Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
The eighth recording session for Ringo Starr’s debut studio album, Sentimental Journey, took place on this day.
Quincy Jones had conducted a 27-piece orchestral backing track of ‘Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing’ at A&M Studios in Los Angeles on 26 December 1969. Starr added vocals on 14 January 1970 at Olympic Sound Studios, but the results were considered unsuitable and a remake was begun at EMI Studios.
From 2.30-4.30pm Jones conducted a 16-piece band consisting of bass, electric guitar, drums, piano and conga.
Eight takes were recorded. Between 4.30pm and 6.30pm Billy Preston overdubbed organ onto the last of these, and Starr then added his lead vocals.
A stereo mixing session took place from 6.30-7pm, but Starr re-recorded his lead vocals two days later. More overdubs followed on 19 February, making ‘Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing’ the most drawn out recording of all the Sentimental Journey tracks.
Also on this day...
- 2009: The Beatles’ former Apple HQ goes on sale
- 2002: Paul McCartney live: Super Bowl XXXVI, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
- 1969: Allen Klein is appointed The Beatles’ manager
- 1968: Recording: Lady Madonna, Across The Universe
- 1967: Recording: A Day In The Life
- 1966: Paul McCartney meets Stevie Wonder
- 1964: The Beatles live: Olympia Theatre, Paris
- 1963: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: St John’s Hall, Bootle
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Hello everyone! I recently accidentally read an article in The Guardian where Quincy Jones is unfavorable about the Beatles as musicians, and in particular Ringo Starr’s playing drums. It is specifically about the recording of Love Is A Many Splendored Thing in February 70: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/07/quincy-jones-the-beatles-were-the-worst-musicians-in-the-world. Don’t you have the impression that this old man is brazenly lying? Or is he already demented? After all, Ringo on his debut album did not play the drums or any other instrument. Likewise, he did not appear as a drummer on his second album. His job was to sing, not drumming. Also, it’s about the time after Abbey Road was recorded, a period when Ringo was in great shape as a drummer.