The Beatles first rehearsed ‘Oh! Darling’ on 27 January 1969, during a session at the Apple Studio in London’s Savile Row. With Billy Preston on keyboards, the somewhat ragged recording turns into an improvised jam, ending with John Lennon’s announcement that “I’ve just heard that Yoko’s divorce [from Tony Cox] has just gone through. Free at last!”
The Beatles began recording the song properly at Abbey Road on 20 April 1969, under the working title ‘Oh Darling (I’ll Never Do You No Harm)’.
Paul McCartney wrote this song. He came to the studio early every day for a week to sing it because his voice was too clear – he wanted it to sound strained, like he had been performing it all week.
One of the reasons McCartney could arrive at the studio so early was because he only lived two blocks away from Abbey Road. Incidentally, this also factors into why he was barefoot on the album cover for Abbey Road. He’d just worn sandals and happened to slip them off. Next thing you know, hundreds of “Paul is dead” rumors.
They recorded 26 takes of the rhythm track, the last of which was chosen as the basis for the album version.
The eight-track tape had George Harrison’s bass guitar on track one; Ringo Starr’s drums on two; Billy Preston’s organ on three; Paul McCartney’s piano on four; John Lennon’s guitar on five; and McCartney’s guide vocals on six.
Preston only played on some of the takes. One such attempt, take four, appears on some editions of the 50th anniversary reissue of Abbey Road. Furthermore, take seven from this date was in fact a cover version of ‘The Games People Play’ by Joe South, a contemporary hit.
On 26 April McCartney made his first attempt at a lead vocal, though this was unused, as were two takes of backing vocals.
McCartney returned to the song on 17 July, beginning a series of single-take attempts in the early afternoon. The final lead vocals were recorded on 23 July.
The three-part doo-wop vocal harmonies were taped by McCartney, Lennon and Harrison on 11 August, after which ‘Oh! Darling’ was complete. 11 August, incidentally, was John Lennon’s final Beatles recording session.
Paul McCartney performed this song as a duet for the first time when he sang it with Chrissie Hynde at the Wembley Stadium Taylor Hawkins tribute on September 3, 2022.
The Beatles
Paul McCartney: vocals, backing vocals, piano
John Lennon: backing vocals, guitar
George Harrison: backing vocals, bass guitar Ringo Starr: drums
Billy Preston: organ
“Oh! Darling” – Song by the Beatles from the album Abbey Road
Released 26 September 1969 (UK), 1 October 1969 (US)
Recorded 20 April – 11 August 1969
Songwriters Lennon–McCartney
