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The song's history began with Lennon writing a song for Timothy Leary's failed gubernatorial campaign in California against Ronald Reagan, which promptly ended when Leary was sent to prison for possession of marijuana.
Written by: John Lennon (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: July 21-23, 1969 (Studio 3, Abbey Road Studios, London, England); July 25, 29-30, 1969 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: August 7, 1969
Length:
4:16
Takes: 9
First released: October 6, 1969 (US: Apple 2654), October 31, 1969 (UK: Apple R5814), double a-side with "Something"
Highest chart position: US: 1 (October 18, 1969); UK: 4 (November 29, 1969)
Personnel:
John Lennon: lead and backing vocals; rhythm guitar (1965 Epiphone E230TD
Casino); hand-claps and tambourine.
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 400IS); electric piano (Fender Rhodes).
George Harrison: lead guitar (1966 Gibson Les Paul Standard SG).
Ringo Starr: drums (1968 Ludwig Hollywood Maple), maracas.
Credits per Ian MacDonald, corrected and updated by Geoff Emerick.
The song is the lead-off track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road. One month later it also appeared as one of the sides of the group's 21st single (it was a double A-side, the other side being George Harrison's "Something") in the United Kingdom, their 26th in the United States. The song reached the top of the charts in the U.S., while becoming a Top 10 hit in the UK.
Recording:
Lennon played rhythm guitar and sang the vocal; Paul McCartney played bass; Ringo Starr played drums; and George Harrison played lead guitar. It was produced by George Martin and recorded at the end of July 1969 at Abbey Road Studios.[6] Lennon says "shoot me" which is accompanied by McCartney's heavy bass riff. The famous Beatles "walrus" from "I Am the Walrus" and "Glass Onion" returns in the line "he got walrus gumboot", followed by "he got Ono sideboard". Bluesman Muddy Waters is also mentioned in the song.
Lennon penned a song with the chorus "Come together right now, don't come tomorrow, don't come alone." But Leary found it unsuitable for campaigning -- and his campaign was soon derailed by his conviction for possession of marijuana. So it was brought to the Beatles instead, replacing his initial offer of a new single, the primal scream heroin-withdrawal freakout "Cold Turkey." (That song, which horrified producer George Martin, later became a solo hit for the Plastic Ono Band.)
Based around a standard Chuck Berry riff, the song was worked out in the studio, with Paul suggesting it be slowed down considerably to give it a "swampier" feel. The basic track was recorded on July 21, 1969; the lead vocal, electric piano, rhythm guitar, and maracas were overdubbed the next day. Various attempts at double tracking were attempted over the next several days.
The first line in this song -- "Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly," bears a strong resemblance, musically and lyrically, to Chuck Berry's 1958 hit "You Can't Catch Me" (whose couplet, written about a car chase, goes "Here come a flat-top, he was moving up with me"). This slight homage would prove to cause major discomfort in John's life, as Morris Levy, legendary record promoter and publisher, owned part of the rights to Berry's song. Levy sued Lennon, a suit which was finally settled when Lennon agreed to create a whole album of covers owned by Levy. It was released in 1975 as the Rock And Roll album. Paul has since claimed he was the first to notice the similarities between the two songs, and suggested slowing the tempo down to make it less noticeable.
Paul originally wanted to sing a high harmony with John on the whole song, but was vetoed by the songwriter; he settled instead for popping in at various points with a few backing vocals (some in harmony, others not).