Recording: Jealous Guy, How?, Oh Yoko! by John Lennon – 29 May 1971
Saturday 29 May 1971 | John Lennon, Studio
Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
Saturday 29 May 1971 was the ninth recording session for John Lennon’s second solo album Imagine, held at Ascot Sound Studios — Lennon’s private recording studio at his Tittenhurst Park home in Ascot, Berkshire. It was also the final Imagine session at Tittenhurst Park; the remaining overdubs were completed in New York on 4 and 5 July 1971.
The Film Crew
A three-man film crew was present in the studio on this day, working on a project with the working title Your Show — intended for release alongside Lennon and Yoko Ono’s forthcoming albums. The footage shot during the Tittenhurst sessions would eventually form the basis of the Imagine film.
Jealous Guy — Lead Vocals
By this point the backing tracks for the Imagine songs were complete, and only overdubs remained. Lennon began by recording his lead vocals for Jealous Guy onto take 29, which had been recorded on 24 May. The song had begun life as Child Of Nature, written during The Beatles’ 1968 visit to Rishikesh, India, and had been reworked with new lyrics for the Imagine album.
How? — Lead Vocals Re-recorded
How? had been recorded on 25 May. During this session, Lennon re-recorded his lead vocals onto track 7 of take 40. The song was subsequently completed in New York on 4 July 1971 with a strings overdub arranged by Torrie Zito, performed by members of the New York Philharmonic — whom Lennon called The Flux Fiddlers.
Oh Yoko! — Vocal and Harmonica Overdubs
The backing track for Oh Yoko! had been taped in a single take on 27 May. On 29 May, Lennon added a series of overdubs:
- Track 3: Harmonica
- Track 3: Backing vocals by Lennon and Phil Spector (credited as The J&P Duo)
- Track 6: Lead vocals
- Track 8: Additional vocals and harmonica
San Francisco Bay Blues
During the session, Lennon also played an impromptu version of San Francisco Bay Blues — the Jesse Fuller song — on acoustic guitar. The moment was captured by the film crew present in the studio.
The Final Tittenhurst Session
This was the last time Lennon recorded Imagine material at Tittenhurst Park. He and Yoko Ono left for New York shortly afterwards, and the final overdubs — including the string arrangements for How?, Jealous Guy, and other tracks — were recorded at Record Plant East in New York on 4 and 5 July 1971. Lennon would sell Tittenhurst Park to Ringo Starr in 1973.
Key Facts: 29 May 1971
- Studio: Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot
- Session: 9th and final Imagine session at Tittenhurst Park
- Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
- Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
- Songs worked on: Jealous Guy (lead vocals), How? (lead vocals re-recorded), Oh Yoko! (harmonica and vocal overdubs)
- Also recorded: Impromptu acoustic version of San Francisco Bay Blues
- Film crew present: Yes — working on project titled Your Show (later the Imagine film)
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recorded on 29 May 1971 at Tittenhurst Park?
The ninth and final Imagine session at Ascot Sound Studios. Lennon recorded lead vocals for Jealous Guy (onto take 29), re-recorded his lead vocals for How? (onto take 40, track 7), and added harmonica and vocal overdubs to Oh Yoko!. He also played an impromptu acoustic version of San Francisco Bay Blues.
Was this the last Imagine recording session?
It was the last session at Tittenhurst Park. Final overdubs — including string arrangements — were recorded at Record Plant East in New York on 4 and 5 July 1971.
Who were The J&P Duo on Oh Yoko!?
John Lennon and Phil Spector, who added backing vocals to Oh Yoko! during the 29 May session. Lennon credited them playfully as “The J&P Duo”.
What was the film crew doing at Tittenhurst Park on 29 May 1971?
A three-man crew was filming a project with the working title Your Show, intended for release alongside Lennon and Ono’s forthcoming albums. The footage became part of the Imagine film.
What happened to Tittenhurst Park after Lennon left?
Lennon sold Tittenhurst Park to Ringo Starr in 1973. Starr lived there for many years and used the studio for his own recordings.
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