Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Phil McDonald
The Beatles continued work on ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ during this 2.30-11.30pm session.
The backing track had been recorded on the previous day. During this overdub session, Paul McCartney added bass notes and arpeggios on the piano, George Martin played Hammond organ during the introduction and transitions back into the verses, George Harrison played some electric guitar fed through a Leslie speaker, and Ringo Starr hit an anvil during the choruses.
There was a proper blacksmith’s anvil brought to the studio for Ringo to hit. They had it rented from a theatrical agency.
Vocals were then added. McCartney recorded his lead part, which he double tracked during the choruses. He and Harrison then overdubbed backing vocals, and were joined by Starr right at the end of the song. John Lennon did not participate in the recording of ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’.
Towards the end of the session 13 stereo mixes of the song were made.
Also on this day...
- 2019: Paul McCartney live: SAP Center, San Jose
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Amalie Arena, Tampa
- 2016: Paul McCartney live: US Bank Arena, Cincinnati
- 2011: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Düsseldorf
- 2010: Paul McCartney live: AT&T Park, San Francisco
- 2010: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Stadtpark Freilichtbühne, Hamburg
- 1973: Wings live: City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1968: Recording: Revolution
- 1964: Liverpool première of A Hard Day’s Night
- 1964: UK single and album release: A Hard Day’s Night
- 1963: The Beatles live: Winter Gardens, Margate
- 1963: Radio: Pop Go The Beatles
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Is george martin’s organ on the final mix, if it is when is it audible I don’t hear it
In today’s Instagram from the John Lennon official account they have posted a photo of John and Paul at the Vocal mic taken by Yoko ono from the bed that she was lying on. I had always though this was a photo of them doing Come Together since John seems like his clapping his hands like he does on Come Together during the main riff. However on this Instagram they state it was them recording Maxwell. So then John did participate in that recording and was there on this date?
It’s possible that the song in the caption was misidentified and you must understand that John had recently been released from the hospital along with Yoko, so it’s likely that they would’ve been under doctor’s orders to rest.
For all of John, George and Ringo’s nonsense about the sessions for “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”, it only took three days to record prior to the Moog overdub, and it’s not like Paul insisted on spending eight months on its recording alone the way Brian Wilson did with The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”.