PREV / NEXT
YEAR 1969
- Jan 01 -- `Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' number 1 (UK Record Retailer chart).
- Jan 02 -- Meeting at Twickenham Film Studios to begin rehearsals of new
songs for an (eventual) TV live show, for worldwide transmision. The rehearsals
are filmed. Start of `Let It Be' shooting. 1st session of Glyn Johns as Beatles
engineer. -- Ray Coleman interviews John about problems in Apple.
-- John and Yoko interview to Tony Secunda.
- Jan 03 -- 30 000 copies of `Two Virgins' are confiscated in New Jersey,
on a judge's order, accused of pornographic cover.
- Jan 09 -- End of exhibition `Guildford Minus 40' at the Royal Institute
Galleries, London.
- Jan 10 -- George leaves the Beatles.
- Jan 12 -- London premiere of `Wonderwall' at the Cinecenta.
- Jan 13 -- US LP release: `Yellow Submarine'.
- Jan 16 -- Last session of rehearsals at Twickenham Film Studios.
- Jan 17 -- UK LP release: `Yellow Submarine'.
- Jan 18 -- John speaks about important financial problems in Apple, warning
it will wrack because of its continuous losses. -- `Yellow Submarine'
LP, 1st week in the Top 30, entering the ranking (Billboard).
- Jan 20 -- `Let It Be' shootings move to the 3 Savile Row basement, where
a new studio has been installed. -- `Wonderwall' premiere
in London.
- Jan 22 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 1st week in the ranking (UK New Musical
Express chart). -- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row. Time unknown. Recording:
`Going Up The Country'; `All I Want Is You' (working title of `Dig A Pony');
`I've Got A Feeling'; `Don't Let Me Down'; `Rocker'; `Save The Last Dance
For Me'; `Bathroom Window' (working title of `She Came In Through The Bathroom
Window'. Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: not
assigned. Start of `Let It Be' sessions. Start of shootings at 3 Savile
Row. Billy Preston is casually at the Apple reception area, and is convinced
by George to join the sessions.
- Jan 23 -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `Get Back'; `Blues'.
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
Alan Parsons debut as Beatles second engineer.
- Jan 24 -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `On Our Way Home' (working
title of `Two Of Us'); `Teddy Boy'; `Maggie Mae'; `On Our Way Home' (working
title of `Two Of Us'); `Dig It' (version 1) ; `Dig A Pony'; `I've Got A Feeling'.
Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Neil Richmond.
`Dig It' (version 1) includes John's child like spoken message.
- Jan 25 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 2nd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `Untitled Jamming'; `On Our Way
Home' (working title of `Two Of Us'); `Bye Bye Love'; `George's Blues (Because
You're Sweet And Lovely)' (working title of `For You Blue'); `Let It Be'.
Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
- Jan 26 -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `Dig It' (version 2);
`Shake Rattle And Roll'; `Kansas City'; `Miss Ann'; `Lawdy Miss Clawdy'; `Blue
Suede Shoes'; `You Really Got A Hold On Me'; `Tracks Of My Tears'; `Let It
Be'; `George's Demo' (working title of `Isn't It A Pity'); `Let It Be'; `The
Long And Winding Road'. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd
Engineer: Neil Richmond. Visit at the studio: Heather Eastman.
-- The idea of the performance on the Apple roof is conceived.
This day's `Let It Be' sequence shows that Ringo composed `Octopus's Garden'
during this period.
- Jan 27 -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `Untitled Jamming'; `Get
Back'; `Oh! Darling'; `Get Back'; `I've Got A Feeling'; `The Walk'; `I've
Got A Feeling'. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer:
Alan Parsons. Recording of LP `Get Back' version.
- Jan 28 -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `Dig A Pony'; `Get Back';
`Love Me Do'; `Get Back'; `Don't Let Me Down'; `I've Got A Feeling'; `Don't
Let Me Down'; `The One After 909'; `I've Got A Feeling'; `The One After 909';
`Billy's Song (1)'; `Billy's Song (2)'; `Teddy Boy'. Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Versions of
`Get Back' and `Don't Let Me Down' for the single. End of `Get Back' not included
on the single, but on the `Get Back' LP and film end titles. --
Evening: John and Yoko meet Allen Klein for the first time, at the Dorchester
Hotel, London.
- Jan 29 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 2nd week in the ranking (UK New Musical
Express chart). -- Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `I Want You'
(later known as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)'); `The One After 909'; `Not
Fade Away'; `Mailman Bring Me No More Blues'; `Teddy Boy'; `Besame Mucho'.
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
- Jan 30 -- Apple Studios (Roof). Time unknown. Recording: `Get Back' (2
versions); `Don't Let Me Down'; `I've Got A Feeling'; `The One After 909';
`Dig A Pony'; `God Save The Queen'; `I've Got A Feeling'; `Don't Let Me Down';
`Get Back'. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan
Parsons. `I've Got A Feeling', `The One After 909', `Dig A Pony', John's
and Paul's comments at the end of 3rd version of `Get Back': versions for
`Let It Be' LP. Version of `The One After 909' for `Get Back' LP.
- Jan 31 -- Billy Preston signs a contract with Apple. -- Apple
Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `The Long And Winding Road'; `Lady
Madonna'; `Let It Be'; `On Our Way Home' (working title of `Two Of Us').
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
Final recording of numbers not apt for performance on the roof. Versions of
`The Long And Winding Road' and `Let It Be' for `Get Back' LP. Versions of
`The Long And Winding Road', `Let It Be' and `Two Of Us' for `Let It Be' LP.
- Feb 01 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 3rd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Feb 02 -- Yoko is divorced from Tony Cox. Yoko is granted custody
of Kyoko.
- Feb 03 -- Recording of `My Dark Hour', by Steve Miller, in London. Paul
plays bass, sings backing vocals and plays some drums. -- Allen
Klein is appointed Apple business advisor.
- Feb 05 -- US gold certification: `Yellow Submarine' LP. `Yellow Submarine'
LP, 3rd week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart). -- Apple
Studios. Time unknown. Stereo mixing: `I've Got A Feeling' (2 versions); `Don't
Let Me Down'; `Get Back' (2 versions); `The One After 909'; `Dig A Pony'.
Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
Mixing of the roof performances. -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 3rd
week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart).
- Feb 07 -- George's stay at the London University College Hospital begins.
His tonsils are removed. -- Ringo attends the `Candy' premiere.
- Feb 08 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 4th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
`Unfinished Music No. 1--Two Virgins' enters the ranking, number 158 (Billboard).
- Feb 12 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 4th week in the ranking (UK New Musical
Express chart).
- Feb 13 -- Post Office Tower's restaurant. Party thrown by Apple Records
to launch Mary Hopkin's debut album, `Postcard'. Paul and Linda attend.
- Feb 14 -- Clive Epstein receives a letter from John Eastman about Klein's
intervention in NEMS.
- Feb 15 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 5th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- End of George's stay at the London College University Hospital.
- Feb 17 -- Clive Epstein sells Nemperor Holdings to Leonard Richenberg's
Triumph Trust. -- US LP release: `Under The Jasmine Tree'.
- Feb 19 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 5th week in the ranking (UK New Musical
Express chart).
- Feb 20 -- European premiere of `Candy' at the Odeon Theatre, Kensington,
London. Ringo attends.
- Feb 22 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 6th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- Trident Studios. Time unknown. Recording: `I Want You' (later known as
`I Want You (She's So Heavy)') (takes 1-35). Producer: Glyn Johns; Engineer:
Barry Sheffield; 2nd Engineer: unknown. Start of `Abbey Road' sessions.
