A Day in the Life Blog

In UK Get Back by Beatles With Billy Preston was in the top 5 hits.

In early May 1969, photographer Angus McBean and the Beatles returned to EMI House to recreate the cover photo from the "Please Please Me" LP for their upcoming LP, "Get Back".  However Angus found that EMI had constructed a new porch which prevented him from photographing the Beatles from the exact same perspective as he had done in 1963. Pictures from this day feature John and George wearing different jacket.

When EMI House heard that the exact photo angle could not be replicated, they agreed to have the new porch taken down temporarily. The Beatles and Angus then returned on May 13 1969 at 6pm for another attempt. Pictures from this day feature John and George wearing pin stripe suits (their 1966 tour suits).

In UK Get Back by Beatles With Billy Preston was in the top 5 hits.

Today George Harrison accepted an invitation to perform on singer and bassist Jack Bruce's debut solo album. He arrived early for the session, and recorded a rhythm guitar part for the song Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune.

The album was Songs For A Tailor, which was released later in 1969. Harrison's guitar part became largely buried in the mix, but performed some distorted chords as part of the backing track.

For contractual reasons Harrison's name didn't appear on the album credits. Instead, the pseudonym he had used for the recording of Badge, L'Angelo Misterioso, made a reappearance.

No news to report today

The Beatles launch their new Zapple label, reserved for avant-garde and spoken-word recordings. This day marks the UK release of LPs by John Lennon and George Harrison. The first release on the Zapple label is John Lennon / Yoko Ono’s Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With the Lions. Tracks: Cambridge 1969, No Bed For Beatle John, Baby's Heartbeat, Two Minutes Silence, and Radio Play. The second album released on the Zapple label is George Harrison’s Electronic Sound. Tracks: Under the Mersey Wall and No Time or Space. Despite the plans for a series of poetry LPs and similar literary ventures, notably an album of Allen Ginsberg performing the works of William Blake, Zapple never releases another record.

Paul McCartney, using the pseudonym Paul Ramon, assists Steve Miller in the recording of the song My Dark Hour. Paul plays bass and drums, and sings backing vocals.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono conduct a lengthy interview with David Wigg for the Radio 1 program "Scene and Heard," which is broadcast in two parts, on May 11 and May 18. This is put on record a decade later as part of The Beatles Tapes.

-The battle for control of The Beatles' Northern Songs continues. Late last month, the Beatles made a $5.1 million counter offer to Northern Songs stockholders in an attempt to thwart ATV's bid to win control of the company. Today, representatives of Warner Brothers-Seven Arts are expected in London to discuss the purchase of 15% of the company.

In UK Get Back by Beatles With Billy Preston was in the top 5 hits.

Today, Paul McCartney's new song, You Never Give Me Your Money was recorded.

The first takes ended abruptly where the song eventually went into the "one two three four five six seven/All good children go do heaven" refrain. The Beatles recorded 36 takes, filling three reels of tape in the process, before the session ended at 4am.

The backing was recorded live onto eight-track tape. Track one featured George Harrison's guitar, fed through a Leslie speaker; track two had McCartney's piano; Ringo Starr's drums were on the third; McCartney's guide vocals were on track four; and John Lennon's rhythm guitar filled track six.

Abbey Road was not recorded until July 1, 1969 while each of The Beatles went on holiday.

US release of The Beatles’ single Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (Apple). 12 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #1.