One Day (At A Time)

The fourth song on John Lennon’s 1973 album Mind Games was a heartfelt song featuring a rare falsetto lead vocal.

The song’s lyrical theme recurred in several songs on the album: the idea of two parts creating a whole, often allegories for Lennon’s then-faltering marriage to Yoko Ono. Interestingly, it was Ono who suggested to Lennon that he sing the song outside his normal range.

Well, that’s just a concept of life, you know. How to live life. It was Yoko’s idea for me to sing it all falsetto.

In the studio Lennon recorded a guide vocal without the falsetto – it was later released on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology. That version, which omitted Something Different’s backing vocals but brought Ken Ascher’s keyboards to the fore, was arguably more affecting in its sense of melancholy.

On the final version melancholy had largely turned to saccharine, and Lennon’s lyrics (“’cause I’m the fish and you’re the sea/’cause I’m the apple and you’re the tree”) appeared tired and trite. Lennon had composed more honest and touching tributes to Ono, and despite being one of Mind Games’ stronger melodies, ‘One Day (At A Time)’ failed to convey any real sense of emotional conviction.

Elton John evidently thought differently, however, and recorded the song as the b-side to his 1974 cover of The Beatles’ ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’. Although Lennon was credited with vocals and guitar on the re-recording of ‘One Day (At A Time)’, his contribution appears to be inaudible.

In the studio

‘One Day (At A Time)’ was recorded in 19 takes on 5 August 1973 at the Record Plant studio in New York.

Three tape reels were used for the recording. Reel 1 contained four takes, none of which featured Lennon’s falsetto vocals. Take 3 was incomplete. These takes featured guide vocals, electric piano, bass guitar, and drums, but no guitars.

Reel 2 contained six takes, numbered 5-10. The musicians were still working out their parts, with various changes to the tempo and arrangement. There was also an improvised jam after take 5. David Spinozza played electric guitar from take 6.

Five more takes, numbered 11-15, were recorded onto reel 3. Take 19 was the master.

The overdubs included organ by Ken Ascher, two tracks of electric guitar by Spinozza, pedal steel guitar by ‘Sneaky’ Pete Kleinow, saxophone by Michael Brecker, backing vocals by Something Different (recorded on 16 August), and three falsetto vocal tracks by Lennon.

‘One Day (At A Time)’ was mixed on 7 September.

Take 18 of the song was included in the expanded 2024 reissue of Mind Games.