- Feb 23 -- Trident Studios. Time unknown. Editing: `I Want You' (later known
as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (unnumbered master, from takes 9, 20 and
32). Producer: Glyn Johns; Engineer: Barry Sheffield; 2nd Engineer: unknown.
- Feb 24 -- Trident Studios. Time unknown. Tape copying: `I Want You' (later
known as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (of unnumbered Trident master). Producer:
not assigned; Engineer: Barry Sheffield; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Security
copy of `I Want You (She's So Heavy)'. -- Triumph Investment gets
control over NEMS.
- Feb 25 -- Allen Klein goes to Leonard Richenberg's office, threating him
with trials. -- Abbey Road, Studio unknown. Time unknown. Recording:
`Old Brown Shoe' (takes 1, 2); `All Things Must Pass' (takes 1, 2); `Something'
(take 1). Producer: not assigned; Engineer and 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott. George
solo session. Recording of demos of `Old Brown Shoe', `All Things Must Pass'
and `Something'.
- Feb 26 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 6th week in the ranking (UK New Musical
Express chart).
- Feb 28 -- Ringo starts shooting of `The Magic Christian'.
- Mar 01 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 7th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Mar 02 -- John and Yoko perform at the Lady Mitchell Hall, Cambridge, in
a Jazz Festival. Recording: `Let's Go On Flying'; `Snow Is Falling All The
Time'; `Don't Worry Kyoko'; `Song For John'; `Cambridge 1969'.
1st solo performance of a Beatle, and 1st public performance of John and Yoko.
Partially included on `Unfinished Music Number 2--Life With The Lions'.
- Mar 04 -- Odeon Theatre, London. Premiere of the film `Isadora'. Paul attends.
-- Surprise visit of Princess Margaret during shooting of a scene in a French
restaurant for `The Magic Christian'. After,
lunch of Princess Margaret, Denis O'Dell, Ringo and Peter Sellers.
-- Paul, Linda and Heather visit during shooting of `The Magic Christian'.
- Mar 05 -- Date after which EMI planned not to pay any author rights to
anyone during the EMI-Richenberg trial. -- `Yellow Submarine',
7th week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart).
- Mar 06 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 7th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Mar 08 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 8th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Mar 10 -- Olympic Sound Studios. Time unknown. Stereo mixing: `Get Back';
`Teddy Boy'; `On Our Way Home' (working title of `Two Of Us'); `Dig A Pony';
`I've Got A Feeling'; `The Long And Winding Road'; `Let It Be'; `Rocker';
`Save The Last Dance For Me'; `Don't Let Me Down'; `Because You're Sweet And
Lovely' (working title of `For You Blue'); `Get Back'; `The Walk'. Producer:
George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: unknown.
Glyn Johns, commissioned by John and Paul, begins work of compilation of the
album `Get Back'.
- Mar 11 -- Olympic Sound Studios. Time unknown. Stereo mixing: `On Our Way
Home' (working title of `Two Of Us'); `The Long And Winding Road'; `Lady Madonna'.
Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: unknown.
- Mar 12 -- Morning: Normal Pilcher registers the Harrisons' Esher house.
George and Pattie attend the `Piscis' party thrown by Rory McEwen.
Shortly after 7.30 pm. `Kinfaus', Esher, Surrey. George and Pattie are arrested
for possession of cannabis resin. Evening. George
and Pattie are taken to the Escher police station. -- Morning:
Marriage of Paul and Linda, at the Marylebone Register Office. Heather, Mike
McGear, Mal Evans and Peter Brown attend. The second
part of the wedding takes place at the St John's Wood anglican church, and
is officiated by priest Noel Perry. Later,
party at the Hotel Ritz. Evening: Paul works
on a Jackie Lomax record. -- Olympic Sound Studios. Time unknown.
Stereo mixing: `The Long And Winding Road'; `Let It Be'. Producer: George
Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: unknown. --
`Yellow Submarine', 8th and last week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express
chart).
- Mar 13 -- Compilation and banding of an EP containing the new tracks on
`Yellow Submarine', plus `Across The Universe'. Never released.
-- Olympic Sound Studios. Time unknown. Stereo mixing: `I've Got A Feeling';
`Dig It' (version 1); `Dig It' (version 2); `Maggie Mae'; `Shake Rattle And
Roll'; `Kansas City'; `Miss Ann'; `Lawdy Miss Clawdy'; `Blue Suede Shoes';
`You Really Got A Hold On Me'. Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns;
2nd Engineer: unknown.
- Mar 15 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 9th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- John and Yoko stand at the Thoresen Passenger Terminal, at Southampton,
to board a ferry to France. They cannot board, because of passport problems.
- Mar 16 -- John and Yoko fly to Paris.
- Mar 17 -- US single release: `Badge'.
- Mar 18 -- John appears on the cover of the magazine `Look'.
-- Thames Embankment, London. Ringo shoots scenes for `The Magic Christian'.
For the lunch break, cast and crew go inside the Star & Garter.
-- George and Pattie appear on Esher and Walton Magistrates' Court, Walton-on-Thames,
Surrey.
- Mar 19 -- George and Pattie leave the Esher and Walton Magistrates' Court,
Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, on Derek Taylor's surety.
- Mar 20 -- John and Yoko fly to Gibraltar. Marriage
of John and Yoko in Gibraltar.
- Mar 21 -- John and Yoko fly to Amsterdam.
- Mar 22 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 10th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
`Unfinished Music Number 1---Two Virgins' number 124, its highest position
(Billboard).
- Mar 25 -- John and Yoko enter the Amsterdam Hilton. Start of John
and Yoko's 4-day bed-in at the Amsterdam Hilton.
- Mar 26 -- Abbey Road, Studio unknown. Time unknown. Mono mixing: `Get Back'
(remixes 1-4). Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer:
not assigned. Remix of `Get Back' for the single.
- Mar 27 -- In London, Ringo confirms they will not play before an audience
again.
- Mar 29 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 11th and last week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Mar 31 -- George and Pattie appear on Esher and Walton Magistrates' Court,
walton-On-Thames, Surrey. Trial for possession of cannabis resin. They plead
guilty and are fined 250 pounds each, plus 10 guineas costs. --
End of John and Yoko's bed-in at the Amsterdam Hilton. John and Yoko leave
the Amsterdam Hilton. Premiere of a TV documentary
produced by John and Yoko, with their attendance, in Vienna: `Rape'. They
comment the film in a press conference at the Hotel Sacher, Vienna. The film
is broadcast by the Austrian National Network Television.
- Apr 01 -- John speaks about his idea of sending acorns of peace to the
world leaders. John reveals that his fortune is about
50,000 pounds. -- John and Yoko return to London.
Television House, London. John and Yoko appear live on Associated-Rediffusion's
`Today', with Eamonn Andrews. Reconstitution of their bed-in.
-- Theatre Royal, London. Shooting for `The Magic Christian'.
- Apr 03 -- UK single release: `Badge'. -- Edition of Thames
Television's `The Eamonn Andrews Show', featuring John and Yoko, broadcast
from the Cafe Royal, London.
- Apr 05 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 12th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
-- Dick James does not convince the Beatles to sell their shares to ATV. John
and Paul reject 900,000 pounds for them.
- Apr 06 -- Disc-jockeys John Prel and Alan Freeman broadcast copies of `Get
Back', announcing its release as single on 11 April. They convince Paul that
the song needs a final mix.
- Apr 07 -- Abbey Road, Studio unknown. Mono mixing: `Get Back' (remix 5);
`Don't Let Me Down' (remix 1). Stereo mixing: `Get Back' (remix 1); `Don't
Let Me Down' (remix 1). Producer: George Martin?; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd
Engineer: Jerry Boys. Session booked by
Paul to improve the `Get Back' mix. The stereo mixes are, initially, for use
in the US. End of sessions for `Get Back'/`Don't Let Me Down'.
