Recording: Oh! Darling, Come Together

Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald

Overdubs were added to two Abbey Road songs during this 2.30-9.30pm recording session.

It began with Paul McCartney’s penultimate attempt at recording a lead vocal take for ‘Oh! Darling’. He taped the final version during the next day’s session.

The bulk of this session, however, was devoted to ‘Come Together’. John Lennon re-recorded his lead vocals and handclaps onto track four, which were both treated with tape delay.

Electric piano and guitar were added to track five; and more guitar and a maraca were overdubbed onto track six, played by George Harrison and Ringo Starr respectively.

The player of the electric piano part is unclear. According to studio engineer Geoff Emerick, it was played by Lennon on the final recording. The book that came with the deluxe edition of the 50th anniversary reissue of Abbey Road, however, claims that it was McCartney.

Initially, Paul played the electric piano part, but John kind of looked over his shoulder and studied what he was playing. When it came time to record it, John played the electric piano instead of Paul. Paul might have been miffed, but I think he was more upset about not singing on the choruses – John did his own backing vocals.