Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
The Beatles recorded Drive My Car, the opening song for Rubber Soul, on this day at EMI Studios in London. It was the second recording session for the album.
The session began at 7pm, and finished at 12.15am the following morning. This was The Beatles' first recording session to finish after midnight, although such an occurrence would soon become commonplace.
Drive My Car was recorded in four attempts, the last of which was the only complete take. The rhythm track featured John Lennon on tambourine, Paul McCartney on bass guitar, George Harrison on Fender Stratocaster, and Ringo Starr on drums.
A number of overdubs were subsequently added. The first was of lead vocals by Lennon and McCartney and backing vocals by Harrison. The third track contained Lennon's double tracked vocals for the "And maybe I'll love you" and "beep beep, beep beep, yeah" lines.
Track four contained the finishing touches: McCartney's lead guitar during the intro, solo and coda, cowbell by Starr, and Lennon's piano part during the choruses.