- Apr 09 -- Twickenham, Middlesex. Photographic session with 3 photographers.
Locations: 1) Madingley Club; 2) aboard the boat `Fritz Otto Maria Anna',
across the River Thames; 3) an island in the middle of River Thames.
-- Ringo shoots scenes for `The Magic Christian' at the Boathouse, the Embankment,
Putney, London.
- Apr 11 -- UK single release: `Get Back'/`Don't Let Me Down'.
-- The Beatles formally announce their plan to make a counter-offer against
ATV's bid for Northern Songs.
- Apr 12 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 13th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
-- John and Yoko go to the offices of Henry Ansbacher & Co., to put order
in their accounts.
- Apr 13 -- Article accusing Allen Klein is published on `Sunday Times' `Insight'
column.
- Apr 14 -- Studio 3. 2.30-9.00pm. Recording: `The Ballad Of John And Yoko
(They're Gonna Crucify Me)' (working title of `The Ballad Of John And Yoko')
(takes 1-11). Studio 3 (control room only). 9.00-11.00pm. Stereo mixing: `The
Ballad Of John And Yoko (They're Gonna Crucify Me)' (working title of `The
Ballad Of John And Yoko') (remixes 1-5, from take 10). Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
1st session for `The Ballad Of John And Yoko'/`Old Brown Shoe'.
- Apr 15 -- Allen Klein, John and Yoko return to Henry Ansbacher & Co.
- Apr 16 -- Studio 3. 2.30-5.00pm. Recording: `Old Brown Shoe' (take 1).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.
Studio 3. 7.00pm-2.45am. Recording: `Old Brown Shoe' (takes 1-4); `Something
(takes 1-13). Stereo mixing: `Old Brown Shoe' (remixes 1-3, from take 4).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.
Recording of 2nd demo (2.30-5.00pm session) and 1st proper take (7.00pm-2.45am
session) of `Old Brown Shoe'.
- Apr 18 -- Studio 3. 2.30-10.30pm. Recording: `Old Brown Shoe' (overdub
onto take 4). Studio 3 (control room only). 10.30pm-1.00am. Stereo mixing:
`Old Brown Shoe' (remixes 5-23, from take 4). Studio 2. 1.00-4.30am.
Recording: `I Want You' (later known as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)') (overdub
onto unnumbered Trident master; reduction of unnumbered Trident master, called
take 1; overdub onto take 1). Stereo mixing: `I Want You' (later known
as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)') (unnumbered rough remix, from take 1). Producer:
Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Apr 19 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 14th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
- Apr 20 -- Meeting at Henry Ansbacher & Co. offices. Inventory of Northern
Songs stocks. Paul attends. -- Studio 3. 7.00pm-12.45am. Recording:
`I Want You' (later known as `I Want You (She's So Heavy)') (overdub onto
take 1); `Oh! Darling (I'll Never Do You No Harm)' (working title of `Oh!
Darling') (takes 1-26). Stereo mixing: `Oh! Darling (I'll Never Do You No
Harm)' (working title of `Oh! Darling') (remix 1, from take 26). Producer:
Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Apr 22 -- John changes his name to John Ono Lennon, on the roof of 3 Savile
Row. -- 11.00pm-4.30am. Studio 2. John and Yoko record `John and Yoko'.
- Apr 24 -- Clive and Queenie Epstein sell their Nemperor Holdings shares
to Triumph Investment Trust. Paul and John make a counter-offer for Northern
Songs Ltd.
- Apr 25 -- Abbey Road, Room 4. 11.30am-12.30pm. Mono mixing: `On Our Way
Home' (working title of `Two Of Us') (remix 1). Producer: not assigned; Engineer:
Peter Mew; 2nd Engineer: Chris Blair. Remix
of `Two Of Us' for Paul to present it to the New York trio Mortimer, whom
he intended to give it to record, which didn't materialize.
-- Premiere of `Rape', during the Montreaux film festival.
- Apr 26 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 15th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back', number 1. -- Richard Asher disappears.
-- 2.30-4.15pm. 2nd stereo mix of `John and Yoko'. 1st work of Richard Langham
back with the Beatles. Studio 2. 4.30pm-4.15am.
Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto take 26); `Octopus's Garden' (takes
1-32). Producer: Chris Thomas/The Beatles; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer:
Richard Langham. Recording of 1st Paul's vocal
trial for `Oh! Darling'. 1st session of Richard Langham back as 2nd engineer,
returning from Europe.
- Apr 27 -- Abbey Road. Recording: `John And Yoko' [re-make].
- Apr 29 -- Studio 3. 7.00pm-1.00am. Recording: `Octopus's Garden' (overdub
onto take 32). Stereo mixing: `Octopus's Garden' (remixes 1-4, from take 32).
Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Nick Webb. Studio
3 (control room only). 2.30-6.30pm. Playback of recently recorded titles.
- Apr 30 -- Studio 3 (control room only). 2.30-6.15pm. Playback of recently
recorded titles. Studio 3. 7.15pm-2.00am. Recording: `Let It Be' (overdub
onto take 27); `You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' (overdub onto take
30). Mono mixing: `You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' (remixes 1-3,
from take 30). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer:
Nick Webb. Recording of single version lead guitar
solo for `Let It Be'. John and Paul record vocals and sound effects for `You
Know My Name (Look Up The Number)'. -- Dispute between ATV and the Beatles
for the control of Northern Songs Ltd.
- May 01 -- Studio 3 (control room only). 2.30-7.00pm. Stereo mixing: `Oh!
Darling' (remixes 2-4, from take 26). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff
Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Nick Webb. Studio 3. 7.00-10.45pm. 3rd stereo
mix of `John And Yoko'. -- The label Zapple is incorporated.
- May 02 -- Richard Asher is found dead at his Wimpole Street house basement.
-- Studio 3. 7.00pm-3.40am. Recording: `Something' [re-make] (takes 1-36).
Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nde Engineer: Nick Webb.
11.00pm-1.00am. Session break. -- ATV gets the support of minor
share holders and obtains the 45% of Northern Songs shares. They maintain
their offer of purchase for the Beatles' shares until 15 May.
-- Studio G, BBC Lime Grove Studios, London. John and Yoko appear on BBC-TV's
`How Late It Is'. Few hours later, BBC-TV's
`How Late It Is' is broadcast, with appearance of John and Yoko.
- May 03 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 16th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
-- ATV announces that their offer for Northern Songs to the Beatles will be
kept until 15 May.
- May 04 -- Northern Songs shares' price raises by 9 pennies.
-- Ringo, John and Paul, with Maureen, Yoko and Linda, attend an end-of-filming
party for `The Magic Christian' at Les Ambassadeurs Club, London.
-- Maclen, on behalf of John, buys `Tittenhurst', at Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire,
for 145,000 pounds.
- May 05 -- US single release: `Get Back'/`Don't Let Me Down'.
-- Olympic Sound Studios. Start of recordings of the 1st LP of Billy Preston.
-- Studio 1, Olympic Sound Studios. 7.30pm-4.00am. Recording: `Something'
(overdub onto take 36). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd
Engineer: Steve Vaughan.
- May 06 -- Studio 1, Olympic Sound Studios. 3.00pm-4.00am. Recording: `You
Never Give Me Your Money' (takes 1-36). Stereo mixing: `You Never Give Me
Your Money' (remix 1, from take 30). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn
Johns; 2nd Engineer: Steve Vaughan.
1st explicit recording for the `Abbey Road' medley. -- It is announced
that John and Yoko are recording a record about their lives and Yoko's miscarriage,
up until their honeymoon in Amsterdam.
