You Won't See MeIt was 11 November 1965, the deadline for The Beatles to finish recording their Rubber Soul album. The previous day, they were in the studio until 4:00 AM. Paul was living at the Asher house on 57 Wimpole Street in London at the time. On this particular day, Jane was in Bristol performing in the play “Great Expectations” at the Theatre Royal. As Barry Miles writes in Many Years From Now, “In October 1965 Jane had joined the Bristol Old Vic and was deeply involved in her career as an actress. She spent most of her time in Bristol…The majority of Jane’s friends were in the theatre. She did not take drugs and clearly felt increasingly alienated from Paul’s drug-taking friends. The relationship hung on, in part, because they were apart so often. If Jane was in a play, Paul would not see much of her unless he attended a performance…they really only saw each other properly on special occasions like holidays.”
Paul finished writing You Won't See Me just prior to entering EMI Studio Two at 6:00 PM.
The Beatles completed two takes of the rhythm track with Paul on piano, George on guitar, Ringo on drums and John on tambourine. Even though the track noticeably slows from 119 to 113 beats per minute, Take 2 was chosen as the best rhythm track. The Beatles then began their overdubs with Paul double tracking his vocals and bassline. John and George's background harmonies were also double tracked, replete with "ooh, la, la, la" lines. Verses were finished off with ascending “you won’t see me” harmonies and the bridges ending with two “no I wouldn’t” phrases.
The final two overdubs included Ringo adding high-hat accents and Mal Evans playing a single A note on the Hammond organ, held throughout the last verse and until the song fades out.
By 11:00 PM, the song was completed. At 3:22, it was their longest song recorded to date...
Paul McCartney - Lead and harmony vocals, piano (1964 Challen upright), bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1), handclaps
George Harrison – Rhythm Guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster), backing vocals
John Lennon - Backing vocals, tambourine
Ringo Starr – Drums (1964 Ludwig Super Classic Black Oyster Pearl)
Mal Evans - Organ (Hammond RT-3)
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Topic: Song Of The Week - You Won't See Me (Read 11038 times)