`Nothing's Gonna Change Our World' version
Lead vocal: John (recorded with tape running slow)
Backing vocal: John, Paul, George
Acoustic guitar, tone pedal guitar: John
Bass, piano: Paul
Tamboura, sitar, maracas: George
Drums: Ringo
Acoustic guitar
`Let It Be' version
Lead vocal: John (recorded with tape running slow)
Acoustic guitar: John
Tamboura, sitar, maracas: George
Drums: Ringo
18 violins
4 violas
4 cellos
Harp
3 trumpets
3 trombones
2 guitar
14 vocalists
Scores, direction: Richard Hewson
Studio sessions
4 February 1968
8 February 1968
2 October 1968
3 October 1968
12 December 1968
5 January 1970
23 March 1970
1 April 1970
2 April 1970
The first of the Spectorizations, meaning that Phil Spector gave this track a 35-piece orchestra and a vocal choir it never needed. One of Lennon's most beautiful tracks in its original form, but the speeded-up alternate version, with the "Apple Scruffs", fares even worse than this mix. For the record, "Jai Guru Deva Om" means, roughly, "Glory to the spiritual master". A philosophy that Lennon had rejected by the time Let It Be came out.
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Ain't She Sweet
Yellen/Ager
Albums:
Lead vocal: John
Rythm guitar, organ: John
Bass, electric piano: Paul
Lead guitar: George
Drums, tambourine: Ringo
Studio sessions
10 May 1965
The band's most direct attempt at 50's song structure (at least until Oh! Darling). Beautiful harmonies by the front three. George said that this was actually John's most blatant attempt to write (and sing) a Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song.
Lead vocal: John
Backing vocal: Paul
Acoustic guitar, 2 lead guitars, percussive thump on the back of an acoustic guitar: John
Drums, bass, piano, maracas: Paul
Studio sessions
14 April 1969
An extremely controversial (but fun!) look into the way John And Yoko's media messages got misunderstood by the media themselves. Banned on many stations because of the "blasphemous" allusions to Christ and the crucifixion. This track consists entirely of John and Paul, splitting the instruments and vocals. That's Paul on drums. (Some say you can hear John call Peter Brown's office in the background of this track. I've yet to hear it. Can you?)
9-part harmony: John, Paul, George
Electric guitar: John
Bass: Paul
Synthesizer (double-tracked): George
Baldwin spinet electric harpsichord: George Martin
Studio sessions
1 August 1969
4 August 1969
5 August 1969
12 August 1969
The famous "Moonlight Sonata" song. John was listening to Yoko play the Beethoven piece, and, in a burst of randomness, had her play it backwards. If you play the "Sonata" backwards, you won't literally get "Because", but it was an inspiration. More Moog, an intensely creepy mood, and the best harmonies the Beatles ever laid on tape, due in part to the fact that George Martin arranged the voices for NINE instead of three, and therefore triple-tracked John, Paul, and George. Simply stunning.
Studio sessions
1 January 1962
6 June 1962
11 June 1962 (BBC)
29 January 29
Piano, rythm guitar: Paul
Bass, lead guitar: George
2 drums: Ringo
Timpani: Ringo or Paul
12 violins
4 violas
4 cellos
1 string bass
4 horns
3 trumpets
1 trombone
1 bass trombone
Studio sessions
2 July 1968
3 July 1968
4 July 1968
30 July 1969
31 July 1969
15 August 1969
18 August 1969
19 August 1969
Mostly an excuse to bring back "You Never Give Me Your Money", but a necessary one, since 1) The medley needs closure at this point, and 2) all four Beatles sing on this one, creating the sense of a grand finale about to arrive.
Rythm guitar: John
Bass: Paul
Lead guitar: George
Drums: Ringo
Tambourine
Studio sessions
15 October 1965
25 October 1965
26 October 1965
29 October 1965
10 November 1966
Another riff-centered classic, setting the standard for numerous rock classics: note how the riff keeps appearing at dramatic moments, and how it's bolstered by the bassline. For the record, John never intended the lyrics to call teh subject a "prick teaser", per se, but he certainly got as close as he could. Naughty boy.
Rythm guitar: John
Bass: Paul
Lead guitar: George
Drums: Ringo
Organ: Billy Preston
Studio sessions
22 January 1969
24 January 1969
28 January 1969
30 January 1969
5 February 1969
10 March 1969
23 March 1970
Alternate Title: I Dig A Pony
Original Title: All I Want Is You
This is actually two songs of John's edited together: "Dig A Pony", which is gibberish, and "All I Want Is You", an ode to You Know Who. A fine, muscular song that was a fixture of the infamous Rooftop Concert.
Percussive shaker: George Martin
Studio sessions
24 January 1969
26 January 1969
13 March 1969
11 August 1969
27 March 1970
One of two "rehearsal excerpts" used on the album to show the way the Beatles interacted as a band. This is only a piece of an improvisation that lasted nearly 12 minutes. Shows a lot of promise, but not much more.
Rythm guitar: John
Bass: Paul
Lead guitar: George
Drums: Ringo
Organ: Billy Preston
Studio sessions
22 January 1969
28 January 1969
30 January 1969
5 February 1969
10 March 1969
7 April 1969
One of John's most heartfelt odes to Yoko. A searching, yearning, and tender expression of the vulnerability of new love. A standout of the Rooftop Concert. So why, oh why, was it relegated to a B-side?
Bass, piano: Paul
Drums: Ringo
Lead guitar, electric guitar: Paul, George, John
Guitar solo: Paul, George, John (in this order, 3 times over)
12 violins
4 violas
4 cellos
1 string bass
4 horns
3 trumpets
1 trombone
1 bass trombone
Studio sessions
23 July 1969
30 July 1969
5 August 1969
7 August 1969
8 August 1969
15 August 1969
18 August 1969
19 August 1969
21 August 1969
25 August 1969
The Grand Finale. Done NOT as an orchestral work (as many might have expected) but as a straightforward rock and roll jam. A brilliant move, and one that gives all four Beatles a chance to shine: Ringo's drum solo (the only one he's ever recorded) followed by a three-way guitar solo blowout with the other three. The order of solos: Paul, George, John, Paul, George, John, Paul, George, John. Then... a final word. One that sums up everything the Beatles ever really wanted to say in one phrase.