- May 07 -- Studio 1, Olympic Sounds Studios. 8.00pm-7.30am. Stereo mixing:
Inserts for the `Get Back' LP. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns;
2nd Engineer: Steve Vaughan. -- The Beatles and Allen Klein negotiate
with Joseph Lockwood an increase of the group royalties. EMI decides
to balt negotiations until seeing what happens with the group businesses and
NEMS's purchase by Triumph Investment.
- May 08 -- Klein flies to New York for a meeting with the board of directors
of ABKCO. John, George and Ringo order Peter Brown
and Neil to sign Klein's contracts. The contracts are signed, with the
sole exception of Paul's. Alistair Taylor is fired
as Apple's director.
- May 09 -- UK LP release: `Unfinished Music Number 2---Life With The Lions'.
UK LP release: `Electronic Sounds'. -- Studio 1, Olympic Sound Studios.
3.00-11.00pm. Stereo mixing: Inserts for the `Get Back' LP. Producer: George
Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Steve Vaughan.
Besides, playback of complete and mixed titles.
- May 10 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 17th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 10, entering the ranking; 1st week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- May 11 -- Recording of `Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune', of Jack
Bruce. George on guitar.
- May 13 -- On a front-page article of the `Financial Times', ATV announces
it lacks less than 150 000 shares to have the 47 % of Northern Songs.
-- EMI House. 6pm. Photographic session with Angus McBean for the `Get Back'
LP cover.
- May 15 -- Failure of a possible meeting of the Beatles and minor Northern
Songs Ltd. share owners, to avoid ATV's control over the company.
-- John goes to the US Embassy in London, to try an American visa.
- May 16 -- Ringo boards the `Queen Elizabeth II' to sail to the USA for
the filming of `The Magic Christian'. He travels with Maureen, their two children,
Peter Sellers, George and Pattie. John and Yoko
decide to live permanently in the USA. John and Yoko are scheduled to
join Ringo and the others on the trip, but had to cancel at the last moment
since John does not get his visa.
- May 17 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 18th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back', 2nd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- May 19 -- The 3 main Northern Songs share owners and ATV sign an agreement.
John and Paul lose control over the company. -- US gold certification:
`Get Back'/`Don't Let Me Down'.
- May 20 -- John and George visit Bruce Ormrod at offices of Henry Ansbacher
& Co., to discuss ATV's bid with the syndicates.
- May 24 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 19th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 1, 1st week; 3rd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- John, Yoko and Kyoko fly from London to Bahamas.
John, Yoko and Kyoko in Bahamas, for a campaign for peace: `Lie-in'.
-- John and Yoko create Bag Productions.
- May 25 -- John, Yoko and Kyoko go to Canada during their campaign for peace.
- May 26 -- US LP release: `Unfinished Music Number 2---Life With The Lions'.
US LP release: `Electronic Sounds'. -- John, Yoko and Kyoko arrive
in Toronto. They spend two hours and a half in customs.
Start of 2nd John and Yoko's bed-in in Montreal, Room 1742, Queen Elizabeth
Hotel.
- May 28 -- Studio 1, Olympic Sound Studios. Time unknown. Stereo mixing:
`Let It Be' (of take 27). Master tape banding and compilation: `Get Back'
LP. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Steve Vaughan.
- May 30 -- UK single release: `The Ballad Of John And Yoko'/`Old Brown Shoe',
1st single in Britain and 1st Beatles release not mixed for mono.
- May 31 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 20th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 1, 2nd week; 4th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Jun 01 -- Recording of `Give Peace A Chance'. End of bed-in in Montreal.
- Jun 03 -- John, Yoko and Kyoko leave Canada.
- Jun 04 -- Single release: `Give Peace A Chance'. [?]
- Jun 04 -- US single release: `The Ballad Of John And Yoko'/`Old Brown Shoe'.
- Jun 07 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 21st and last week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 1, 3rd week; 5th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- John and Yoko appear on the `David Frost Show'.
- Jun 11 -- `The Ballad Of John And Yoko' number 1 (UK Record Retailer chart).
- Jun 14 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 22nd week in the Top 200 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 1, 4th week; 6th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
-- John and Yoko appear on the `David Frost Show'.
- Jun 15 -- `The Ballad Of John And Yoko' number 1.
- Jun 21 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 23rd week in the Top 200 (Billboard).
`Get Back' number 1, 5th and last week; 7th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Jun 27 -- Ringo and Maureen go on holiday to the south of France. Mary
Hopkin arrives in Chile.
- Jun 28 -- `Yellow Submarine' LP, 24th and last week in the Top 200 (Billboard).
`Get Back', 8th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Jun 29 -- John, Yoko, Kyoko and Julian go to Scotland on holiday.
- Jul 01 -- Studio 2. 3.00-7.30pm. Recording: `You Never Give Me Your Money'
(overdub onto take 30). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: Chris Blair. Start of a new era of recordings.
-- John, Yoko, Julian and Kyoko are involved in a car accident in Golspie,
Scotland. They are hospitalised.
- Jul 02 -- Studio 2. 3.00-9.30pm. Recording: `Her Majesty' (takes 1-3);
`Golden Slumbers' (working title of `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight')
(takes 1-15). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
Chris Blair. -- The Official Beatles Fan Club runs several
clubs derived from the main one. -- Cynthia takes Julian from the hospital
and takes him to Greece.
- Jul 03 -- Studio 2. 3.00-8.30pm. Editing: `Golden Slumbers'(working title
of `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight') (of takes 13, 15, called take 13).
Recording: `Golden Slumbers'(working title of `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That
Weight') (overdub onto take 13, tape reduction take 13 into takes 16, 17).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Chris Blair.
-- Media launch of the Plastic Ono Band. Press reception for the release of
`Give Peace A Chance', at the Chelsea Town Hall. John and Yoko do not attend,
due to their being hospitalised in Scotland; Ringo and Maureen substitute
them.
- Jul 04 -- Studio 2. 2.45-5.30pm. Recording: `Golden Slumbers' (working
title of `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight') (overdub onto take 17). Producer:
George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Chris Blair. Listening,
through the mixing console and the studio speakers, of the Wimbledon ladies
tennis final, live on BBC Radio 2. Anne Jones (UK) beating Billy-Jean
King in 3 sets (71 minutes). -- UK single release: `Give Peace
A Chance'/`Remember Love'. 1st commercial Beatle solo single.
- Jul 05 -- `Get Back', 9th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
- Jul 06 -- John and Yoko leave the hospital, after their car crash in Scotland.
They return to England. -- Brian Jones dies.
- Jul 07 -- Studio 2. 2.30-11.45pm. Recording: `Here Comes The Sun' (takes
1-13). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John
Kurlander. 10.45-11.45pm. Re-recording and perfecting of acoustic guitar.
Recording of rythm track for `Here Comes The Sun'. -- US single release:
`Give Peace A Chance'/`Remember Love'. -- The Plastic Ono Band
plays at the Chelsea Town Hall to promote the single `Give Peace A Chance'/`Remember
Love'.
- Jul 08 -- Studio 2. 2.30-10.45pm. Recording: `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub
onto take 13, tape reduction take 13 into takes 14, 15). Studio
2 (control room only). 10.45-11.45pm. Mono mixing: `Here Comes The Sun' (unnumbered
rough remix, from take 15). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Mix for George.
- Jul 09 -- Studio 2. 2.30-10.15pm. Recording: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
(takes 1-21). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; Engineer:
John Kurlander. 1st John's session after his accident. A bed is brought into
the studio so that Yoko could stay by John's side.
