The next song on the Parlophone UK LP "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is an original Lennon/McCartney composition written mainly by Paul entitled "When I'm 64". This was a tune which was first composed when Paul was around 15 and it was written on the family piano at Forthlin Road in Liverpool (the family home). The song was revived with Paul's father, Jim McCartney, in mind.
The basic track for the recording was started on Tuesday December 06 1966 at EMI studio two. The instrumentation for this session including Paul playing the piano and overdubbing his bass with Ringo on the drums. Two takes of the basic track were required.
Two days later on Thursday December 08 1966 from EMI studio one, Paul added his lead vocal to the already recorded basic track.
A week and a half later on December 20 1966 at EMI studio two, John Paul and George added their background vocals to the tune. Also added at this session were the sound of the tubular bells played by Ringo. Now that all four tracks were full, the basic rhythm track of piano/guitar/bass and drums were all thrown onto one track taking take two into take four as two attempts at the reduction were completed.
Finally the next day on December 21 1966 also at EMI studio two, clarinets were added to the song. Two clarinets and one bass clarinet can be heard. These were overdubbed onto the existing take four. Once this was completed, three mono mixes were attempted at this session although none of the mono mixes were ever used commercially.
On Thursday December 29 1966, four more mono mixes of "When I'm 64" were attempted with one mono mix intended for the North American market and one mono mix intended for the UK market. Neither of the mixes were ever used commercially. It's been estimated that the possibility of having "When I'm 64" as a b-side to the "Strawberry Fields" single was probably the reason for these mixes. The recording of "Penny Lane" did not start until later during this same day.
The next day on Friday December 30 1966, all mono mixes for "When I'm 64" were scrapped and a new mono mix was made this day. At the same time, the song was speeded up half a tone higher in order to have the lead vocals sound somewhat more "youthful". This mix was the mono mix used on the commerical version of the song.
The stereo mix for "When I'm 64" was conducted four months later on April 17 1967. Only one attempt was taken.
Lastly, another stereo mix can heard on the "Yellow Submarine Soundtrack" that basically centers the vocals.
"When I'm 64" is available on the Parlophone UK LP/CD "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" as well as the North American Capitol equivalent of the same name. The song was also released on the related picture discs in the UK and in North America released in the late 1970s. Lastly, the song appears on the EMI/Apple LP/CD "Yellow Submarine Soundtrack".
No comments:
Post a Comment