Recording: Imagine, Oh Yoko! by John Lennon – 27 May 1971
Thursday 27 May 1971 | John Lennon, Studio
Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
On 27 May 1971, the seventh recording session for John Lennon's second solo album Imagine took place at Ascot Sound Studios — Lennon's private recording studio at his home, Tittenhurst Park, in Ascot, Berkshire. Two songs were worked on: 'Imagine' and 'Oh Yoko!'. 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.
Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire — John Lennon's home and the location of Ascot Sound Studios, where the majority of the Imagine album was recorded in May–June 1971.
Recording 'Imagine'
'Imagine' was recorded in 10 takes, with the final take becoming the master. The session used an eight-track tape, with the following track layout:
- Track 1: Bass guitar — Klaus Voormann
- Track 2: Drums — Alan White
- Track 3: Vibraphone — John Tout (take 1 only)
- Track 4: Harmonium — John Barham (take 1 only)
- Track 5: Electric piano — Nicky Hopkins (take 1 only); Lennon's piano (takes 2–10)
- Track 6: Grand piano — Lennon (take 1); Hopkins' electric piano (takes 2–7); vocal overdub (take 10)
- Track 7: Lead vocals — Lennon (main recording)
The string arrangement was scored by Torrie Zito and overdubbed at Record Plant East in New York City on 4 July 1971. The string players — whom Lennon dubbed The Flux Fiddlers — were members of the New York Philharmonic.
Recording 'Oh Yoko!'
'Oh Yoko!' was considerably easier to complete, requiring just one take to lay down the backing track. The eight-track layout was:
- Track 1: Bass guitar — Klaus Voormann
- Track 2: Drums — Alan White
- Track 3: Harmonica overdub — Lennon (Hohner Blues Harp); harmony vocals — Lennon and Phil Spector (overdubbed 29 May)
- Track 4: Acoustic guitars — Rod Lynton and Andy Davis
- Track 5: Piano — Nicky Hopkins
- Track 6: Vocal overdub (overdubbed 29 May)
- Track 8: Vocals and harmonica — Lennon (overdubbed 29 May)
'Oh Yoko!' marked Lennon playing harmonica on record for the first time since 'Rocky Raccoon' on The Beatles (the White Album, 1968). The unpolished, Dylanesque suck-and-blow solos were overdubbed after the backing track was completed. The second harmonica overdub was isolated when the other instruments were faded early at the album's close.
The Musicians
Klaus Voormann (born 1938) was a German musician and artist, a long-time friend of The Beatles since Hamburg in 1960, and designer of the Revolver cover artwork. He played bass on numerous solo Beatles recordings.
Alan White (1949–2022) was a British drummer who played on the Imagine sessions before going on to join Yes in 1972, with whom he remained for the rest of his career. He had previously played on Lennon's 'Instant Karma!' (1970).
Nicky Hopkins (1944–1994) was one of the most sought-after session pianists in British rock, having played with The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and Jefferson Airplane, among many others.
John Barham was a British musician and arranger who had worked extensively with George Harrison, contributing to All Things Must Pass (1970) and the Concert for Bangladesh (1971).
Rod Lynton and Andy Davis were session guitarists who appeared on several tracks across the Imagine sessions.
The Imagine Album
Imagine was John Lennon's second solo album, released on 9 September 1971. Produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector, it was recorded primarily at Ascot Sound Studios in May–June 1971, with string overdubs at Record Plant East in New York in July. The album reached number one in both the UK and the US, and the title track became one of the most celebrated songs of the 20th century.
Key Facts: 27 May 1971
- Studio: Ascot Sound Studios, Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire
- Session: Seventh Imagine recording session
- Songs recorded: 'Imagine' (10 takes; take 10 = master), 'Oh Yoko!' (1 take backing track)
- Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector
- Engineers: Phil McDonald, Eddie Klein
- Key musicians: Klaus Voormann (bass), Alan White (drums), Nicky Hopkins (piano), John Barham (harmonium), John Tout (vibraphone), Rod Lynton & Andy Davis (guitars)
- String overdubs: Record Plant East, New York, 4 July 1971 (The Flux Fiddlers — members of the New York Philharmonic; arranged by Torrie Zito)
- Vocal/harmonica overdubs for 'Oh Yoko!': 29 May 1971
- Album release: Imagine, 9 September 1971
Frequently Asked Questions
How many takes did it take to record 'Imagine'?
Ten takes. The final take became the master. The string arrangement by Torrie Zito was overdubbed separately at Record Plant East in New York on 4 July 1971, performed by members of the New York Philharmonic, whom Lennon called The Flux Fiddlers.
Who played on the recording of 'Imagine'?
Klaus Voormann (bass), Alan White (drums), Nicky Hopkins (electric piano/piano), John Barham (harmonium), John Tout (vibraphone), and John Lennon (piano, vocals). Strings were overdubbed later by The Flux Fiddlers.
When did Lennon last play harmonica on a record before 'Oh Yoko!'?
'Rocky Raccoon' on The Beatles (the White Album, 1968) — nearly three years earlier.
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.
What was the film crew doing at the session?
A three-man crew was filming for a project with the working title Your Show, intended for release alongside Lennon and Yoko Ono's forthcoming albums. The footage later formed part of the Imagine film.
→ Recording: All Things Must Pass demos – 27 May 1970
→ Imagine by John Lennon: The Story Behind the Album, the Songs and the Vision
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