Recording "All You Need Is Love" #3

About

On May 18, 1967, Brian Epstein signed a contract for The Beatles to appear as Britain’s representatives on “Our World”, a live television production that would be broadcast internationally via satellite on June 25. For this momentous occasion, The Beatles chose to record “All You Need Is Love”, a track written by John Lennon, and perform parts of it live.

The Beatles began recording “All You Need Is Love” on June 14, 1967, at Olympic Sound Studios, and continued working on it at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, on June 19. A mono mix was prepared on June 21, which was used as a reference for the orchestra’s scoring by George Martin.

On June 17, Mike Vickers, a member of Manfred Mann, was asked to write the orchestra arrangement, as George Martin had some personal constraints. Mike Vickers was also asked to conduct the orchestra during the rehearsals and live recordings, as George Martin would be busy producing the session on the day of the broadcast. He completed the writing of the score on June 22.

On this day, June 23, from 8 to 11 pm in Abbey Road Studio 1, the 13-piece orchestra, composed of four violins, two cellos, two tenor saxophones, two trombones, two trumpets, an accordion, and a flügelhorn, was brought in for the first rehearsals.

“All You Need Is Love” was actually quite simple when it was first presented and routined, but it grew more and more complicated as it got structured. Even though it was a Lennon composition, I noticed that Paul was taking charge to a great degree, certainly in terms of making suggestions and interfacing with the classical musicians, many of whom (like trumpeter David Mason) had worked with us before. Because George Martin wanted to remain in the control room, Mike Vickers of the band Manfred Mann was recruited to conduct.

Geoff Emerick – From “Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles“, 2006

Ten takes, numbered 34 to 43, were recorded on this day, with John Lennon on vocals, Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals, George Harrison on guitar and backing vocals, Ringo Starr on drums and the orchestra. The orchestra returned to EMI Studios for additional rehearsals the following day and to perform live during the broadcast on June 25.

On this day, the decision was made to release “All You Need Is Love” as a single after the broadcast.

On the Friday evening, in the middle of a dress rehearsal, Brian Epstein came in and held a meeting with George Martin and the band in the Studio One control room, during which they debated the wisdom of rush-releasing the upcoming performance as a single. John, of course, was keen—it was his song, after all—and it didn’t take much effort to talk Paul into it, either, since he knew the value of the massive publicity they would be receiving by virtue of the broadcast, thereby guaranteeing huge record sales. Only George Harrison was reluctant; presumably he was worried that he might muff his solo, even though it was only four bars long. He was finally persuaded when George Martin assured him that we could stay late afterward and do any necessary repair work. Their decision, of course, added even more pressure on me. I now had to not only do the sound for the live broadcast—the BBC truck parked outside would be receiving a feed of the monitor mix I would be creating as the Beatles and the orchestral musicians were playing live—but I had to get everything recorded cleanly on tape as well.

Geoff Emerick – From “Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles“, 2006

Last updated on February 26, 2024

Songs recorded

Staff

Musicians on "All You Need Is Love"

Paul McCartney:

Bass, Backing vocals

Ringo Starr:

Drums

John Lennon:

Lead vocals

George Harrison:

Backing vocals, Guitar

Sidney Sax:

Violin

David Mason:

Trumpet

Lionel Ross:

Cello

Patrick Halling:

Violin

Eric Bowie:

Violin

John Ronayne:

Violin

Jack Holmes:

Cello

Rex Morris:

Tenor saxophone

Don Honeywill:

Tenor saxophone

Stanley Woods:

Flugelhorn, Trumpet

Evan Watkins:

Trombone

Harry Spain:

Trombone

Jack Emblow:

Accordion

Mike Vickers:

Conductor

Production staff

George Martin:

Producer

Geoff Emerick:

Engineer

Richard Lush:

Second Engineer