John Lennon & Yoko Ono – “John And Yoko” Recording Session (27 April 1969)

April 26, 2026

Recording: John And Yoko

Sunday 27 April 1969 | Studio Session | EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London

Overview

On 27 April 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to Studio Two at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, to continue work on their experimental recording John And Yoko. The session ran from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

The track would form part of side one of their Wedding Album (released October 1969) — one of the most personal and avant-garde releases associated with The Beatles' extended catalogue.

Recording Concept

Originally recorded on 22 April 1969, the piece centred on a deeply intimate concept: the amplified sound of Lennon and Ono's heartbeats, combined with the pair calling out each other's names repeatedly over an extended duration of approximately 22 minutes.

Using a sensitive hospital-grade microphone, the original recording captured not only heartbeat rhythms but also internal bodily sounds — adding to the raw, unfiltered nature of the piece and reinforcing its status as a document of physical and emotional intimacy.

Session Details (27 April)

Following earlier mixing attempts on 26 April, it was decided that the heartbeat recordings required improvement. During this three-hour session, Lennon and Ono re-recorded the heartbeat audio with the aim of achieving a clearer and more defined sonic texture for the final mix.

Engineer Insight

Engineer Jeff Jarratt later recalled the unusual nature of the session, noting the extreme sensitivity of the microphone used and the unexpected range of internal sounds it captured — far beyond simple heartbeats.

Completion

John And Yoko was subsequently mixed and finalised on 1 May 1969. The completed piece runs for approximately 22 minutes and 45 seconds on the Wedding Album, occupying the entirety of side one.

Studio Location

FAQs

What is “John And Yoko”?

An experimental audio piece by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, featured on their Wedding Album (1969). It consists primarily of the couple's amplified heartbeats and their voices calling each other's names, running for approximately 22 minutes.

Why were the heartbeats re-recorded on 27 April?

Earlier recordings from 22 April were deemed insufficient in quality. The 27 April session aimed to achieve a cleaner, more defined sonic texture for the final mix.

When was the track completed?

The final mix was completed on 1 May 1969.

What album does it appear on?

It appears on side one of Wedding Album, released by Apple Records in October 1969.

Editorial Note

This session stands as a striking example of Lennon and Ono's willingness to push beyond conventional music boundaries — transforming deeply personal, physical expression into recorded art that challenged every assumption about what a “record” could be.

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