Recording "Polythene Pam", "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"

Monday, July 28, 1969 • For The Beatles

Part of


"Abbey Road" sessions

Feb 22 - Aug 25, 1969 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Abbey Road

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

Master release


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About

The previous day, The Beatles had recorded the basic track of “Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window“ (the two songs were recorded as one track) and the first overdubs.

On this day, from 2:30 pm to 8 pm, they added more overdubs. Ringo Starr added tambourine, cowbell and maracas. George Harrison added some electric guitar, John Lennon some acoustic guitar. Paul McCartney recorded some double-tracked lead vocals.

Mark Lewisohn indicates an electric piano and an ordinary piano were also added. However, those are not heard on the final result.

At the end of the session, a reduction mix was made, which was numbered take 40.

The Beatles would add the final overdubs to “Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Windowon July 30.

Last updated on December 26, 2021

Songs recorded


1.

Polythene Pam

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Recording • SI onto take 39


2.

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Recording • SI onto take 39


3.

Polythene Pam

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Tape copying • Tape reduction take 39 into take 40


4.

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Written by Lennon - McCartney

Tape copying • Tape reduction take 39 into take 40

Staff

Musicians on "Polythene Pam"

Ringo Starr:
Tambourine, Percussion, Maracas
John Lennon:
Acoustic guitar
George Harrison:
Electric guitar

Musicians on "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"

Paul McCartney:
Lead vocals
Ringo Starr:
Tambourine, Percussion, Maracas
John Lennon:
Acoustic guitar
George Harrison:
Electric guitar

Production staff

George Martin:
Producer
Geoff Emerick:
Engineer
Phil McDonald:
Engineer
John Kurlander:
Second engineer

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!

Shop 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.

Shop on Amazon


If we like to think, in all modesty, that the Paul McCartney Project is the best online ressource for everything Paul McCartney, The Beatles Bible is for sure the definitive online site focused on the Beatles. There are obviously some overlap in terms of content between the two sites, but also some major differences in terms of approach.

Read more on The Beatles Bible

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