Recording and mixing "Getting Better"

Thursday, March 23, 1967 • For The Beatles

Album Songs recorded during this session officially appear on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono) LP.
Studio:
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Songs recorded


1.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Recording • SI onto take 14


2.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Tape copying • Tape reduction take 14 into take 15


3.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Recording • SI onto take 15


4.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 1 from take 15


5.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 2 from take 15


6.

Getting Better

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 3 from take 15

Album Officially released on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)

Staff

Musicians on "Getting Better"

Paul McCartney:
Lead vocals
Ringo Starr:
Congas
John Lennon:
Backing vocals
George Harrison:
Electric guitar, Backing vocals
?:
Handclaps

Production staff

Ken Scott:
Second engineer
Peter Vince:
Engineer, Producer

About

Getting Better” was recorded on March 9 and 10, 1967. On March 21, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison attempted to record vocals for the track, but the session was stopped after John accidentally took LSD in the studio.

Two days later, The Beatles resumed the session at EMI Studios. Producer George Martin and engineers Geoff Emerick and Richard Lush were unavailable, so Peter Vince acted as both the producer and balance engineer, while Ken Scott assisted as the second engineer.

During the session, Paul re-recorded his double-tracked lead vocals, and John and George added double-tracked backing vocals. All those vocals were added to Take 14, filling tracks three and four.

After that, a tape reduction, named Take 15, was done to combine the two vocal tracks and free up track four. The latest overdubs were then added: some congas played by Ringo Starr, a guitar overdub provided by George, and some handclaps (the provider being unknown.)

Three mono mixes were then done, labelled Remix Mono 1 to 3, with RM3 being released on the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” mono album. The session, which started at 7 pm, ended at 3:45 am.

The stereo mix was made on April 17, 1967.

Last updated on December 31, 2023

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