- Jul 10 -- Studio 2. 2.30-11.30pm. Recording: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
(overdub onto take 21). Stereo mixing: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (remixes
1-13, from take 21). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd
Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Jul 11 -- Studio 2. 2.30-12.00pm. Recording: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
(overdub onto take 21); `Something' (overdub onto take 36). Stereo mixing:
`Something' (remixes 1-4, from take 36). Recording: `Something' (tape reduction
take 36 into take 37); `You Never Give Me Your Money' (overdub onto take 30).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Jul 12 -- Ringo expresses his opinion about the banning of `The Ballad
Of John And Yoko' decided by some US radios. -- `Get Back', 10th week
in the Top 30 (Billboard). `Give Peace A Chance', 1st week in the Top
28; 1st week in the ranking (Billboard).
- Jul 15 -- Studio 3. 2.30-6.00pm. Recording: `You Never Give Me Your
Money' (overdub onto take 30). Studio 2 (control room only). 6.00-11.00pm.
Stereo mixing: `You Never Give Me Your Money' (remixes 1-6, from take 30).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
Recording of bell sounds for `You Never Give Me Your Money'.
- Jul 16 -- Studio 3. 2.30-7.00pm. Recording: `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub
onto take 15). Studio 2. 7.00pm-12.30am. Recording: `Something' (overdub onto
take 36, tape reduction into takes 38, 39). Producer: George Martin; Engineer:
Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. -- US gold certification
for `The Ballad Of John And Yoko'.
- Jul 17 -- Studio 3. 2.30-6.30pm. Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto
take 16). Studio 2. 6.30-11.15pm. Recording: `Octopus's Garden' (overdub onto
take 32). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
Alan Parsons. Recording of Paul's lead vocal trial for `Oh! Darling'
and vocals and sound effects for `Octopus's Garden'.
- Jul 18 -- Studio 3. 2.30-8.30pm. Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto
take 26); `Octopus's Garden' (overdub onto take 32). Studio 2 (control room
only). 8.00-10.30pm. Mono mixing: `Octopus's Garden' (remixes 1-7, from take
32). Stereo mixing: `Octopus's Garden' (remixes 10-14, from take 32). Producer:
George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Recording
of Paul's vocal trial for `Oh! Darling'.
- Jul 19 -- `Get Back', 11th week in the Top 30 (Billboard). `Unfinished
Music No. 2---Life With The Lions' number 179 (Billboard). `Give Peace
A Chance', 2nd week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Jul 21 -- Studio 3. 2.30-9.30pm. Recording: `Come Together' (takes 1-8).
Studio 2 (control room only). 9.30-10.00pm. Tape copying: `Come Together'
(of take 6, called take 9). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Copy of `Come Together' from
4-track to 8-track tape. First full day of Geoff Emerick back as Beatles'
balance engineer.
- Jul 22 -- Studio 3. 2.30-9.30pm. Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto
take 26); `Come Together' (overdub onto take 9). Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
Recording of lead vocal trial for `Oh! Darling'.
- Jul 23 -- Studio 3. 2.30-11.30pm. Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto
take 26); `Come Together' (overdub onto take 9); `Ending' (working title for
`The End') (takes 1-7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Recording of lead vocal (released
version) for `Oh! Darling'. 11.30pm-12.30am. Playback of finished titles
for `Abbey Road' LP.
- Jul 24 -- Studio 2. 2.30-3.30pm. Recording: `Come And Get It' (take 1).
Stereo mixing: `Come And Get It' (remix 1, from take 1). Tape copying:
`Come And Get It' (of remix stereo 1). Producer: not assigned; Engineer: Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Studio 2. 3.30-10.30pm. Recording:
`Here Comes The Sun-King' (working title of `Sun King'/`Mean Mr Mustard')
(takes 1-35). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Paul's solo session, recording a demo
of `Come And Get It' for Badfinger. During recording of `Sun King', jam of
`Be-Bop-A-Lula', `Who Slapped John?' and `Ain't She Sweet'.
- Jul 25 -- Studio 2. 2.30pm-2.30am. Recording: `Here Comes The Sun-King'
(working title of `Sun King'/`Mean Mr Mustard') (overdub onto take 35); `Come
Together' (overdub onto take 9); `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In Through The
Bathroom Window' (takes 1-39). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. 10.30pm-2.30am. Re-recording
of bass and drums, and recording of lead vocal for `Polythene Pam'/`She Came
In Through The Bathroom Window'.
- Jul 26 -- `Get Back', 12th and last week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
`Give Peace A Chance', 3rd week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Jul 28 -- Studio 3. 2.30-8.00pm. Recording: `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In
Through The Bathroom Window' (overdub onto take 39). Studio 2 (control room
only). 8.00-8.30pm. Recording: `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In Through The Bathroom
Window' (tape reduction take 39 into take 40). Producer: George Martin; Engineer:
Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Jul 29 -- Studio 3. 2.30-10.45pm. Recording: `Come Together' (overdub onto
take 9); `Sun King'/`Mean Mr Mustard' (overdub onto take 35). Producer: George
Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
Recording of guitar solo for `Come Together'.
- Jul 30 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.00-3.30pm. Recording: `You Never
Give Me Your Money' (tape reduction take 30 into takes 37-42). Studio
3. 3.30-10.30pm. Recording: `Come Together' (overdub onto take 9); `Polythene
Pam'/`She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' (overdub onto take 40); `You
Never Give Me Your Money' (overdub onto take 40) ; `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry
That Weight' (overdub onto take 17). Studio 2 (control room only). 10.30pm-2.30am.
Stereo mixing: `You Never Give Me Your Money' (remix 1, from take 40); `Sun
King'/`Mean Mr Mustard' (remix 1, from take 35); `Her Majesty' (remix 1, from
take 3); `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' (remix
1, from take 40); `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight' (remix 1, from take
17); `Ending' (working title of `The End') (remix 1, from take 7). Editing,
crossfading and tape compilation: `You Never Give Me Your Money'; `Sun
King'/`Mean Mr Mustard'; `Her Majesty'; `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In Through
The Bathroom Window'; `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight'; `Ending'
(working title of `The End'). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Rough compilation to judge the
progress of the medley. Paul decides to eliminate `Her Majesty'. The piece
of tape is cut carelessly, leaving on it the end of `Mean Mr Mustard'
and missing the last chord of `Her Majesty', but since this was just a rough
mix, things went on. John Kurlander, second engineer for this session,
disobeying Paul, conserved the tape, appending it to the end of the complete
tape, but clearly apart from the rest, 15 seconds after `The End'.
- Jul 31 -- Mal Evans takes the tape containing the `Abbey Road' medley compiled
on 30 July to Apple for acetate cutting purposes. He returns the tape this
same day to EMI. Malcom Davies, at Apple, cuts a lacquer of the complete medley
sequence. On his own he decides to include the `Her Majesty' piece,
although it had been placed detached from the main sequence to make it clear
it was not intended to be part of the medley. -- Studio 2. 2.30pm-1.15am.
Recording: `You Never Give Me Your Money' (overdub onto take 30); `Golden
Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight' (overdub onto take 17). Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Aug 01 -- Studio 2. 2.30-10.30pm. Recording: `Because' (takes 1-23, overdub
onto take 16). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. First of three 3-part vocal recordings.
- Aug 02 -- Badfinger records in one day `Come And Get It', at Abbey Road
Studios. Paul produces the session. -- `Give Peace A Chance' number
2, 4th week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Aug 04 -- Studio 2. 2.30-9.00pm. Recording: `Because' (overdub onto take
16). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
John Kurlander. Studio 3. 7.15-8.45pm. Stereo mixing: `Something' (unnumbered
rough remix, from take 39); `Here Comes The Sun' (unnumbered rough remix,
from take 15). Producer: George Harrison; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
Alan Parsons. 2nd and 3rd set of 3-part vocal recordings for `Because'.
