Recording: How Do You Sleep?, Crippled Inside by John Lennon – 26 May 1971

Wednesday 26 May 1971 | Recording, John Lennon
Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein

The sixth recording session for John Lennon's second solo album Imagine took place on 26 May 1971 at Ascot Sound Studios — Lennon's private recording studio at his Tittenhurst Park home in Ascot, Berkshire. Two songs were worked on: 'How Do You Sleep?' and 'Crippled Inside'. A three-man film crew was also present, working on a project with the working title Your Show, intended for release alongside Lennon and Yoko Ono's forthcoming albums. And before the session began, Lennon had a remarkable encounter with a fan who had walked from London Airport to his front door.

The Fan: Curt Claudio

Before the recording session began, Lennon had an encounter that he would later describe in a radio interview. Curt Claudio was a 23-year-old American army veteran who had been sending telegrams to Lennon from a Californian army hospital for approximately nine months, convinced that Lennon wrote his songs with him specifically in mind. He had travelled from California to England, walked from London Airport to Tittenhurst Park, and is believed to have been sleeping rough in the grounds before summoning the courage to knock on the door.

The encounter was filmed by the camera crew present that day. Lennon, flanked by Yoko Ono and their assistant Dan Richter, spoke to Claudio for several minutes before inviting him in for food and drink. Lennon later described the encounter in a WPLJ interview with Alex Bennett on 9 June 1971:

“I had this guy called Claudio, who's been sending telegrams for nine months to England, saying, 'I'm coming, I'm coming and I only have to look in your eyes and then I'll know' … He turned up at the house, you know, and he looked in my eyes and he didn't get any answer. And he thought the whole thing was about him, and I said, 'No, it's about me,' and I said it might, you know, it might sort of strike a corresponding chord in your experience too, 'cause we all have fairly similar experiences, but it's basically about me, and if it's not about me, then it's about Yoko, you know. So I said, 'You'd better get on and live your own life,' you know. I mean, you're wasting your time trying to live mine.”

— John Lennon, WPLJ interview with Alex Bennett, 9 June 1971

'How Do You Sleep?'

The first song recorded on 26 May was 'How Do You Sleep?' — Lennon's savage attack on Paul McCartney, written in response to what Lennon perceived as veiled criticisms of him in McCartney's recent solo work. The backing track was completed in 11 takes, the last of which became the album master.

Contributing a slide guitar solo was George Harrison. Lennon was evidently delighted with the result, saying: "That's the best he's ever f*****g played in his life! He'd go on forever if you'd let him."

The eight-track tape breakdown was:

• Track 1: Klaus Voormann — bass guitar
• Track 2: Alan White — drums
• Track 3: George Harrison — electric guitar
• Track 4: John Lennon — electric guitar
• Track 5: Rod Lynton and Ted Turner — acoustic guitars; John Tout — piano; Lennon — vocal overdub
• Track 6: Nicky Hopkins — electric piano
• Tracks 7 & 8: John Lennon — vocal overdubs

The strings for 'How Do You Sleep?' were recorded separately on 4 July at Record Plant, New York.

'Crippled Inside'

'Crippled Inside' was recorded in six takes. Lennon recorded a guide vocal along with the rhythm track, which gave the song a suitably live feel. He later described the sound as "very corny country and western". Key to the song's character were Nicky Hopkins' jaunty piano and George Harrison's dobro.

Klaus Voormann played upright bass, with Steve Brendell — a drummer — playing the strings with a pair of drumsticks, at Phil Spector's suggestion. Brendell later recalled the moment in the 2018 Imagine box set:

“On one session I was spontaneously invited to play on 'Crippled Inside', a fantastic moment for me. Phil wanted to create a kind of honky-tonk, bar-room sound and suggested someone slap the strings of the double bass with drumsticks. John said, 'Steve's a drummer, get him in there.' So, swiftly armed with a pair of sticks, I joined Klaus who was standing there with an upright bass and I started to slap the strings as Klaus manoeuvred his way around the neck of the bass. We had a couple of run-throughs and then Phil decided to do a take.”

— Steve Brendell, Imagine box set, 2018

The eight-track tape breakdown for 'Crippled Inside' was:

• Track 1: Klaus Voormann — double bass; Steve Brendell — drumsticks on bass strings
• Track 2: Alan White — drums
• Track 3: George Harrison — dobro
• Track 4: John Lennon — electric guitar
• Track 5: Rod Lynton and Ted Turner — acoustic guitars
• Track 6: Nicky Hopkins — electric piano
• Track 7: John Lennon — vocals
• Track 8: George Harrison — dobro overdub; John Lennon — vocal overdub

The Musicians

George Harrison — whose presence on both tracks is one of the most striking aspects of the session — was a close collaborator of Lennon's in this period. His slide guitar on 'How Do You Sleep?' and dobro on 'Crippled Inside' are among the most memorable contributions to the Imagine album.

Nicky Hopkins (1944–1994) was one of the most sought-after session pianists in British rock, having played on recordings by the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, and the Jeff Beck Group. His piano work on Imagine is characteristically elegant and inventive.

Alan White (1949–2023) was a session drummer who played on the Imagine sessions before joining Yes in 1972, with whom he remained for the rest of his career.

Klaus Voormann (born 1938) was a close friend of The Beatles since their Hamburg years, designer of the Revolver cover, and one of the most in-demand session bassists of the early 1970s.

Key Facts: 26 May 1971

• Session: Sixth Imagine recording session
• Studio: Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot
• Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
• Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
• Songs recorded: 'How Do You Sleep?' (11 takes; take 11 = master), 'Crippled Inside' (6 takes)
• George Harrison: Slide guitar on 'How Do You Sleep?'; dobro on 'Crippled Inside'
• Fan encounter: Curt Claudio, 23-year-old US army veteran, walked from London Airport to Tittenhurst Park
• Film crew: Present; working on project titled Your Show
• 'How Do You Sleep?' strings: Recorded 4 July 1971, Record Plant, New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'How Do You Sleep?' about?

A direct attack by John Lennon on Paul McCartney, written in response to what Lennon perceived as veiled criticisms of him in McCartney's recent solo work. George Harrison played the slide guitar solo, prompting Lennon to say it was "the best he's ever played in his life".

Who played on 'How Do You Sleep?' and 'Crippled Inside'?

Both tracks featured George Harrison (slide guitar / dobro), Klaus Voormann (bass), Alan White (drums), Nicky Hopkins (electric piano), and Rod Lynton and Ted Turner (acoustic guitars). 'Crippled Inside' also featured Steve Brendell playing drumsticks on Voormann's upright bass strings.

Who was Curt Claudio?

A 23-year-old American army veteran who had been sending telegrams to Lennon for nine months, convinced Lennon wrote his songs with him in mind. He walked from London Airport to Tittenhurst Park and was invited in by Lennon for food and drink. The encounter was filmed by a crew present that day.

What was Ascot Sound Studios?

John Lennon's private recording studio at Tittenhurst Park, his home in Ascot, Berkshire. The majority of the Imagine album was recorded there in May–June 1971.

When was Imagine released?

9 September 1971 in the US and 11 October 1971 in the UK. It reached number one in both countries and is widely regarded as Lennon's finest solo album.

→ 26 May in Beatles History

→ Recording: All Things Must Pass demos – 26 May 1970

→ May in Beatles History

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