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[Hello Goodbye]

They recorded the song at Trident Studios in London on 28, 29 and 30 August 1968.
Utilising state of the art eight-track recording equipment, the basic track included finger picking guitar performed by John Lennon as well as George Harrison on the lead guitar, plus Paul McCartney playing the drums in place of Ringo Starr, who had temporarily left the Beatles. The next day, McCartney performed and recorded the bass track and Lennon recorded additional layers to his vocals. Handclapping, tambourine and cowbell were then added by McCartney and Harrison. On the last day of the recording session, piano and flügelhorn tracks were recorded by McCartney.
The complete list of recording session personnel included:

John Lennon – double-tracked vocal, backing vocal, acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney – backing vocal, drums, bass, piano, flügelhorn, tambourine, cowbell, handclaps
George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar
Mal Evans – backing vocal, handclaps
Jackie Lomax – backing vocal, handclaps
John McCartney (Paul's cousin) – backing vocal, handclaps

Recorded: 28-30 August 1968
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Barry Sheffield

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAmOYIFIx8" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAmOYIFIx8</a>

[blmeanie]

the comments on that youtube dear prudence video are very entertaining.  The debate rages on whether the drumming changes from paul (documentation suggests Paul was the drummer on this song while Ringo had quit) to Ringo mid song with overdubs. 

Very healthy debate by people very opinionated.  Fun

[nimrod]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAmOYIFIx8" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAmOYIFIx8</a>

It couldn't have been Paul as he had died earlier, maybe the recently deceased Alan White.

[Hello Goodbye]

Very healthy debate by people very opinionated.  Fun

It couldn't have been Paul as he had died earlier, maybe the recently deceased Alan White.

Maybe this will help to explain it...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6XeedT-s4" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6XeedT-s4</a>

...Well, I guess that didn't answer the question.


Or maybe it did, at  0:18 - 0:43

[Moogmodule]

I remember hearing a podcast years ago on this that was pretty convincing that the latter drumming is an overdub. Whether that means Ringo overdubbed we’ll never know. But it sounds a lot like Ringo’s drumming and I’ve never heard Paul drum like that again.

[Hello Goodbye]

I remember hearing a podcast years ago on this that was pretty convincing that the latter drumming is an overdub. Whether that means Ringo overdubbed we’ll never know. But it sounds a lot like Ringo’s drumming and I’ve never heard Paul drum like that again.

I agree, Moog.  I listened to the entire McCartney album last night.  Paul was proficient at drumming but rudimentary in comparison to Ringo.

[Loco Mo]

Hasn't anyone ever asked Ringo about this?

[Hello Goodbye]

^

Or Paul?

[Moogmodule]

Hasn't anyone ever asked Ringo about this?

I seem to recall Ringo commenting on it somewhere. But all the Beatles memories are so hazy. I don’t think the answer went beyond,” I’d taken a break, they did Dear Prudence when I wasn’t there”.  If he did overdub he didnt seem to recall.

[Hello Goodbye]

Well, Paul didn't say anything about Ringo here...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AZc1XDmVEY" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AZc1XDmVEY</a>

[Hello Goodbye]

Hasn't anyone ever asked Ringo about this?

Here, Ringo remembers leaving the band and taking his family to Sardinia...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFtOd7siwiI" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFtOd7siwiI</a>

He didn't say anything about drumming on Dear Prudence.  But he talked about The Beatles' farting habits.

I guess we'll never know for sure.


Anyway, here's the Esher demo...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71owuo5tnEk" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71owuo5tnEk</a>

[Moogmodule]

I had a proper lookout your video HG. It is interesting and I think pretty conclusively demonstrates that the latter drumming is an overdub. And I suppose the idea that Paul did several takes and stitched them together to produce the final Ringo-esque drumming isn't implausible. There's something about the precision and tightness of it though that still says more Ringo than Paul to me. His examples of Paul drumming meant to show Paul could have done it weren't that convincing. But against that is there being no record Ringo ever overdubbed on the track. Although if there's no record of any overdubs taking place when there clearly is overdubbed drums I'm not sure that's the clinching argument he thinks it is.

We shall never know it seems. Regardless great song and love that final drumming regardless who did it.

[Loco Mo]

What a beautiful song!  It's amazing to hear the demo (no drums) and after that the final version (with drums added).  It already sounded very good in the demo but more of the song's vitality and nuance was brought out as they completed the song.  I like how the tempo changed near the middle and how, I think Paul(?) reacted with an excited falsetto sounding and approving "yes."  John was a magnificent songwriter, and his voice was perfect for whatever he sang.  He was also so great at extemporaneous dialogue (at the end).  So creative (consider Give Peace a Chance by comparison).  His words flowed so naturally forth.  What an amazing quick-witted intelligence he had.

The drums really added a lot to this song.  The guitars closing is so tender (aww).  It touches my soul.

The straight drumbeat could have been Paul, but the high-hat work sounded more skillful to me.  But yes, the steady hard beat certainly could be Paul.  So, I'm leaning for Paul and not for a Ringo overdub.

But the fills at the end (very Ringo) but also somewhat muted (Paul?).  Closing the song with a solid steady beat and then none ... 

My verdict - I think Paul.  I think they didn't want the drums to be very prominent in the mix as they wanted the focus more on the pretty melodies and tender mood of the song.

[stevie]

The drumming is definitely overdubbed in the last section of the song IMO. And the bass sounds so muddy compared to the rest of the song that it’s prolly an overdub too