Remix of `Something' for Martin, for scoring purposes.
- Aug 05 -- Studio 3 (control room only) . 2.30-6.30pm. Recording: `You Never
Give Me Your Money' (sound effects takes 1-5). Abbey Road, Room 43 and Studio
2. 6.30-10.45pm. Recording: `Because' (overdub onto take 16) ; `Ending'
(working title of `The End') (overdub onto take 7). Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
Paul brings home-made tape loops, to use in the crossfade at the end of `You
Never Give Me Your Money'. First Beatle use of a synthesizer (`Because').
Studio 3 (control room). 8.00-9.30pm. Tony Clark, balance engineer,
and Alan Parsons, 2nd engineer, make a copy from an ordinary cassette
of some recent private recordings of John and Yoko. It's taken away
by Anthony Fawcett, assistent of the Lennons.
- Aug 06 -- Studio 3. 2.30-11.00pm. Recording: `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub
onto take 15). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
Alan Parsons. Abbey Road, Room 43 and Studio 2 (control room). 2.30-11.00pm.
Recording: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (tape reduction take 21 into takes 22-27,
with simultaneous overdub). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Tony Clark;
2nd Engineer: John Kurlander. Studio 2 (control room only). 11.00pm-1.00am.
Stereo mixing: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (remixes 14-26, from take 27). Producer:
George Martin; Engineer: Tony Clark/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
Recording of synthesizer for `Maxwell's Silver Hammer'.
- Aug 07 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.30-6.00pm. Stereo mixing: `Come
Together' (remixes 1-10, from take 9). Studio 3. 6.00-12.00pm. Recording:
`Ending' (working title of `The End') (overdub onto take 7). Producer: George
Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Aug 08 -- 11.35am. Appointment with photographer Iain MacMillan at EMI
Studios, for the photographic session for the `Abbey Road' cover. After this,
Paul chooses out of the 6 pictures taken the best one for the LP. Before the
recording session, Paul takes John home, at Cavendish Avenue, George
and Mal go to the London Zoo at Regent's Park, and Ringo goes shopping.
-- Studio 2. 2.30-9.00pm. Recording: `Ending' (working title of `The End')
(overdub onto take 7); `I Want You' (later known as `I Want You (She's So
Heavy)') (overdub onto unnumbered Trident master). Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
Studio 3. 5.30-9.45pm. Recording: `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto take 26).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Tony Clark; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
Recording synthesizer for `I Want You (She's So Heavy)'.
- Aug 09 -- `Give Peace A Chance', 5th week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Aug 11 -- Studio 3 (control room only). 1.00-2.00pm. Mono tape copying:
`Dig It' (of 13 March stereo mix); `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (of remix stereo
18). Producer: not assigned; Engineer and 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald.
Studio 2. 2.30-11.30pm. Recording: `I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (overdub
onto take 1); `Oh! Darling' (overdub onto take 26); `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub
onto take 15). Tape copying: `I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (of take 1). Editing:
`I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (from take 1 into unnumbered Trident master).
Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
John Kurlander. Mal Evans takes the copies of `Dig It' and `Maxwell's
Silver Hammer' to Malcolm Davies, at Apple, for acetate cutting purposes.
Re-recording of `She's So Heavy' vocal harmonies. The song gets its complete
title. -- John and Yoko move to `Tittenhurst'.
- Aug 12 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-2.00am. Stereo mixing: `Oh!
Darling' (remixes 5-9, from take 26); `Because' (remixes 1, 2, from take 16);
`Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (remixes 27-36, from take 27). Producer: George
Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: John Kurlander.
- Aug 13 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.30-9.15pm. Stereo mixing: `You
Never Give Me Your Money' (remixes 20-27, from take 30). Producer: George
Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
- Aug 14 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.30pm-2.30am. Stereo mixing: `Sun
King'/`Mean Mr Mustard' (remixes 20-24, from take 35); `Maxwell's Silver Hammer'
(edit piece remix 37, from take 27); `Polythene Pam'/`She Came In Through
The Bathroom Window' (remixes 20-32, from take 40); `You Never Give Me Your
Money' into `Sun King'/`Mean Mr Mustard' (stereo crossfade remixes 1-11, from
sound effects take 5 of `You Never Give Me Your Money'). Mono recording:
John Lennon interviewed by Kenny Everett. (The only interview documented on
a recording sheet, because studio equipment and tape was used. Everett took
away the only copy.) Editing: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (of stereo remixes
34, 37); `Sun King'/`Mean Mr Mustard' (of remix stereo 22) joined to `Polythene
Pam'/`She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' (of remix stereo 32). Producer:
George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer:
Alan Parsons.
- Aug 15 -- Studio 1 into Studio 2 (control room). 2.30-5.30pm. Recording:
`Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight' (overdub onto take 17); `Ending' (working
title of `The End') (overdub onto take 7). Studio 1 into Studio 2. 7.00pm-1.15am.
Recording: `Something' (overdub onto take 39); `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub
onto take 15). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil
McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Recording of all orchestral overdubs
for `Abbey Road'. For the first time in a Beatles session a closed circuit
of television is used to communicate two studios. George re-records, on the
floor of Studio 2, his guitar solo for `Something'.
- Aug 16 -- `Give Peace A Chance', 6th week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Aug 18 -- Studio 2. 2.30-10.30pm. Stereo mixing: `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry
That Weight' (remixes 1, 2, from take 17). Recording: `Ending' (working title
of `The End') (overdub onto take 7). Stereo mixing: `Ending' (working title
of `The End') (remixes 1-6, from take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer:
Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Recording of
4 seconds of piano for `The End'.
- Aug 19 -- Studio 2. 2.00pm-4.00am. Stereo mixing: `Ending' (working title
of `The End') (remixes 1-3, from take 7); `Golden Slumbers'/`Carry That Weight'
and `Ending' (working title of `The End') (crossfade/edit for master); `Something'
(remixes 1-10, from take 39). Recording: `Here Comes The Sun' (overdub onto
take 15). Stereo mixing: `Here Comes The Sun' (remix 1, from take 15). Producer:
George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
The instrumental jam in the coda of `Something' disappears at last in today's
remixes. Recording of synthesizer for `Here Comes The Sun'.
- Aug 20 -- Studio 3 (control room only). 2.30-6.00pm. Stereo mixing: `I
Want You (She's So Heavy)' (remixes 1-8, from take 1, remixes 9, 10,
from unnumbered Trident master). Editing: `I Want You (She's So Heavy)' (of
stereo remixes 8, 10). Studio 2 (control room only). 6.00pm-1.15am.
Master tape banding and tape copying: `Abbey Road' LP. Producer: George Martin;
Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Last
reunion of all 4 Beatles in the studio.
- Aug 21 -- Abbey Road, Room 4. 1.00-2.00pm. Tape copying/Editing/reinserting:
`Ending' (working title of `The End') (take 7). Producer: not assigned; Engineer:
Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: not assigned. Studio 2 (control room only).
2.30-12.00pm. Stereo mixing: `You Never Give Me Your Money' into `Sun King'/`Mean
Mr Mustard' (stereo crossfade remix 12, from sound effects take 5 of `You
Never Give Me Your Money'); `Ending' (working title of `The End') (remix 4,
from take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/ Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
- Aug 22 -- `Tittenhurst', Suningdale, Ascot, Berkshire. Last photographic
session. Photographers: Ethan Russell, Monty Fresco and Mal Evans. Partially
shot. Locations: 1) Pillars in front of the main house; 2) Main garden path;
3) Paddock of high grass; 4) John and Yoko posing with donkeys; 5) Cypress
tree by the Diana statue; 6) Weeping blue Atlas cedar trees; 7) Atlas trees;
8) Lawn near main house; 9) Balcony; 10) Side doorway in the assembly hall;
11) Arched porches; 12) Walled path between cottages and main house; 13) Indoors;
14) Southern balcony of main house.
