The Final Chord

According to Beatles' sources, today was the day back in 1967 that the Fab Four sat in their very own Abbey Road Studios recording the final chord of what would become one of the most famous songs in the history of rock music, A Day in the Life. Oh, and just down the hall, some upstart young band called Pink Floyd was working on their first album. 

As for the Beatles, they were slaving away at perfecting that sustained E-major piano chord. With the help of Mal Evans (driver, bodyguard, and sometimes musical contributor, like the alarm clock that also appears in the song), three of the Beatles (minus George) all played that same chord on four different pianos - plus producer George Martin on harmonium  - simultaneously. Then as the held chord diminished, the engineer cranked the recording volume to extend the chord's life to forty-two seconds. As a result of the extreme level boost, an attentive listener can hear other sounds in the studio, like a creaking chair, air conditioner, and rustling papers. 

A Day in the Life is a Beatles rarity in that

its title does not appear in the song lyrics

I've always had a tough time picking a favourite Beatles album. For a long time, I felt it was The Beatles' Second Album (a North American release), the very first album I ever bought by the Fabs. But as years went by, and I more fully experienced other Mop Top music, my choice changed. For ages, Abbey Road was my desert island pick. That magnificent set of tracks seemed to be the crowning achievement for the biggest musical artists in the world. 

Mid-60's albums Revolver and Rubber Soul were also heavy contenders, taking turns as favourite. I loved the crisp lean sound of Revolver, with its bright and biting tracks like Taxman, and its gentle ballads like Here, There and Everywhere. Rubber Soul was similarly impressive, though in a warmer, folkier manner, with standouts Norwegian Wood and I'm Looking Through You.

Beatle sighting in the north of England

And at one time or another, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band rose to the top of my Beatles preferences. The adventurous writing led to pioneering recording techniques in the studio. Sgt. Pepper stands as a perfect document of the Beatles at that moment. The album cover alone is one of the most, if not the most, famous of all time. The music itself drew orchestral elements into the rock world in creative and ground-breaking ways. Truly progressive rock. The alleged drug references on Sgt. Pepper painted the Liverpool lads in an infamous light. But that never detracted from the brilliant music for legions of fans. McCartney's jovial approach bounces along on Lovely Rita and When I'm Sixty-Four. Getting Better and Fixing a Hole are favourite pop-rockers on the disc, while She's Leaving Home is a bittersweet ballad of the highest calibre. And of course there is A Day in the Life, the final resounding track on Sgt. Pepper.

The 41-piece orchestra was instructed to dress formally for their Day in the Life recording session. Upon arriving, they were handed party favours. Things like false noses, party hats, and gorilla paw gloves. This was to be something quite out of the ordinary. Vocal duties were shared between Lennon and McCartney on the track, though Lennon contributed the bulk of the lyrics. And a timeless rock music classic was born.