Ascot Sound Studios
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
The fifth recording session for John Lennon’s second solo album Imagine took place on 25 May 1971.
The main album sessions were held at Ascot Sound Studios, Lennon’s recording studio at his Tittenhurst Park home. Three songs were worked on during this session: ‘Gimme Some Truth’, ‘How?’, and ‘Oh Yoko!’.
Four takes of ‘Gimme Some Truth’ were recorded. During one attempt he recorded the song in an Eddie Cochran style, and even included a line from Cochran’s song ‘Cut Across Shorty’.
After take 3, which was captured on film, Lennon indicated he thought it was suitable for release. Producer Phil Spector’s comment that “It’s getting there” prompted a disappointed Lennon to respond: “Oh, wasn’t that it?” The musicians nailed it on the following attempt, take 4.
The multitrack tape had Klaus Voormann’s bass guitar on track 1, Alan White’s drums on 2, and piano by John Tout and electric piano by Nicky Hopkins on 4. Track 5 had Lennon’s lead guitar, 6 had acoustic guitars by Rod Lynton and Andy Davis, and Lennon’s lead vocals were on 8.
Voormann and White overdubbed more bass and snare drum onto track 3, and Lennon added an electric guitar part onto track 7.
On 28 May Lennon’s final vocals and Harrison’s slide guitar solo were recorded, replacing Lennon’s original vocals on track 8. ‘Gimme Some Truth’ was completed on with a bass guitar overdub, taped on 4 July 1971 by Voormann at New York’s Record Plant.
‘How?’ took considerably longer to lay down. Forty takes were recorded on this day, the last of which was the album master. Takes 1-32 had acoustic guitars played by Lynton and Davis and vibraphone by Tout, but the arrangement was simplified for subsequent attempts.
Voormann’s bass guitar and White’s drums were recorded onto tracks 1 and 2 respectively. Track 3 was blank, and 4 had Hopkins’ electric piano. Lennon’s piano was on 5, and takes 1-32 had the acoustic guitars on 6.
Tout’s vibraphone was on 7 for takes 1-32, and Lennon’s vocals were taped on track 8.
Lennon’s final vocals were recorded onto track 7 of take 40 on 29 May, and the strings for ‘How?’ were taped on 4 July at New York’s Record Plant studio.
Just one take of ‘Oh Yoko!’ was recorded on this day. The song’s backing track was completed on 27 May, with Lennon’s vocals added two days later.