On This Day in 1967, The Beatles Recorded the Most Chaotic 'Sgt. Pepper's' Moment

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in EMI Studios on February 10, 1967. If not for the superb vantage point, for the elbow room—it was a crowded affair in the recording room that day, with The Beatles, their star-studded group of pals, studio engineers, George Martin, and 41 professional symphonic musicians all in attendance. Everyone was there to put in some serious work, but one wouldn’t know it by looking at them. February 10 marked the fourth recording session for “A Day In The Life”, the expansive, controversial, and multi-faceted closing track to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Members of the Royal Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras were there to record the cacophony that separates John Lennon’s somber first verses (“I read the news today, oh boy…”) with Paul McCartney’s bouncy interlude (“Woke up, jumped out of bed, ran a comb across my head.”)

The musical task at hand was a challenging one. Most conservatory musicians prefer structure, and The Beatles were after the opposite. But with the help of George Martin’s arranging skills and a vast assortment of gag accessories like clown noises, clip-on nipples, and gorilla paws, everyone at EMI came together to make it happen.
It Wasn’t Just a Recording Session, It Was an Affair

Perhaps the most notable part of the “A Day In The Life” recording sessions is what everyone was wearing. Once The Beatles knew they would be employing a 40+ orchestra, they decided to turn the recording session into an event. In Here, There, and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles, studio engineer Geoff Emerick recalled Paul McCartney having the initial idea. John Lennon fleshed it out further, saying, “We’ll invite all our friends, and everyone will have to come in fancy dress costume.” When George Martin mentioned that asking the orchestra to dress up might increase their hourly cost, Lennon said, “Sod the cost. We’re making enough bloody money for EMI that they can spring for it…and for the party favors, too.”

Source: Melanie Davis/americansongwriter.com

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