Sunday 5 November 1972 · Yoko Ono · Mixing · Record Plant, New York City
Yoko Ono and John Lennon worked on mixes of three songs for Approximately Infinite Universe at the Record Plant in New York City on 5 November 1972: “Catman (The Rosies Are Coming)”, “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” and “What a Bastard the World Is”.
The session followed the album’s October recording work. None of these three songs reached its final released mix that day. “Catman” returned to the mixing desk later in November, while the other two songs received strings before their final mixes on 21 November.
The 5 November mixing session: key facts
| Date | Sunday 5 November 1972 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yoko Ono |
| Album | Approximately Infinite Universe |
| Studio | Record Plant, New York City |
| Studio address | 321 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036, USA |
| Producers | Yoko Ono and John Lennon |
| Songs mixed | Catman (The Rosies Are Coming); I Want My Love to Rest Tonight; What a Bastard the World Is |
| Later production | Further mixing during November; string additions to I Want My Love to Rest Tonight and What a Bastard the World Is |
From October recordings to November mixes
Work on the three recordings extended across several October dates. “What a Bastard the World Is” began on 19 October, while “Catman” and “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” were first recorded on 23 October.
Two of the songs were revisited during the Approximately Infinite Universe sessions of 24 October. That day brought a remake of “Catman” and a fresh recording of “What a Bastard the World Is”, alongside work on other album tracks.
On 26 October, Ono recorded “What a Bastard the World Is” again and remade “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight”. Those performances preceded the mixing work on 5 November.
Catman (The Rosies Are Coming)
“Catman (The Rosies Are Coming)” was recorded on 23 October and remade the following day. The album credits identify Butterfly Studio as the location of the song’s basic tracks, while the 5 November mixing session took place at the Record Plant.
The mixes prepared on 5 November were not used for the released album. Further mixing followed on 28 November, with the final version completed on 29 November.
“Catman” therefore had the latest final-mixing date of the three songs considered here. Its production continued after “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” and “What a Bastard the World Is” had received their final mixes.
I Want My Love to Rest Tonight
Ono first recorded “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” on 23 October and remade it on 26 October. Mixing on 5 November was followed by another mixing session on 11 November.
Strings were added on 20 November, and the final mix was made on 21 November. Ron Frangipane is credited with the album’s string orchestration, with Endless Strings among the credited ensembles.
The released song also features Lennon singing its final verse. His involvement in the album extended beyond co-production, although the 5 November entry concerns mixing rather than a new vocal recording.
What a Bastard the World Is
“What a Bastard the World Is” had the longest recording sequence of the three tracks. An initial version was recorded on 19 October, followed by remakes on 24 and 26 October.
The 5 November mix came after those recording attempts but before the song’s orchestral additions. Strings were added on 20 November, followed by the final stereo mix on 21 November.
Both this song and “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” thus shared the same final two production dates: string work on 20 November and final mixing the next day.
The three songs’ recording and mixing chronology
| Song | October recording | November production |
|---|---|---|
| Catman (The Rosies Are Coming) | Recorded 23 October; remade 24 October | Mixed 5 and 28 November; final mix 29 November |
| I Want My Love to Rest Tonight | Recorded 23 October; remade 26 October | Mixed 5 and 11 November; strings 20 November; final mix 21 November |
| What a Bastard the World Is | Recorded 19 October; remade 24 and 26 October | Mixed 5 November; strings 20 November; final mix 21 November |
All dates in this table are in 1972.
Approximately Infinite Universe: production and musicians
Approximately Infinite Universe became Ono’s third solo album, a double LP released in 1973. Its credits name Yoko Ono and John Lennon as producers, with words, music and arrangements by Ono.
Plastic Ono Band, Elephant’s Memory, Endless Strings and choir boys appear in the album’s ensemble billing. Elephant’s Memory musicians credited on the record include Stan Bronstein, Richard Frank Jr, Gary Van Scyoc, Adam Ippolito and Wayne Gabriel.
The official album credits name Jack Douglas as chief engineer and Ron Frangipane for string orchestration. They distinguish the Butterfly Studio basic tracks for “Catman” and “Winter Song” from the Record Plant work on the rest of the project.
The three songs mixed on 5 November occupy different places in the album’s programme. “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight” appears on its first side; “Catman” and “What a Bastard the World Is” appear later in the first LP, among the material developed during the October sessions.
Location map: Record Plant, New York
The New York Record Plant operated at 321 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. This is the historical studio location used for the 5 November mixing session.
View the historical Record Plant address on Google Maps
John and Yoko in the collection
Explore the John and Yoko On White fridge magnet, featuring their line-drawn embrace.
Frequently asked questions
Which Yoko Ono songs were mixed on 5 November 1972?
Catman (The Rosies Are Coming), I Want My Love to Rest Tonight and What a Bastard the World Is.
Where did the mixing session take place?
At the Record Plant, 321 West 44th Street, New York City.
Who produced the recordings?
Yoko Ono and John Lennon co-produced Approximately Infinite Universe.
Were the 5 November mixes the final versions?
No. All three songs received further production work later in November before their final mixes.
When was Catman finally mixed?
Its final mix was completed on 29 November 1972, after mixing sessions on 5 and 28 November.
When were the other two songs completed?
I Want My Love to Rest Tonight and What a Bastard the World Is received strings on 20 November and their final mixes on 21 November 1972.
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