Recording "I Want To Tell You", mixing "Yellow Submarine"
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- Album Songs recorded during this session officially appear on the Revolver (UK Mono) LP.
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Songs recorded
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Staff
Musicians on "I Want To Tell You"
- Paul McCartney:
- Piano, Backing vocals, Handclaps
- Ringo Starr:
- Tambourine, Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon:
- Handclaps, Backing vocals
- George Harrison:
- Lead guitar, Lead vocals, Handclaps
- ?:
- Maracas
Production staff
About
This was the 25th day of the recording sessions for the “Revolver” album.
On this day, from 7 pm to 3:30 am, The Beatles started the recording of the George Harrison-penned song, “I Want To Tell You“, under the working title… “Laxton’s Superb“.
Exasperated by George’s habit of not titling his compositions, John Lennon jokingly named it “Granny Smith Part Friggin’ Two” – referring to the working title, derived from the Granny Smith apple, for “Love You To” (another “Revolver” track from George recorded some weeks ago). Following John’s remark, Geoff Emerick, the Beatles’ recording engineer, named the new song “Laxton’s Superb” after another variety of apples.
The Beatles recorded five takes of the rhythm track with George on electric guitar, Paul McCartney on piano and Ringo Starr on drums. Take 3 was deemed the best.
Overdubs onto take 3 followed, including George’s lead vocals, John and Paul’s backing vocals, an additional piano line by Paul, some tambourine from Ringo and some maracas played by an unknown Beatle.
A tape reduction (named take 4 like one of the backing track takes) was then made, and some handclaps (by the four Beatles) were overdubbed onto it.
One really got the impression that George was being given a certain amount of time to do his tracks whereas the others could spend as long as they wanted. One felt under more pressure when doing one of George’s songs.
Geoff Emerick
Work on “I Want To Tell You” would continue on the following day.
“Yellow Submarine” had been recorded on May 26, 1966, and June 1. The track was mixed in mono during this session, but this mix was never used. It would be mixed in mono on June 3, 1966, and in stereo on June 22.
Last updated on October 20, 2022