Monday 4 November 1974 | John Lennon | Stereo mixing | Record Plant, New York City
On 4 November 1974, John Lennon mixed “Stand By Me” in stereo at the Record Plant in New York City. The recording was being prepared for Rock ’N’ Roll, his collection of songs from the rock ’n’ roll and rhythm-and-blues repertoire that had shaped his musical upbringing.
The performance had been recorded during the previous month. Its backing track was taped on 23 October, with recording completed on 24 October 1974. This November date belongs to the next stage: making the stereo mix for the album.
Stand By Me mixing session: the essential facts
| Date | Monday 4 November 1974 |
|---|---|
| Artist and producer | John Lennon |
| Song | Stand By Me |
| Work | Stereo mixing for Rock ’N’ Roll |
| Studio | Record Plant East, New York City |
| Songwriters | Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller |
| Original recording | Ben E. King, 1961 |
| Lennon recording dates | 23–24 October 1974 |
| Album release | 17 February 1975 in the US; 21 February 1975 in the UK |
From the October recording to the November stereo mix
Lennon’s New York sessions brought the long-running Rock ’N’ Roll project back into concentrated production. The official album history dates this recording phase to 21–25 October 1974 at Record Plant East. Lennon produced and arranged the material from these sessions himself.
“Stand By Me” was among the songs tackled during that period. After the backing track on 23 October, the following day completed the October recording stage. The 4 November appointment then moved the song from recording into stereo mixing.
Mixing brings the recorded elements together into the balance heard on a released record. For this session, the documented result was a stereo version intended for the album. The central event was therefore the preparation of an existing performance, rather than a new band recording of the song.
For another entry from the project’s closing recording period, see Lennon’s Rock ’N’ Roll work on 28 October 1974.
A New York production, following the Los Angeles sessions
Rock ’N’ Roll was assembled from two distinct periods. Phil Spector produced the earlier Los Angeles recordings in 1973; Lennon took charge of the New York sessions in October 1974. The finished album consequently carries production credits for both men, but “Stand By Me” belongs to Lennon’s self-produced New York work.
In his recollection reproduced on the official single page, Lennon described rehearsing the musicians before going into the studio and working quickly through the songs. He contrasted that organised return to recording with the difficulties of the earlier West Coast sessions.
The album credits identify Roy Cicala among the engineers and name him in the remix credits. They also credit Greg Calbi with mastering at the Cutting Room at the Record Plant. These were separate responsibilities within the wider process of making the finished album.
Who played on John Lennon’s Stand By Me?
The official Lennon single archive supplies a track-specific lineup for “Stand By Me”. Lennon sang and played acoustic guitar, supported by a band incorporating guitars, piano, bass, drums, percussion and saxophones.
| Musician | Credit |
|---|---|
| John Lennon | Vocals and acoustic guitar |
| Jesse Ed Davis | Electric guitar |
| Peter Jameson | Electric guitar |
| Eddie Mottau | Acoustic guitar |
| Ken Ascher | Piano |
| Klaus Voormann | Bass guitar |
| Joseph Temperley | Saxophone |
| Frank Vicari | Saxophone |
| Dennis Morouse | Tenor saxophone |
| Jim Keltner | Drums |
| Arthur Jenkins | Percussion |
These are the recording credits for the song. The 4 November date marks Lennon’s subsequent work on its stereo presentation.
Ben E. King’s 1961 song
“Stand By Me” was written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and originally recorded by King in 1961. It brought an early-1960s song into an album that also revisited material associated with the previous decade.
Lennon had returned to the song before making the released master. The Beatles played it during the January 1969 sessions, and it also appeared in the March 1974 Los Angeles jam involving Lennon and Paul McCartney. The October New York recording was the performance developed for Rock ’N’ Roll.
On the album, “Stand By Me” follows “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and precedes the “Rip It Up/Ready Teddy” medley. The official album listing gives it a running time of 3:32, placing it near the beginning of the original record.
Further mixing during November 1974
The “Stand By Me” session was part of a sequence of work on the album. On 5 November, Lennon mixed “Ain’t That A Shame”, “Slippin’ And Slidin’” and the “Rip It Up/Ready Teddy” medley. “Slippin’ And Slidin’” received further attention on 6 November and again on 7 November.
The 7 November mixing also included “Peggy Sue”, “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and “Ya Ya”. These sessions show the album moving through its final production stages after the October recordings.
The album and the later single
Rock ’N’ Roll was released in the United States on 17 February 1975 and in Britain on 21 February. “Stand By Me” also became a single, paired with the non-album song “Move Over Ms. L.”
The single involved further preparation beyond the November album mix. The detailed recording chronology lists synthesizer-string overdubbing and remixing on 3 February 1975. The October performance, November album mix and February single preparation are therefore separate dates in the song’s history.
Release-date sources differ: the official single page gives 17 February 1975 without separating territories, while the detailed song chronology lists 10 March in the US and 18 April in the UK. The album’s US and UK February dates are separately identified in the official album archive.
“Stand By Me” was a single from the album, but should not be called its only single worldwide: the official Lennon catalogue also documents “Ya Ya”, backed with “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, as a June 1975 single.
Record Plant East: the New York studio
The historic New York Record Plant was at 321 West 44th Street, New York City. This was the East Coast studio associated with Lennon’s October recordings and November mixing, distinct from the West Coast facilities involved in the earlier album sessions.
For another aspect of Lennon’s life in the same neighbourhood and period, explore the 24 October 1974 Viva photo shoot with David Gahr.
Frequently asked questions
What did John Lennon do on 4 November 1974?
He mixed “Stand By Me” in stereo at the Record Plant in New York for his Rock ’N’ Roll album.
When did Lennon record Stand By Me?
The backing track was recorded on 23 October 1974, and recording was completed on 24 October.
Who produced Lennon’s version?
John Lennon produced the New York recording. Phil Spector’s production credit on the album relates to its earlier Los Angeles material.
Who wrote Stand By Me?
Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote the song. King’s original recording was released in 1961.
Which album includes the recording?
Rock ’N’ Roll, released on 17 February 1975 in the United States and 21 February 1975 in the United Kingdom.
What was the B-side of Lennon’s single?
“Move Over Ms. L.” was the B-side of “Stand By Me”.
Continue with the 24 October Stand By Me recording session and Rock ’N’ Roll on 28 October. Explore the On This Day hub and our Beatles Knowledge Hub.
Official archive: Rock ’N’ Roll history and credits · Stand By Me recording credits and recollections.
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