Tape copying, recording "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

The Beatles had recorded 35 takes of John Lennon’s “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” on February 22, 1969. On February 23, a master take was assembled from takes 9, 20 and 32.

On this day, February 24, a copy of the edited master was made. Some overdubs were also recorded, but those efforts would be dropped. From the “Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)” book by Kevin Howlett:

A safety copy of this edited-together version was made, but a tape also exists from a Trident session on 24 February with overdubs of two piano parts, a tambourine, more guitars and a ‘backwards cymbal’ (having been recorded with the tape reversed). There is also a recently discovered tape, with the same date on the box, that has an undocumented Abbey Road recording of a faster version of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” lasting 6’23”. ‘New mixer tape’ is written on the tape box. With tones, mains hum and clicks heard across the tracks, The Beatles’ casual performance appears to be a jam for the benefit of engineers testing the new equipment.

From the “Abbey Road (50th anniversary boxset)” book by Kevin Howlett

Work on “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” would be put on hold for the next month and a half, and would restart on April 18, 1969.

Session activities

1. I Want You (She's So Heavy)

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Tape copying • Tape copying of unnumbered Trident master

Staff

Musicians

Production staff

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