Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Engineers: Phil McDonald, John Leckie
The seventh recording session for John Lennon’s debut solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, took place on 15 October 1970.
The musicians were Lennon, Klaus Voormann on bass guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums.
They worked on five songs: ‘Working Class Hero’, ‘Love’, ‘Look At Me’, ‘Mother’, and ‘Well Well Well’.
‘Working Class Hero’ had first been attempted in 12 takes on 27 September. Lennon recorded another three on this day, numbered 10-12, although none were used on the album.
A single take of ‘Love’ had been recorded on 9 October, with Billy Preston on piano. On this day Lennon recorded 13 solo takes, although none were deemed good enough. The session log sheet stated: “No best decided. Probably to be re-recorded.” Indeed it was, on 19 October.
Lennon also recorded ‘Look At Me’ solo on this day, laying down nine takes on acoustic guitar and trying out different playing styles as he went. Take 9 was the only complete attempt, and became the album master.
Takes 1-4 were performed on an acoustic guitar, and Lennon switched to an electric guitar for takes 5-9. An acoustic guitar part was overdubbed onto take 9 on 17 October, and the following day Lennon double-tracked his vocal and electric guitar parts.
The full band had worked on ‘Mother’ on 26 and 27 September. On this day Lennon began by recording a vocal overdub onto take 64, before he and the band recorded takes 65-68, taking up the bulk of the day’s session.
Lennon switched from piano to guitar for takes 69-82. Take 64 became the master version, and was given further overdubs in subsequent sessions.
A single incomplete take of ‘Well Well Well’ was also recorded on this day, but three days later Lennon overdubbed lead guitar, and he and Starr added maracas and tom tom respectively, onto take 4 from 27 September.