Recording, mixing: The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Long Long Long, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road

Studios Two and Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Ken Scott, Ken Townsend

The evening of John Lennon’s 28th birthday was spent in EMI Studios, where The Beatles worked on four songs for The Beatles (White Album), although Lennon himself was not present.

The bulk of the work took place in Studio Two, between 7pm and 5.30am the following morning. Two stereo mixes and one mono mix of ‘The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill’ were made, both from the previous day’s take three.

Afterwards a new harmony vocal overdub by Paul McCartney was added during the bridge of ‘Long, Long, Long’’s take 67, and Chris Thomas simultaneously played a piano part. Recording of the song was then complete.

At some point on this day McCartney took engineer Ken Townsend into Studio One, and the basic track for ‘Why Don’t We Do It In The Road’ was recorded. McCartney taped five takes featuring vocals and acoustic guitar, and onto the last attempt he overdubbed a piano track.

‘Why Don’t We Do It In The Road’ was completed the next day, when Ringo Starr recorded a drum part, and McCartney added more vocals, bass guitar and handclaps.

During this session McCartney also made a copy of the longest take of ‘Helter Skelter’ from the 18 July session, lasting 27:11, and took it home for his personal collection.