Recording “I’m Looking Through You”

This was the eighth day of work on The Beatles’ new album “Rubber Soul.” From 2:30 pm to 7 pm, The Beatles focused on Paul McCartney’s song “I’m Looking Through You.”

Only one take of the backing track was recorded, with Paul on nylon-string acoustic guitar and lead vocals, John Lennon and George Harrison on handclaps, and Ringo Starr on maracas.

Overdubs followed. Paul recorded his bass part, John added an organ part, George added an electric guitar, and Ringo added drums. Further percussion — woodblocks and bongos — was also added, and Paul double-tracked his lead vocals.

This Take 1, with its overdubs, was released on “Anthology 2” in 1996. The Beatles chose to remake the song on November 6, and later recorded a second remake on November 10.

The Beatles spent nine hours on 24 October working on I’m Looking Through You, perfecting a rhythm track and then overdubbing lead and harmony vocals on to this new Paul McCartney composition. For two weeks the result was considered to be the master, until a remake was started on 6 November (and another one followed on the 10th) that added the two “Why, tell me why” choruses and caused the fine first version to remain unissued.

From Anthology 2 liner notes

Session activities

1. I'm Looking Through You

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • Take 1

2. I'm Looking Through You

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • SI onto take 1

   AlbumOfficially released on Anthology 2

Staff

Musicians on "I'm Looking Through You"

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!

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The Beatles Recording Reference Manual - Volume 2 - Help! through Revolver (1965-1966)

The second book of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC)-nominated series, "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 2: Help! through Revolver (1965-1966)" follows the evolution of the band from the end of Beatlemania with "Help!" through the introspection of "Rubber Soul" up to the sonic revolution of "Revolver". From the first take to the final remix, discover the making of the greatest recordings of all time.Through extensive, fully-documented research, these books fill an important gap left by all other Beatles books published to date and provide a unique view into the recordings of the world's most successful pop music act.

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