Written by: George Harrison (100%) Recorded: April 16 and 18, 1969 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England) Mixed: April 18, 1969 Length: 3:16 Takes: 4 Musicians:
John Lennon: harmony vocals
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass guitar (1961 Fender Bass VI), piano (Alfred E. Knight)
George Harrison: lead vocals, lead guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster)
Ringo Starr: drums (1968 Ludwig Hollywood Maple)
Billy Preston: Hammond organ First released: May 30, 1969 (UK: Apple R5786), June 4, 1969 (US: Apple 2531), b-side of "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" Available on: (CDs in bold)
Hey Jude, (US: Apple SW 385, UK: Parlophone PCS 7184)
The Beatles 1967-1970 (UK: Apple PCSP 718, US: Apple SKBO 3404, Apple CDP 0777 7 97039 2 0)
Past Masters Volume Two, (Parlophone CDP 7 90044 2)
History:
Written and rehearsed during but somehow never considered for the Get Back projected (later resurrected as the film and album Let It Be), this George song is considered one of his oddest, a standard 12-bar blues form with some strange chords thrown in, an unconventional mix, and a placement (on the flip side of a controversial John single) that almost guaranteed it near-obscurity.
George wrote this little jam in late 1968, whether about his then-wife Pattie Boyd, one of his later affairs, or no one in particular, is unclear. It was written on the piano, not Harrison's usual instrument, which accounts for the unusual chords.
The "Old Brown Shoe" that George is "stepping out" of in the song is, by the singer's own words, the material possessions of this world, a nod to his recent Eastern spiritual enlightenment that's also reflected in the duality, the balance, if you will, of his paired opposites: "right/wrong" is followed by "long/short," "up/down," "smile/frown," "love/hate," and "early/late."
"Old Brown Shoe" was first rehearsed by the Beatles on January 27th and 28th, 1969. However, on his 26th birthday, February 25, 1969, he re-recorded a "demo" of the song which can be found on the Anthology 3 release. The most familiar single version was recorded on April 16, 1969, in four takes, with work beginning on "Something" immediately thereafter. Preston's organ and George's lead was added two days later on the 18th, at the very last Beatles session attended by all four members -- "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" was then begun.
Trivia:
George sang into the corner of the studio, which accounts for the strange muffled sound of his vocal track.
Some references incorrectly list John as playing his Epiphone Casino on this track, but his guitar was edited out in the final version.
This is one of the few George-penned songs where he leaves room for himself to fill in a standard guitar solo.
Oddly enough, this was recorded the Wednesday after "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" on Monday, proving that John couldn't wait two days to have the group together again!
Covered by: Gary Brooker, Leslie West
Lyrics, chords, tabs, and soundfiles for "Old Brown Shoe"
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