Recording and mixing "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Oh! Darling"
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- Album Songs recorded during this session officially appear on the Abbey Road LP.
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Songs recorded
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Recording • Take 4
Album Officially released on Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Staff
Musicians on "Oh! Darling"
- Paul McCartney:
- Vocals, Piano
- Ringo Starr:
- Drums
- John Lennon:
- Guitar
- George Harrison:
- Bass
- Billy Preston:
- Hammond organ
Musicians on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
- Ringo Starr:
- Conga drums
- Billy Preston:
- Hammond organ
Production staff
About
On this day, from 7 pm to 12:45 am, work continued on John Lennon’s “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and the basic track of Paul McCartney’s “Oh! Darling” was recorded.
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” had been recorded at Trident Studios from February 22 to 24. The Beatles had added some overdubs on April 18. On this day, conga drums played by Ringo Starr and a Hammond organ played by Billy Preston were overdubbed onto what was called take 1 (on track six).
At this stage, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” was considered complete but John decided to add more overdubs on August 8, 1969.
“Oh! Darling” had been rehearsed numerous times (on January 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 22, 23, 27 and 31) during the “Get Back” sessions in January 1969. On this day, The Beatles decided to properly record it.
They recorded 26 takes of the backing track, with Paul on piano (track four) and guide vocals (track six), John on guitar (track five), George Harrison on bass (track one), Billy Preston on organ on some of the takes (track three) and Ringo on drums (track two).
Take four, with Billy Preston on organ, was released on “Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)” in 2019.
Take 26 was deemed the best. The first overdubs would be added on April 26, wiping Billy Preston’s organ in the process.
At the end of the session, a stereo mix was made in the control room for Paul to review.
Last updated on December 28, 2021