- Aug 23 -- `Give Peace A Chance', 7th week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Aug 24 -- Morning: John writes `Cold Turkey'. Afternoon: John rehearses
`Cold Turkey'. Evening: John records `Cold Turkey'.
- Aug 25 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.30-8.00pm. Editing: `Maxwell's
Silver Hammer' (of master); `Ending' (working title of `The End') (of master).
Recording: `Maxwell's Silver Hammer' (unnumbered sound effects takes). Tape
copying: `Abbey Road' LP masters. Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff
Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Recording of sound
effects for `Maxwell's Silver Hammer', not used. Copy of `Abbey Road' LP masters
for Geoff Emerick, who will take them to Malcolm Davies, at Apple, to cut
the disc. End of sessions for `Abbey Road'.
- Aug 28 -- George presents a new record by the members of the Radha Krishna
Temple. -- Avenue Clinic, London. Mary McCartney is born to Paul and
Linda. Paul attends the birth.
- Aug 30 -- `Give Peace A Chance', 8th week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Aug 31 -- George, Ringo, John, Pattie, Maureen and Yoko attend the Festival
of the Isle of Wight, to see the Dylan show.
- Sep 05 -- End of negotiations of Allen Klein and EMI Records.
- Sep 06 -- `Give Peace A Chance', 9th and last week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
- Sep 08 -- Start of Ringo's stay for observation at the Middlesex Hospital,
London.
- Sep 10 -- Two films produced by John and Yoko are exhibited at the Institute
of Contemporary Arts, London: `Rape' and `Self-Portrait'. During the
evening (7.00pm-about 12.00pm), two people sit on stage shrouded in a white
bag.
- Sep 11 -- Studio 3 (control room only). 2.30-5.30pm. Stereo mixing: `What's
The New Mary Jane' (remixes 1-3, from take 4). Tape copying: `What's The New
Mary Jane' (of stereo remixes 1-3). Producer: Malcolm Davies; Engineer: Tony
Clark; 2nd Engineer: Chris Blair. Copies of `What's The New Mary Jane'
for John, to refresh his memory, in order to release it as a POB single.
-- End of Ringo's stay for observation at the Middlesex Hospital, London.
- Sep 12 -- John accepts to participate in the Toronto Peace Festival.
- Sep 13 -- Trip of the Plastic Ono Band to Toronto. Rock and Roll
Festival at the Varsity Stadium, Toronto. Filmed.
- Sep 19 -- ATV obtains the 50 % of the shares of Northern Songs Ltd.
- Sep 22 -- Broadcast of WBCN `Get Back' reference acetate. -- A tape
of the Beatles playing `The Ballad Of John And Yoko' is shown on the programme
`Music Scene'. [25 September?]
- Sep 25 -- ATV obtains the 54% of the shares of Northern Songs Ltd, becoming
its main shareholder. -- EMI. John records `Cold Turkey'. Remix
of tapes of POB Toronto performance. First Beatle returning to Abbey Road.
-- A tape of the Beatles playing `The Ballad Of John And Yoko' is shown on
the programme `Music Scene'. [22 September?] -- Press reception for
the release of a White Trash cover of `Golden Slumbers'. John and Yoko appear.
London Pavilion. Premiere of John Schlesinger's `Midnight Cowboy'. Paul and
Linda attend.
- Sep 26 -- UK LP release: `Abbey Road'.
- Sep 30 -- Recording of `Cold Turkey'.
- Oct 01 -- US LP release: `Abbey Road'.
- Oct 02 -- Abbey Road, Room 4. 9.00-11.00am. Stereo mixing: `Across The
Universe' (remixes 1, 2, from take 8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer:
Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. Remix of `Across The Universe'
for `No One's Gonna Change Our World'. Addition of sound effects, and speeding
up of the tape. -- John, in an interview, says that Apple is like
a big black hole that takes all his benefits as an author and singer.
- Oct 03 -- Abbey Road. Compilation and banding by George Martin of `No One's
Gonna Change Our World'. -- Lansdowne Recording Studios, London. John,
Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band record `Don't Worry Kyoko'.
- Oct 04 -- `Abbey Road' number 1 (UK Record Retailer chart).
- Oct 06 -- US single release: `Something'/`Come Together'.
- Oct 09 -- Yoko is taken to the King's College Hospital, London. She suffers
a miscarriage.
- Oct 12 -- Russ Gibbs, of the WKNR-FM, affirms he has received an
anonymous phone call saying that Paul has died. -- Yoko miscarries.
End of Yoko's stay at the King's College Hospital, London.
- Oct 13 -- The press reports that Yoko has had a miscarriage. -- Savoy
Theatre, London. London debut concert of Mary Hopkin. Paul, Linda, Ringo and
Maureen attend.
- Oct 15 -- Ringo and Maureen travel to Los Angeles.
- Oct 16 -- The Beatles are ready to sell their Northern Songs Ltd. shares.
- Oct 17 -- Hot Chocolate releases a cover of `Give Peace A Chance' in the
USA.
- Oct 20 -- US LP release: `The Wedding Album'. US single release: `Cold
Turkey'/`Don't Worry Kyoko'. -- George and Pattie attend a Ravi Shankar
concert in London.
- Oct 22 -- Paul goes to Scotland, on vacations.
- Oct 24 -- UK single release: `Cold Turkey'/`Don't Worry Kyoko' UK LP release:
`Space', with the Modern Jazz Quartet.
- Oct 27 -- US gold certification for `Abbey Road'. US gold certification
for `Something'/`Come Together'. -- Abbey Road. Ringo begins, with George
Martin, the recording of `Sentimental Journey' LP. 1st Beatle formally recording
a solo LP.
- Oct 29 -- The `Rat Magazine' publishes the `Paul is dead' theory.
- Oct 30 -- It is announced the release of a record by the Plastic Ono Band
called `Gossip'.
- Oct 31 -- UK single release: `Something'/`Come Together'. 1st release in
the UK of a single from an already released LP.
- Nov 01 -- `Cold Turkey', 1st week in the Top 28, 1st week in the ranking
(Billboard). [?]
- Nov 06 -- `Rape--Part II', John and Yoko's film, is showed at the Mannheim
Film Festival, Germany.
- Nov 07 -- UK LP release: `The Wedding Album'.
- Nov 08 -- `Cold Turkey', 2nd week in the Top 28 (Billboard). [?]
- Nov 09 -- Press reports begin to appear about John and Yoko's film `Apotehosis'.
- Nov 10 -- UK LP release: `Space', with the Modern Jazz Quartet.
- Nov 13 -- John gives an island of his called Dorinch, by the Ireland coast,
so that any hippy who wishes could live there.
- Nov 15 -- The Beatles appear on the cover of `Rolling Stone' magazine.
Last photographic session. -- The magazine `Disc And Music Echo' publishes
an interview to John. -- `Cold Turkey', 3rd week in the Top 28 (Billboard).
[?]
- Nov 22 -- `Cold Turkey', 4th week in the Top 28 (Billboard). [?]
- Nov 25 -- John returns the MBE.
