Tuesday 12 August 1969 | Abbey Road, Studio
| Studio | Studio Two (control room), EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineers | Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald |
| Session | 7.00pm – 2.00am |
Three Abbey Road songs were mixed in stereo during this session: ‘Oh! Darling’, ‘Because’ and ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’.
The mixes
‘Oh! Darling’
‘Oh! Darling’ was the first song tackled. Five stereo mixes were made, numbered 5–9. The song had been completed on 11 August 1969, when John Lennon added his final contribution to a Beatles recording — backing vocals on this track alongside McCartney and Harrison.
‘Oh! Darling’ was written and sung by Paul McCartney, who famously arrived at the studio each morning during the recording period to sing it while his voice was still rough, seeking the raw, strained quality he wanted for the lead vocal.
‘Because’
‘Because’ required just two mixes to complete. Written by John Lennon, the song features a three-part vocal harmony by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, recorded in three separate passes and combined to create a nine-voice effect. Lennon said the song’s chord sequence was inspired by Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’, played backwards.
‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’
‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ required the most work: ten stereo mixes, numbered 27–36, following earlier mixing efforts on 6 August 1969. Take 34 was chosen as the best for the time being, although it was subsequently combined with a remix — number 37, of the final verse only — made two days later on 14 August 1969.
The song, written by Paul McCartney, was one of the most contentious tracks of the Abbey Road sessions. John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all expressed frustration at the amount of time spent on it. Lennon later called it “granny music”. Despite this, it became one of the album’s most recognisable tracks.
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Abbey Road
Abbey Road was The Beatles’ eleventh studio album, released on 26 September 1969. It was the last album the group recorded together, though Let It Be was released later. The album is notable for its extended medley on Side Two, which strings together a series of song fragments into a continuous piece. It reached number one in both the UK and the US.
The mixing sessions in August 1969 were among the final stages of the album’s production. By this point The Beatles were working efficiently and collaboratively despite the tensions that had marked the earlier Let It Be sessions earlier in the year.
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Key Facts
| Date | Tuesday 12 August 1969, 7.00pm – 2.00am |
| ‘Oh! Darling’ | 5 stereo mixes (nos. 5–9) |
| ‘Because’ | 2 stereo mixes |
| ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ | 10 stereo mixes (nos. 27–36); take 34 selected; combined with remix 37 on 14 August |
| Album released | Abbey Road, 26 September 1969 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired 'Because' by The Beatles?
John Lennon said the chord sequence for 'Because' was inspired by Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata', played backwards. The song features a three-part vocal harmony by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, recorded in three passes to create a nine-voice effect.
Why was 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' controversial within The Beatles?
John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all expressed frustration at the amount of studio time spent on 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'. Lennon later called it "granny music". Despite this, it became one of Abbey Road's most recognisable tracks.
How did Paul McCartney record his vocal for 'Oh! Darling'?
McCartney famously arrived at the studio each morning during the recording period to sing 'Oh! Darling' while his voice was still rough, seeking the raw, strained quality he wanted for the lead vocal.
When was Abbey Road released?
Abbey Road was released on 26 September 1969. It was The Beatles' eleventh studio album and the last they recorded together, though Let It Be was released later in 1970.
→ Recording, editing: I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Oh! Darling, Here Comes The Sun – 11 August 1969
→ John Lennon and Yoko Ono move into Tittenhurst Park – 11 August 1969
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
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