06
Written by Robert Lee Parker
Recording • DDSI.21.23 • 0:22
Written by Frank Guida, Joseph Royster
Recording • DDSI.21.24 • 3:47
Written by John Lennon
Recording • DDSI.21.25 • 2:18
Recording • DDSI.21.26 • 5:22
Written by Lee Hazlewood, Naomi Ford
Recording • DDSI.21.27 • 1:32
Recording • DDSI.21.28 • 4:16
Recording • DDSI.21.29 • 0:32
Written by Tommy Tucker
Recording • DDSI.21.30 • 1:54
Written by Arthur Crudup
Recording • DDSI.21.31 • 4:47 • Medley with "That's All Right Mama"
Written by Arthur Crudup
Recording • DDSI.21.31 • 4:47 • Medley with "My Baby Left Me"
Written by Ray Charles
Recording • DDSI.21.32 • 1:24
Written by Kokomo Arnold
Recording • DDSI.21.33 • 3:28 • Medley with "I'm A Man"
Written by Bo Diddley
Recording • DDSI.21.33 • 3:28 • Medley with "Milk Cow Blues"
Improvisation
Recording • DDSI.21.34 • 3:40 • Jan.21 - D2-08 - Improvisation 21.34
Written by Chuck Berry
Recording • DDSI.21.35 • 0:58
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Recording • DDSI.21.36 • 1:33
Written by Woody Harris
Recording • DDSI.21.37 • 1:44
All I Want Is You
Recording • DDSI.21.38 • 1:27
Recording • DDSI.21.39 • 0:13
Written by Johnny Cash
Recording • DDSI.21.40 • 0:33
Recording • DDSI.21.41 • 4:04
In The Middle Of An Island
Recording • DDSI.21.42 • 1:43 • Medley with "Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea"
Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea
Written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning
Recording • DDSI.21.42 • 1:43 • Medley with "In The Middle Of An Island"
Recording • DDSI.21.43 • 3:13
Improvisation / Good Rockin' Tonight
Recording • DDSI.21.44 • 5:00
Written by Chuck Berry, Ronnie Hawkins
Recording • DDSI.21.45 • 2:01
Recording • DDSI.21.46 • 1:00
Recording • DDSI.21.47 • 4:43
Written by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Fats Domino, Al Lewis, Sylvester Bradford
Recording • DDSI.21.48 • 0:27
Recording • DDSI.21.49 • 0:47
Recording • DDSI.21.50 • 0:07
Recording • DDSI.21.51 • 4:00
Written by O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley
Recording • DDSI.21.52 • 0:52
Unknown
Recording • DDSI.21.53 • 0:19
Recording • DDSI.21.54 • 2:57
Recording • DDSI.21.55 • 1:05
Dig A Pony / “Why Do You Treat Me So Bad”
Recording • DDSI.21.56 • 2:43
San Ferry Ann
Recording • DDSI.21.57 • 0:17
Recording • DDSI.21.58 • 0:31
You Gotta Give Back
Recording • DDSI.21.59 • 0:40
Recording • DDSI.21.60 • 4:42
Well, Well, Well
Recording • DDSI.21.61 • 0:45
Written by Jackie Lomax
Recording • DDSI.21.62 • 2:09
Recording • DDSI.21.63 • 3:12
Recording • DDSI.21.64 • 0:20
Recording • DDSI.21.65 • 3:55
Recording • DDSI.21.66 • 9:03
Recording • DDSI.21.67 • 0:56
Recording • DDSI.21.68 • 0:43
Recording • DDSI.21.69 • 1:16
Recording • DDSI.21.70 • 0:32
Written by Jim Lee
Recording • DDSI.21.71 • 1:06
Improvisation
Recording • DDSI.21.72 • 2:43
Recording • DDSI.21.73 • 3:25
Unknown
Recording • DDSI.21.74 • 0:28
Recording • DDSI.21.75 • 0:49
Written by George Harrison
Recording • DDSI.21.76 • 2:06
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Recording • DDSI.21.77 • 1:47
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Recording • DDSI.21.78 • 2:55
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Recording • DDSI.21.79 • 3:34
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Recording • DDSI.21.80 • 3:00
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Recording • DDSI.21.81 • 6:19
Written by John Lennon
Recording • DDSI.21.82 • 1:26
Is That A Chicken Joke
Recording • DDSI.21.83 • 1:54
Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image - The Complete, Unauthorized Story of The Beatles' 'Get Back' Sessions
The definitive guide to the Get Back sessions, released in 1994 and updated in 2007. In the author's own words:
New, completely revised edition! This new volume isn t just a compilation of material from the 1994 book Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image (also later published as 'Get Back') and 'The 910's Guide To The Beatles Outtakes Part Two: The Complete Get Back Sessions' (2001). I've re-listened to the entire canon of available Get Back session tapes, come up with a bunch of new conclusions (and even a handful of new identifications!), and pretty much re-written half the book from scratch. In addition, great effort has been made to improve readability of the book. Songs have now been put into groups (generally by Nagra reel, or series of them), rather than describing each performance separately, as was done in the original. In every way, this is the book we wished we could have written in 1994.
As the paperback version is out of print, you can buy a PDF version on the author's website
If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.
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