Recording and mixing: "Piggies", "Glass Onion", "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?", "Rocky Raccoon", "Long, Long, Long"

About

This was another long day, from 7 pm to 7:15 am, spent at Abbey Road. Overdubs were added to “Piggies“, “Glass Onion” and “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road“. Time was also spent mixing “Glass Onion“, “Rocky Raccoon” and “Long, Long, Long“.

The Beatles had worked on “Piggies” and “Glass Onion” in September when George Martin was on holiday (Chris Thomas was producing during his absence). When he came back and listened to what had been recorded during his absence, he suggested writing some string arrangements for the two songs.

[The] mono mix of Glass Onion, made on 26 September 1968, encompasses sound effects compiled by John Lennon for his song: a telephone, an organ note, the smashing of glass and the then BBC-tv soccer commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme acclaiming “It’s a goal!” over the sound of a roaring crowd. George Martin, on holiday at the time, heard the mix on his return and suggested a different approach: he scored the song for a string arrangement, recorded on 10 October, that rendered this mix and the FX ideas redundant and the tape to the vault shelf labelled “do not use”.

From “Anthology 3” liner notes

On this day, eight players on violins, violas, and cellos were in the studio to record those arrangements. The string arrangements were added onto “Piggies” take 12 and “Glass Onion” take 33.

“Glass Onion” was then mixed in stereo and mono – those mixes were released on the White Album. The mixing of “Piggies” would be done the day after, on October 11.

“Rocky Raccoon” had been recorded and mixed in mono on August 15, 1968. On this day, the stereo mix released on the White Album was made.

“Long, Long, Long” had been recorded from October 7 to October 9; and on this day, the stereo mix released on the White Album was made.

Four attempts at this stereo mix was done, undoubtedly the fourth try being the one used on the finished album. George’s acoustic guitar on the rhythm track was mixed quite low and the harmony on his lead vocals begins the first time he sings the word “long.” Much oscillator waggling was done on Paul’s organ part during this mix, which presumably was done manually by Chris Thomas as he had done for previous “White Album” mixes.

From beatlesebooks.com

The mono mix would be created on October 14, after a first attempt tried out on October 12.

Paul McCartney didn’t take part in the overdubs and mixing activities. He was in Studio Three with engineer Ken Townsend, and completed the recording of “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” started the day before.

At the end of the previous day, Take 5 had been recorded with Paul on acoustic guitar and vocals; and a piano overdub had been added. On this day, Paul McCartney added his bass part, and Ringo Starr was invited to play drums. Paul then re-recorded his lead vocals, erasing his original acoustic guitar line in the process, although percussion slaps on the instrument were kept. In the end, not much of the original Take 5 was left.

Handclaps and a second vocal part were then added. A reduction mix was made, numbered Take 6. And Paul finally added an electric slide guitar overdubs.

“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” would be mixed on October 16.

Last updated on September 11, 2021

Songs recorded

Staff

Musicians on "Glass Onion"

John Underwood:

viola

Eldon Fox:

cello

Eric Bowie:

violin

Henry Datyner:

violin

Reginald Kilbey:

cello

Norman Lederman:

violin

Ronald Thomas:

violin

Keith Cummings:

viola

Musicians on "Piggies"

John Underwood:

viola

Eldon Fox:

cello

Eric Bowie:

violin

Henry Datyner:

violin

Reginald Kilbey:

cello

Norman Lederman:

violin

Ronald Thomas:

violin

Keith Cummings:

viola

Musicians on "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?"

Paul McCartney:

Handclaps, Bass, Lead vocals, Electric guitar

Ringo Starr:

Drums

Production staff

George Martin:

Producer

Ken Scott:

Engineer

Ken Townsend:

Second Engineer

John Smith:

Second Engineer