The making of A day in a life. One of the most beautiful songs of John. His vocal here is beyond compare.
This being the last song on the album, The Beatles found an interesting way to close it out. After the final note, Lennon had producer George Martin dub in a high pitched tone, which most humans can't hear, but drives dogs crazy. This was followed by a loop of incomprehensible studio noise, along with Paul McCartney saying "Never could see any other way," spliced together. It was put there so vinyl copies would play this continuously in the run-out groove, sounding like something went horribly wrong with the record. Kids, ask your parents about vinyl.
The final chord was produced by all 4 Beatles and George Martin banging on 3 pianos simultaneously. As the sound diminished, the engineer boosted to faders. The resulting note lasts 42 seconds, and the studio air conditioners can be heard toward the end as the faders were pushed to the limit to record it.
I bought the book at National Bookstore 3 years ago at P800.00 (mediyo mababa baba ng kaunti run, sinakto ko na lang). It is a white hardbound book and for that price it is VERY CHEAP - perhaps because it was printed in China. I don't know if it is easily available today. So inquire ka muna sa mga branches malapit sa iyo. If say the book is available in another branch, you can request it to be pulled out para mabili mo na malapit sa iyo.
A day in a life is also very interesting. Not only was the four Beatles plus George Martin playing the piano, Malcolm Evans - their gentle giant roadie - also played the E Major chord there. Geoff Emerick thought of the brilliant idea of boosting the faders so as to maintain the volume as the pianos (yes, if I remember right there were 3!) fade out.
The late 1966-1967 era of the Beatles is their most fascinating times. Their most creative and also the final days of their united creativity.
I am blessed to own the UK versions of all their albums and everytime you listen to them, there is always something new to discover.
I am just hoping to acquire the original UK pressing of Pepper because that was the only issue with the high pitch whistle and the run out groove noise. Not even the original Capitol US issue have this.
Unfortunately, the original UK pressing costs an arm and a leg in its mint condition. I am hoping when the 2009 remasters are released on vinyl, it will contain the whistle and the run out groove noise. Probably, that will cost a bit lower.
