Friday 27 October 1972 | Recording | Apple Studios, London
George Harrison recorded Miss O’Dell at Apple Studios on 27 October 1972, working with bassist Klaus Voormann and drummer Jim Keltner. George produced the session, with Phil McDonald engineering.
The song was written about Chris O’Dell, a friend who had worked for the Beatles at Apple. Its relaxed performance and humour made it a distinctive companion to Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth), the single on which it appeared as the B-side in 1973.
| Date | Friday 27 October 1972 |
|---|---|
| Studio | Apple Studios, London |
| Producer | George Harrison |
| Engineer | Phil McDonald |
| George Harrison | Vocals and 12-string acoustic guitar |
| Klaus Voormann | Bass guitar |
| Jim Keltner | Drums and cowbell |
| Numbered takes | 1–37 |
| Master selection | Take 33, with the introduction from take 20 |
| Original release | B-side of Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth), 1973 |
Who was Miss O’Dell?
Chris O’Dell had worked for the Beatles at Apple Corps in London and was a friend of George and Pattie Harrison. George wrote the song about her while staying in Los Angeles the previous year.
That personal connection gives the song its conversational character. Rather than a formal tribute, Miss O’Dell has the feel of an informal musical message to a friend, with George’s humour an important part of its appeal.
The recording belongs to the sessions surrounding Living in the Material World. It offers a lighter side of that period, with a compact group of three musicians developing the arrangement together at Apple.
George, Klaus and Jim
The session’s core sound came from George’s 12-string acoustic guitar, Klaus Voormann’s bass and Jim Keltner’s drums. George also sang the lead vocal as the group worked through the song.
The small lineup left room for the players to respond to one another. During the early takes, the arrangement developed through changes to the introduction, the bass part and the percussion. The performance gradually settled into the easy-going character heard on the finished recording.
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Developing the song across 37 takes
The session progressed through 37 numbered takes. The early performances allowed George, Klaus and Jim to explore the song’s structure and feel, with the introduction developing as they went.
By take 8, George and Klaus were trying the descending melody associated with the single’s introduction. Later performances brought the rhythm section further into focus as the musicians settled into their parts.
A new reel began with take 20. Several complete performances followed, and the tape box records the musicians’ progress through notes identifying strong takes and the material selected for the finished version.
Jim Keltner’s cowbell introduction
Just before take 25, Jim Keltner played a cowbell figure that caught George’s attention. George liked it and asked him to use that opening for the takes that followed.
The cowbell became a memorable feature of Miss O’Dell, giving the recording a playful rhythmic entrance. It grew out of an idea tried in the studio as the musicians worked, rather than being fixed at the beginning of the session.
The tape box: take 20 and the master take
The handwritten notes provide a direct route through the recording. Take 20 was marked “Good. Cut in start onto 33”, identifying its introduction for use with the later master performance.
Take 33 was selected as the master. The session timeline transcribes its note as “Comp. Good. Funny. BEST”, a concise description of the performance’s musical success and comic character.
The group continued after that selection, reaching take 37 before George brought the work to a close. The Living in the Material World session timeline follows the development of the takes and the decisions recorded on the box.
| Take or stage | Development |
|---|---|
| Early takes | The trio explores the song’s structure and arrangement |
| Take 8 | Descending introduction developed by George and Klaus |
| Take 20 | Introduction later selected for the master edit |
| Before take 25 | Keltner tries the cowbell opening, which George asks him to retain |
| Take 33 | Chosen as the master performance |
| Take 37 | Final numbered take of the session |
A B-side to Give Me Love
Miss O’Dell reached listeners in 1973 as the B-side of Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth). The pairing placed its humour and informal delivery alongside one of George’s best-known solo singles.
For the wider release story, read our article on the US release of Living in the Material World on 30 May 1973. The October recording and the following year’s release connect this Apple session with George’s next major solo chapter.
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Apple Studios, Savile Row
The session took place at Apple Studios in London. The tape box carries Apple’s 3 Savile Row address.
Frequently asked questions
When did George Harrison record Miss O’Dell?
He recorded the song at Apple Studios on 27 October 1972.
Who was the song written about?
Chris O’Dell, who had worked at Apple and was a friend of George and Pattie Harrison.
Who played on the recording?
George Harrison sang and played 12-string acoustic guitar, Klaus Voormann played bass, and Jim Keltner played drums and cowbell.
How many takes were recorded?
The session ran through 37 numbered takes.
Which take became the master?
Take 33 was chosen as the master, with its introduction taken from take 20.
How was Miss O’Dell first released?
It appeared as the B-side of Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) in 1973.
Living in the Material World: US album release · More On This Day in Beatles History
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