Recording "Oh! Darling", "Octopus's Garden"

Saturday, April 26, 1969 • For The Beatles

Album Songs recorded during this session officially appear on the Abbey Road LP.
Studio:
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Songs recorded


1.

Oh! Darling

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Recording • SI onto take 26


2.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 1


3.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 2

Album Officially released on Anthology 3


4.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 3


5.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 4


6.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 5


7.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 6


8.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 7


9.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 8


10.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 9

Album Officially released on Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)


11.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 10


12.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 11


13.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 12


14.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 13


15.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 14


16.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 15


17.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 16


18.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 17


19.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 18


20.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 19


21.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 20


22.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 21


23.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 22


24.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 23


25.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 24


26.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 25


27.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 26


28.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 27


29.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 28


30.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 29


31.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 30


32.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 31


33.

Octopus's Garden

Written by Ringo Starr

Recording • Take 32

Staff

Musicians on "Octopus's Garden"

Paul McCartney:
Bass
Ringo Starr:
Lead vocals, Drums
John Lennon:
Rhythm guitar
George Harrison:
Electric guitar

Production staff

Chris Thomas:
Producer
Jeff Jarratt:
Engineer
Richard Langham:
Second Engineer

About

This 4:30 pm to 4:15 am session started with Paul McCartney recording his first lead vocal for his composition “Oh! Darling“, wiping Billy Preston’s organ recorded on April 20 in the process.

Paul would re-record this lead vocal on July 17, 18, 22 and 23 to reach the desired quality.


The Beatles then work on Ringo Starr’s composition “Octopus’s Garden“. After some rehearsals to perfect the arrangement, they recorded 32 takes of the backing track, with Paul on bass (track one), Ringo on drums (track two) and guide vocals (track eight), George Harrison on electric guitar (track three) and John Lennon on rhythm guitar (track four).

Take 2 was released on “Anthology 3” in 1996.

In August 1968, two months after recording his first solo song composition Don’t Pass Me By, Ringo took a break from the White Album sessions and, while on holiday, was inspired to begin writing a second number, Octopus’s Garden. The piece developed over the next few months and, in April 1969, the Beatles recorded the basic track for Abbey Road. Knowing that he would re-record his vocal as an overdub, Ringo sang a guide while playing the drums, with Paul contributing bass and John and George guitars. The master, Take 32, was brimful of added sound effects and backing vocals, but this Anthology selection is Take 2, concluding with a humorously ironic statement from the end of Take 8.

From the liner notes of “Anthology 3

The incomplete take 9 was released on “Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)” in 2019.

Take 32 was considered to be the best and would receive its first overdubs on April 29, 1969.

From Facebook – 26 April 1969 – Photo by Linda McCartney / Linda Enterprises Ltd. © Paul McCartney (https://www.lindamccartney.com/)

Last updated on December 28, 2021

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