I'd like to perform to you the last song recorded by The Beatles... George Harrison's "I Me Mine".
Although it's been the last number that they recorded as a band in January 1970, "I Me Mine" was written by George a year before, at his 'Kinfauns' home in Esher, Surrey. The Beatles had just begun rehearsals at Twickenham Film Studios on January 2nd 1969 for what would eventually become the “Let It Be” project and, with a need for new material, George introduced the song to Ringo, Paul and director Michael Lindsay-Hogg on January 8th as a "heavy waltz". The lyric's about revelations regarding the ego discovered through LSD use. It seems fitting that a song about egocentricity was the final recording by the group, who by 1970 had all but disintegrated into acrimony and lethargy, with the various members wanting quite different things from life.
While The Beatles did discuss “I Me Mine” at later January rehearsals, they never touched it again in 1969. Prompted by the inclusion of the song in the Let It Be film, The Beatles decided to record ‘I Me Mine’ for the soundtrack album. On 3 January 1970 John Lennon was holidaying in Denmark, and had essentially left the group anyway, so just Harrison, McCartney and Starr attended the session.
The tapes reveal that the three of them were enjoying the session, this reunion being a welcome distraction for Paul and Ringo who both had been busying themselves recording solo albums in recent months. They recorded 16 takes of the song, most lasting not longer than 1’30”. Harrison played acoustic guitar and sang a guide vocal, with McCartney on bass and Starr on drums. Take 16, however, was deemed best, onto which the various overdubs were added. First off, Ringo's drums from tracks 1 and 2 were combined onto track 8, Paul recording an electric piano part onto track 1 and George recording an electric guitar part onto track 2. Onto track 5, George and Paul performed acoustic guitar licks simultaneously with George adding yet another lead guitar part in places where the acoustic guitars were not heard. Onto track 6, Paul performed an impressive Hammond organ part, while George's lead vocals were recorded onto track 7 along with Paul's harmony during the "I-I-I-me-me-mine" section (documented as the "bop piece"). One final overdub was performed on this day, this being George double-tracking his final lyric "All through your life, I me mine" onto track 2 where no lead guitar work was present.
Because of John and George's recent acquaintance with Phil Spector, the producer began to work on Let It Be album on 23 March 1970. On this day he extended "I Me Mine" from 1’34” to 2’25”. He did this by repeating the line “All through the day I me mine” from the first verse, and following it with a further repeat of the chorus and final verse. With the addition of an orchestra, the repetition was barely noticeable. The orchestral musicians were recorded on 1 April 1970, and was arranged by Richard Hewson.
I decided to record the original short version because it sounds more natural to me. We can check out this version on The Beatles Anthology Volume 3 disc.
I hope you guys enjoy the video!!! Thank you!!!
Instruments used:
Acoustic Guitars - Epiphone EJ-200 & Sigma Martin DR-28
Guitars - Epiphone Casino
Amplifier - Laney LC30 II
Effects - Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9
11 окт 2024
