Friday, July 4, 1969
Recording "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"
For The Beatles
Last updated on April 5, 2025
Friday, July 4, 1969
For The Beatles
Last updated on April 5, 2025
Feb 22 - Aug 25, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road
Recording studio: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road • London • UK
Session Jul 02, 1969 • Recording "Her Majesty", "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"
Session Jul 03, 1969 • Recording "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"
Session Jul 04, 1969 • Recording "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight"
Article Jul 05, 1969 • Paul McCartney attends The Rolling Stones' concert in Hyde Park
AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "Abbey Road" LP
On July 1, 1969, John Lennon was on holiday in Scotland when he was involved in a car accident along with his wife Yoko, his son Julian, and Yoko’s daughter, Kyoko. He was hospitalized on this day and would remain there until July 6, rejoining The Beatles’ sessions on July 9 — missing five days of work.
On this day, the three other Beatles continued the work on “Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight,“ following the sessions held on July 2 and July 3.
When they arrived at the studio at 2:45 pm, the production team was listening to BBC Radio 2’s live broadcast of the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles final between Great Britain’s Ann Jones and the USA’s Billie Jean King.
We were sitting there listening to the final before the Beatles came in. We had it coming through the mixing console. Then they came in and we thought, ‘Oh, blimey, that’s it,’ especially when they pulled faces and went ‘Uggghhh.’ But they said we could carry on listening for a while and then, a few minutes later, one of them asked how Ann Jones was getting on, so we put it through on the studio speakers so that they could listen, too!
Dave Harris – Technical engineer – From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, 1988
Once the match had concluded, The Beatles added some undocumented overdubs onto take 17.
It was a brief session, wrapping up by 5:30 pm.
“Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight” was then set aside for nearly a month, with further work resuming on July 30, 1969.
Recording • SI onto take 17
Recording • SI onto take 17
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions • Mark Lewisohn
The definitive guide for every Beatles recording sessions from 1962 to 1970.
We owe a lot to Mark Lewisohn for the creation of those session pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - the number of takes for each song, who contributed what, a description of the context and how each session went, various photographies... And an introductory interview with Paul McCartney!
The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 5: Let It Be through Abbey Road (1969 - 1970)
The fifth and final book of this critically acclaimed series, "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 5: Let It Be through Abbey Road (1969 - 1970)" follows The Beatles as they "get back to where they once belonged...". Not once, but twice. With "Let It Be", they attempted to recapture the spontaneity of their early years and recordings, while "Abbey Road" was a different kind of return - to the complexity, finish and polish that they had applied to their work beginning with "Revolver" and through to "The Beatles".
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 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.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
