Recording "Here Comes The Sun", "Something"

On this day, The Beatles recorded overdubs for the two songs from George Harrison to be released on the “Abbey Road” album, “Here Comes The Sun” and “Something“.

The basic track of “Here Comes The Sun” was recorded on July 7, and the first overdubs were added on July 8. On this day, more overdubs were added onto take 15.

From 2:30 pm to 7 pm in Studio Three, George, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr added handclaps (on track eight). George also recorded a harmonium track (on track five), which would later be erased.

“Here Comes The Sun” would receive more overdubs on August 6 and August 11.

From 7 pm to 12:30 am, The Beatles moved to Studio Two, to work on “Something” and added overdubs onto take 36 (discarding the tape reduction named take 37 done on July 11).

George re-recorded his lead vocals, replacing the ones recorded on July 11.

George was once again very nervous when it came time to do the vocal. No matter what we did to create a vibe – turning the lights down low, lighting incense – he just couldn’t get comfortable. It was a difficult song to sing, but in the end he did a magnificent job…It was interesting: George never seemed to get cold feet doing backing vocals, but whenever he had to do a lead vocal, he’d lose his confidence.

Geoff Emerick (who didn’t engineer this session, but seems to have been present) – From “Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles“, 2006

Paul then added backing vocals; and Ringo some additional cymbals and handclaps onto track four, erasing John Lennon’s piano performance from the original rhythm track.

Lewisohn noted that Harrison, McCartney and Starr added handclaps to Something during this session, but audio evidence supports the addition of both drums (cymbals only) and handclaps to the track. As the parts do not overlap, it is likely that Starr performed both.

From “The Beatles Recording Reference Manual – Volume 5” by Jerry Hammack

Two reduction mixes – labelled Takes 38 and 39 – were then made, to end the day. “Something” would receive its final (orchestral) overdubs on August 15.

Session activities

1. Here Comes The Sun

   Written by George Harrison

   Recording • SI onto take 15

2. Something

   Written by George Harrison

   Recording • SI onto take 36

3. Something

   Written by George Harrison

   Tape copying • Tape reduction take 36 into take 38

4. Something

   Written by George Harrison

   Tape copying • Tape reduction take 36 into take 39

Staff

Musicians on "Something"

Musicians on "Here Comes The Sun"

Production staff

Going further

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!

Buy on Amazon

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".

Buy on Amazon

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.

Buy on Amazon