- Nov 26 -- Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.00am. Tape copying: `You Know My Name (Look
Up The Number)' (of remix mono 3, called remix mono 4). Editing: `You Know
My Name (Look Up The Number)' (of remix mono 4). Stereo mixing: `What's The
New Mary Jane' (remix 4, from take 4). Stereo mixing with simultaneous overdub:
`What's The New Mary Jane' (remix 5, from take 4). Editing: `What's The New
Mary Jane' (of remix stereo 4, called remix stereo 6). Tape copying with simultaneous
editing: `What's The New Mary Jane' (of stereo remix 5 into 6). Tape copying:
`What's The New Mary Jane' (of stereo remixes 4, 5). Producer: Geoff Emerick/John
Lennon; Engineer: Mike Sheady; 2nd Engineer: Nick Webb. For POB single,
never released. The editing of `You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' was
released as the B side of `Let It Be'. John's last session.
- Nov 28 -- Ringo continues recordings of `Sentimental Journey' LP,
in London.
- Nov 29 -- `Cold Turkey', 5th week in the Top 28 (Billboard). [?]
- Dec 01 -- Royal Albert Hall, London. Concert of Delaney & Bonney &
Friends, with guest Eric Clapton. George, Ringo, Pattie and Maureen attend.
-- POB single `You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)'/`What's The New
Mary Jane' is on hold.
- Dec 02 -- Studio 2 (control room only). 2.30-5.30pm. Stereo mixing: `Lady
Madonna' (remix 1, from take 5); `Rain' (remix 1, from take 7); `Octopus's
Garden' (remixes 1, 2, from take 32). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff
Emerick/Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Remixes of `Lady Madonna'
and `Rain' for LP `Hey Jude'. Remix of `Octopus's Garden' without bass, piano,
lead guitar, for use as playback on Ringo's appearance on Martin's show `With
A Little Help From My Friends'. -- Delaney & Bonnie &
Friends concert in Bristol. George joins them as guitarist, on tour. First
tour of a Beatle since 1966.
- Dec 05 -- Date announced for the POB single release `You Know My Name (Look
Up The Number)'/`What's The New Mary Jane'. -- Abbey Road, Room 4. 2.30-5.15pm.
Stereo mixing: `Hey Jude' (remixes 20, 21, from take 1); `Revolution' (remix
1, from take 16). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick/Phil McDonald;
2nd Engineer: Neil Richmond. Remixes for LP `Hey Jude'. Last Emerick's
session as Beatles' balance engineer. -- Ringo and family move
from `Brookfields', Elstead, Surrey, to `Roundhill', London.
- Dec 06 -- Ringo's appearance on the `David Frost Show'. -- `Cold
Turkey', 6th and last week in the Top 28 (Billboard). [?]
- Dec 07 -- Studio E. BBC Lime Grove Studios. John and Yoko appear on BBC-TV's
`The Question Why'. Broadcast live.
- Dec 08 -- Studio 2. 10.00am-12.15pm. Tape copying with simultaneous recording:
`Octopus's Garden' (takes 1-10). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Martin
Benge; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Re-recording of Ringo vocal for `Octopus's
Garden', bass, lead guitar and piano with outside musicians, for his
appearance on the show `With A Little Help From My Friends'.
- Dec 10 -- Ringo appears on the TV programme `Late Night Line Up'.
-- John and Yoko announce a plan of producing a film called `A6' about a murder,
revealing their intention to make public the case of James Hanratty.
-- Delaney & Bonnie & Friends concert at the Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen,
Denmark.
- Dec 11 -- Odeon Theatre, Kensington, London. Royal charity world premiere
of `The Magic Christian', with attendance of the royal family, Princess Margaret,
John and Yoko, Ringo, Peter Sellers, George and Pattie. Before
the screening, John and Yoko parade outside the cinema carrying placards declaring
`Britain Murdered Hanratty'. -- American promoter Mike Belkin
offers $ 2 400 000 at least, for a Beatles 12-day US tour, plus 65 %
of profits, up to a limit of $ 8 800 000. The Beatles reject it.
- Dec 12 -- UK LP release: `Live Peace In Toronto 1969'. US LP release: `Live
Peace In Toronto 1969'. -- UK LP release: `No One's Gonna Change Our
World'. Debut of `Across The Universe'. -- London premiere:
`The Magic Christian'.
- Dec 13 -- `The Wedding Album' number 182, 1st week in the ranking (Billboard).
- Dec 14 -- John and Yoko arrive in a white bag inside a white Rolls Royce,
at Hyde Park (at Cumberland Gate), to protest for James Hanratty, while Hanratty's
father addresses the crowd. Later, Hanratty and the Lennons drive to 10 Downing
Street, to present a petition at the Prime Minister's residence.
- Dec 15 -- Launch of `War Is Over' campaign organized by John and Yoko.
Posters and billboards are displayed in 12 important cities around the world.
-- The Lyceum, London. `Peace For Christmas' gig in aid of UNICEF, by the
Plastic Ono Supergroup (John, Yoko, George, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Keith
Moon, Delaney & Bonnie, and others). 25 minutes. Last John's performance
in Britain. Recorded, included in `Some Time In New York City'. Other
acts: the Rascals, Desmond Dekker and the Aces, Blue Mink and Black Velvet.
-- BBC broadcasts a 1-hour documentary about John in the programme `Twenty-Four
Hours'.
- Dec 16 -- Lennon and Yoko go to Toronto to play in the Peace Festival.
For 5 days they stay at Ronnie Hawkins's farm near Toronto.
-- `War Is Over! If You Want It' billboards go up in eleven cities around
the world.
- Dec 17 -- John announces a plan for a peace festival in Toronto, to take
place from 3 to 5 July 1970.
- Dec 18 -- John signs 3000 lythographies from his collection `Bag One' at
Ronnie Hawkins's farm.
- Dec 19 -- The 7th Christmas Record is sent to the members of the Fan Club.
-- John and Yoko meet Marshall McLuhan at the University of Toronto, speaking
with him for 45 minutes.
- Dec 20 -- `The Wedding Album', 2nd week in the ranking (Billboard).
-- End of John and Yoko's stay at Ronnie Hawkins's farm.
- Dec 21 -- John and Yoko take a train from Montreal to Ottawa. Press conference
in Chateau Champlain, Ottawa.
- Dec 23 -- 10.30am. The Ottawa press is surprised by the announcement of
an imminent meeting of Lennon and Canada Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
10.55am. A limousine takes John and Yoko into Canadian Parliament's building,
for a 55-minute meeting with Pierre Trudeau. After the meeting,
John and Yoko are interviewed by the press. From the ministerial office
the Lennons are driven to the Ministery of Public Health, to meet the Minister
of Public Health, John Munro, and members of his department. --
John and Yoko return to London. [24 December?]
- Dec 24 -- 6.00-7.00pm. Broadcast of Martin's `With A Little Help From My
Friends' show, produced by Yorkshire Television, transmitted by IBA, with
Ringo, Lulu, the Hollies, Spike Milligan, Dudley Moore, Blue Mink, Pan's People.
Ringo sings `With A Little Help From My Friends'. -- John and
Yoko return to England. [23 December?]
- Dec 27 -- `The Wedding Album' number 178, 3rd and last week in the ranking
(Billboard). Its highest position.
- Dec 29 -- John and Yoko are visited by Hammrick and Leonard, Canadian hypnotizers
who intend to help them to stop smoking. John and Yoko fly to Aalborg, Denmark,
to visit Kyoko. Paul prepares Heather's birthday party.
- Dec 30 -- John interview with Desmond Morris for ATV's `Man Of The Decade'.
- Dec 31 -- BBC's TV programme `The Man Of The Decade', dedicated to John,
is broadcast. `Rolling Stone' nominates John the Man Of The Year
1969. John declares to New Musical Express he is considering to leave
the group.
PREV / NEXT YEAR 1969
Compilation made by Victor Munoz.
Beatles WWW page http://aristoteles.ciencias.uchile.cl/beatles
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