Trident Studios, London
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono
Engineers: Ken Scott, Bill Trow
Despite having recorded 26 takes of ‘Cold Turkey’ at EMI Studios on 25 September 1969, John Lennon decided the recording was not good enough to be the Plastic Ono Band’s second single.
A second session took place on 28 September at Trident Studios, times and takes unknown. The personnel was the same as before: Lennon on guitar and vocals, joined by Eric Clapton on guitar, Klaus Voormann on bass guitar and Ringo Starr on drums. Yoko Ono was also present, and may have played some electric piano.
It is not known whether the recordings from this day were overdubs added to the EMI recordings, or an entirely new set of takes. The only multitrack for ‘Cold Turkey’ in EMI’s vault comes from this session at Trident Studios, since the EMI multitracks were scrapped in 1972.
It appears, however, that a rough mix of take 26 from EMI, labelled ‘Master I’, was taken to Trident and given overdubs. The Trident multitrack contains an edit with a shorter instrumental verse, labelled ‘Master II’, suggesting it was duplicated from the EMI tape then given additional recordings.
The song was mixed in stereo at EMI on 29 September 1969, although these were discarded after Lennon recorded more lead vocals and electric guitar on 5 October.