Log In
Register
Read the original blog post
8.12am
19 April 2010
Offline
greghumphreysART said
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how it was consumed and absorbed by people way back then.
I remember hearing this song for the first time when Sgt Pepper came out – the entire LP stopped us cold and no one knew what to think – there wasn’t a name for this type of music.
The following people thank robert for this post:
Ahhh Girl, I was the walrus, Shamrock Womlbs, Mademoiselle Kitty >^..^<"She looks more like him than I do."
11.15am
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline robert said
greghumphreysART said
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how it was consumed and absorbed by people way back then.
I remember hearing this song for the first time when Sgt Pepper came out – the entire LP stopped us cold and no one knew what to think – there wasn’t a name for this type of music.
Love these accounts from those of you who were there back in the day! @Hildy shared some with me when I met him in Scotland as we drove along the Firth of Clyde.
Can buy Joe love! Amazon | iTunes
Check here for "how do I do this" guide to the forum. 
(2017) 
(2018)
8.46am
2 March 2015
Offline 
The following people thank long long long for this post:
Joe2.13pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline This will be weird I know but ‘A Day In The Life ‘ is the first song I listen to when using new headphones due to how the song is mixed in stereo (i usually go with the 1988 clean intro mix) and how there is so much going on and panning throughout the track.
Couldn’t find my normal in-ear headphones so used some new ones I was given for Christmas (good pair they are, not in-ear but big over-ear ones) and ‘ADITL’ sounded incredible. John’s voice incredible, the piano delicious, the orchestra so clear, Paul’s bass great and Ringo’s drumming is so damn awesome. I’d love to know how he came up with what he did as the bootlegged drum part is very much straightforward whereas what is on the final recording is so different to what anyone would have normally thought of. I would put the isolated drum track from Rock Band up but Apple have decided that its existence on YouTube must be terminated.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
I was the walrus, ewe2"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
2.22pm
3 August 2012
Offline I think the 2015 remix for 1+ is not as good as the original mix. Mainly because I’m used to the mix as it was supposed to be but also I think the piano is too quiet and something about it doesn’t feel right.
I love the music video though.
Times I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
6.05pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Giles admitted he made an error and used the ‘Love’ remix instead of the original masters so there is a piano missing. There are a few things different in the mix that makes me find it inferior; dislike how the vocals are in places for one.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
ewe2, pepperland, Bongo"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.20pm
27 March 2015
Offline
meanmistermustard said
I don’t know of it was to account for the orchestra and the multitude of overdubs but the mixing and placement of Johns lead vocal is weird in the stereo mix.In the first verse it starts in the right channel and gradually moves over to centre as the verse progresses.
It starts centre in verse 2 and slowly wanders to far left where it stays throughout verse 3.
Pauls section meantime is dead centre and the ahh’s start left and move across and back again.
Maybe panning was just the thing at the time.
Its great if you want to know your speakers are working properly.
I always kind of liked that the vocals are moveing around throughout the tune. It adds to the quirkiness of the song, I feel. I can see how some people might dislike it, but I rather think it’s cool.
The following people thank Mademoiselle Kitty >^..^< for this post:
BongoFormerly Known As JPM-Fangirl --
2016
'Out There' - 07-06-2015 - Ziggo Dome Amsterdam -- 'One On One' - 12-06-2016 - Pinkpop Festival Landgraaf
2.10pm
11 June 2015
Offline ewe2 said
meanmistermustard said
I don’t know of it was to account for the orchestra and the multitude of overdubs but the mixing and placement of Johns lead vocal is weird in the stereo mix.
I think it’s a deliberate effect, it’s one of my favourite things about the song. Paul’s being centred gives you a tangible presence like coming back to reality before zooming off in a daydream again. Even though the lyrics are mostly passive voice, its John’s internal monologue so the panning is like his mind wandering over the trivia.
Nicely stated @ewe2 , that’s how I have always thought of the production as well.
You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
8.58pm
22 July 2015
Offline What is the version that is currently on iTunes? That has a very distinct sound to it, and I find that version has the best mixing. I suppose I could do some research!
1.40am
3 August 2012
Offline I was the walrus said
What is the version that is currently on iTunes? That has a very distinct sound to it, and I find that version has the best mixing. I suppose I could do some research!
Well, it depends on the album you’re listening to. The 1 album has a new remix which I don’t like because it’s missing a piano part but I’m guessing that’s the one your talking about @I was the walrus
Times I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
10.26am
22 July 2015
Offline pepperland said
Well, it depends on the album you’re listening to. The 1 album has a new remix which I don’t like because it’s missing a piano part but I’m guessing that’s the one your talking about @I was the walrus
The version of the song I have was off the Sgt Pepper album on iTunes. I took a look at the 1 album mixing of the song and I wasn’t impressed with it.
10.32am
3 August 2012
Offline I was the walrus said
The version of the song I have was off the Sgt Pepper album on iTunes. I took a look at the 1 album mixing of the song and I wasn’t impressed with it.
Well then I believe that’s just the regular mix (also the best)
The following people thank pepperland for this post:
I was the walrusTimes I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
1.02pm
18 April 2016
Offline Just heard this while on the bus home. First time I’ve heard bongos (congas?) in it.
_______________________________________
How can I tell you about my loved one
10.23pm
5 November 2011
Offline NickCanadaCore said
Just heard this while on the bus home. First time I’ve heard bongos (congas?) in it.
It is indeed the sound of bongos
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
1.55am
24 March 2014
Offline
If they recorded these
then those are congas…
else if what they recorded are like these
then those are bongos…
Mark Lewisohn says they used bongos for the first take, but in all the pics i’ve seen from Sgt. Pepper ‘s sessions Ringo is playing congas (when not behind his drum kit) .In The Beatles Gear they say that congas were used for the basic track , so…
It’d be great if we could ask Ringo 
"I Need You by George Harrison"
12.22pm
5 November 2011
Offline Well Joe’s article says Ringo plays the bongos on the song, so I was just going off that
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
1.45pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Congas according to John C Winn.
“Its Bongos”
“No Congas”
“Bongos!!”
“Congas!!!!!”
“BONGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“CONGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I wonder if we could segue it back into John v Paul over those damn ahhs. Kind of like going from Hallelujah to Hare Krishna in ‘My Sweet Lord ‘.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
5.41pm
15 May 2015
Offline I fancy myself having a keen ear for Latin percussion (having listened to thousands of Latin rock and pop songs over the years as well as African pop, including Santana, Malo, Azteca, El Chicano, Mandrill, Osibisa, Herbie Mann, Cal Tjader, Sheila Escovedo, etc.) — but I don’t hear any bongos OR congas on “A Day In The Life “.
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart,
a coffee dessert, yes you know it's good news...
6.03am
24 March 2014
Offline Pineapple Records said
I fancy myself having a keen ear for Latin percussion (having listened to thousands of Latin rock and pop songs over the years as well as African pop, including Santana, Malo, Azteca, El Chicano, Mandrill, Osibisa, Herbie Mann, Cal Tjader, Sheila Escovedo, etc.) — but I don’t hear any bongos OR congas on “A Day In The Life “.
@Pineapple Records , you can hear them , subtly, on Paul’s section:
highly recommended using headphones, of course
The following people thank Shamrock Womlbs for this post:
Pineapple Records"I Need You by George Harrison"
8.03am
28 March 2014
Offline meanmistermustard said
Congas according to John C Winn.
“Its Bongos”“No Congas”
“Bongos!!”
“Congas!!!!!”
“BONGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“CONGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
No Cow Bells????? 
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms! 
1 Guest(s)