Wednesday 25 October 1972 | Recording | Record Plant, New York City
On 25 October 1972, Yoko Ono completed the recording of “Peter The Dealer” for her third album, Approximately Infinite Universe. The work took place at the Record Plant in New York City, with John Lennon co-producing alongside Ono.
The recording had begun on 24 October. This Wednesday was therefore a continuation and completion of work already under way, not the song’s first appearance in the studio chronology. A stereo mix followed on 4 November 1972.
Our 24 October Approximately Infinite Universe session article covers the starting point. Together, the entries follow one song across two recording days without confusing the later mixing stage with either session.
25 October 1972: the essential facts
| Date | Wednesday 25 October 1972 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Yoko Ono |
| Song | Peter The Dealer |
| Album | Approximately Infinite Universe |
| Studio | Record Plant, New York City |
| Producers | Yoko Ono and John Lennon |
| Recording began | 24 October 1972 |
| Recording completed | 25 October 1972 |
| Stereo mixing | 4 November 1972 |
| Album release year | 1973 |
Continuing the previous day’s work
The 24 October session had covered several songs for Ono’s album, including the beginning of “Peter The Dealer”. The next day’s entry narrows the focus to completing that recording.
A two-day recording history does not necessarily mean two entirely different versions were made. The dated account establishes a start and a completion, but it does not provide a detailed take-by-take breakdown of which instruments or vocal passages were added on each date.
For that reason, the 25 October work is not described here as a complete remake, a specific new solo or a particular numbered take. Those details would require evidence beyond the surviving session summary.
What is clear is the sequence: the song moved from the wider album session into a completed recording, then awaited its stereo mix.
Yoko Ono’s Approximately Infinite Universe
Approximately Infinite Universe was Ono’s third album and a double-album project released in 1973. “Peter The Dealer” belongs to that record, not to a John Lennon solo album simply because Lennon shared the production credit.
The track appears after the title song and before “Song For John” in the album sequence. That placement gives it a defined role within the album rather than treating it as a detached session fragment.
The record’s wider personnel included the New York band Elephant’s Memory. An album-level credit, however, should not be used as a complete attendance sheet for this particular recording day or to assign an individual part without song-specific confirmation.
Ono remains the principal artist in this account. Lennon’s co-production is an important part of the collaboration, but it does not turn the session into a Lennon-led song recording.
Recording and mixing were separate stages
The completion of recording on 25 October was not the end of the production history. “Peter The Dealer” was mixed in stereo on 4 November.
That later session also covered “Waiting For The Sunrise”, “What A Waste” and “Song For John”. The connection is a shared mixing date, not proof that all four songs were recorded together on 25 October.
Recording captures performances and additions to tape; mixing prepares the balance and presentation of that material for release. Keeping the dates separate avoids describing a November mix as a newly recorded October performance.
The dated summary does not identify an exact session start time, finish time or track-sheet allocation for “Peter The Dealer” on this Wednesday. Those values are therefore left unstated.
New York rather than Abbey Road
This session took place at the Record Plant in New York. It should not be assigned to Abbey Road simply because many earlier Beatles and solo recordings were made there.
The distinction also helps separate this 1972 album work from Ono’s 1970 sessions. Our Greenfield Morning article for 25 October 1970 covers an earlier production context at EMI Studios in London.
The same calendar date creates a useful link between the stories, but the two-year gap, different albums and different studios should remain visible.
Peter The Dealer: a short production timeline
- 24 October 1972: recording began during the wider Approximately Infinite Universe work.
- 25 October 1972: the recording was completed at the Record Plant in New York.
- 4 November 1972: a stereo mix was prepared.
- 1973: the song appeared on Approximately Infinite Universe.
The timeline is intentionally specific about the stages established by the session account. It does not turn an album release year into the date of the recording, or assume that every part was captured on the final day.
Location map: New York City
The map supplies city-level context for the Record Plant session. It deliberately avoids implying that a present-day business pin identifies an accessible 1972 recording room or reconstructs the historical studio layout.
Frequently asked questions
What did Yoko Ono record on 25 October 1972?
She completed the recording of Peter The Dealer for Approximately Infinite Universe.
Had recording begun earlier?
Yes. Work on the song began on 24 October 1972 and continued the following day.
Where was the session held?
At the Record Plant in New York City, not Abbey Road in London.
Who produced the recording?
Yoko Ono and John Lennon shared the production credit.
When was Peter The Dealer mixed?
It was mixed in stereo on 4 November 1972.
Which album contains the song?
Approximately Infinite Universe, Yoko Ono’s third album, released in 1973.
Continue exploring: Approximately Infinite Universe sessions, 24 October 1972 · Greenfield Morning, 25 October 1970 · On This Day in Beatles History.
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