TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 63

"Dear Priuence" (Lennon – November 25, 1968)

The BEATLES (a.k.a., The White Album) – Side 1, Track 2 (3:56)

YouTube (Morgan James cover)

From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, About.com, and Google–

"Dear Prudence" is a song written by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released by the Beatles as the second track on their 1968 double-disc album entitled The Beatles, commonly known as The White Album.

History –

Another "White Album" tune written while the Beatles were on a spiritual retreat in India in the spring of 1968, "Dear Prudence" was one of a handful to have as its subject a real person -- in this case, Prudence Farrow, younger sister of actress Mia Farrow. Seems Prudence had taken the meditation thing so far that she almost never left her bungalow, and when her friends became concerned, John made up this song, on the spot, to coax her out into the sun. As John relates in the demo laid down George Harrison's home in Esher (May 20, 1968): "All the people around her were very worried about her because she was going insane... so we sang to her." (The lads at first tried to reach her by singing "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da," but this song was written when that failed.)

This song was the first to be recorded using a finger-picking technique, usually reserved for acoustic guitar, taught to him on the India trip by Donovan. Here, it's used on electric. There are actually no less than five guitar tracks on "Dear Prudence": two of John playing interlocking runs on his Casino in the right channel, one each of John and George in the left (John's Casino playing rather distorted, brass-like chords and George soloing somewhat on his Telecaster), and one in the center of George's Les Paul, adding extra weight under the phrase "won't you open up your eyes."

"Prudence" had a relatively simple recording history. On August 28, 1968, the three gathered in London's Trident Studios, intrigued by the facility's brand-new recording console, featuring an unheard-of eight tracks. (Ringo was still in Sardinia, having temporarily "quit" due to Paul's insistence on playing drums on "Back In The U.S.S.R.") The basic track was laid down in one all-night session, featuring John and George's guitar tracks and Paul on drums. (Though many takes were attempted, the eight-track allowed the three to keep recording over previous takes, which is why the final take is somewhat erroneously labeled "Take 1.") The next day, all vocal parts were laid down, along with bass and handclaps. Paul added a rather superfluous piano track and some tambourine on August 30.

Composition – 

The subject of the song is Prudence Farrow, actress Mia Farrow's sister, who was present when the Beatles went to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Farrow became so serious about her meditation that she "turned into a near recluse" and "rarely came out" of the cottage she was living in. John Lennon was asked to "contact her and make sure she came out more often to socialize". As a result, Lennon wrote the song "Dear Prudence". In the song Lennon asks Farrow to "open up your eyes" and "see the sunny skies" reminding her that she is "part of everything". The song was said to be "a simple plea to a friend to 'snap out of it'". Lennon said later that "She'd been locked in for three weeks and was trying to reach God quicker than anyone else". According to Farrow: "I would always rush straight back to my room after lectures and meals so I could meditate. John, George and Paul would all want to sit around jamming and having a good time and I'd be flying into my room. They were all serious about what they were doing, but they just weren't as fanatical as me".

Lennon did play the song for Farrow while they were in India together. According to Farrow, "I was flattered. It was a beautiful thing to have done". The lyrics of the song are simple and innocent and praise the beauty of nature in the lines: "The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and so are you".

Recording –

They recorded the song at Trident Studios in London on 28, 29 and 30 August 1968. Utilizing state of the art eight-track recording equipment, the basic track included finger picking guitar performed by John Lennon as well as George Harrison on the lead guitar, plus Paul McCartney playing the drums in place of Ringo Starr, who had temporarily left the Beatles. The next day, McCartney performed and recorded the bass track and Lennon recorded additional layers to his vocals. Handclapping, tambourine and cowbell were then added by McCartney and Harrison. On the last day of the recording session, piano and flügelhorn tracks were recorded by McCartney.

Takes: 1

Personnel

John Lennon ― Lead vocals (double-tracked), backing vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm guitars (1965 Epiphone E230TD(V) Casino), handclaps

Paul McCartney ― Backing vocals, harmony vocals, bass guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 400IS), piano (Bluthner), drums (Ludwig), handclaps

George Harrison ― Backing vocals, harmony vocals, lead guitar (1968 Fender Rosewood Telecaster), rhythm guitar (1957 Gibson Les Paul Standard), handclaps

Mal Evans, Jackie Lomax, John McCartney: Handclaps

Trivia –

Though some reference books claim Paul laid down a flugelhorn part, this is in fact a misrepresentation of George's "dirty" Les Paul fills in the center channel.

"Dear Prudence" was never presented as such to Prudence Farrow while in India, though George mentioned before leaving that the song had been written for her. In subsequent interviews, she has expressed her admiration for the song -- while still insisting her near-catatonic method of constant meditation was the correct way to go. (Farrow stayed on after the Beatles left to teach the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's method of Transcendental Meditation.)

Lennon's original handwritten lyrics to the song were sold at auction in 1987, fetching nearly twenty thousand dollars.

The original mix of this song ended with applause from the group and the others gathered to provide handclaps, but this was edited out. The idea, however, would later be revived on October 8 for John's song "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill."

Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) February 6 –

1962 – Lunch at the Decca's session executive club on Albert Enbankment, of Brian, Dick Rowe and Beecher Stevens; Rowe and Stevens communicate Brian Decca's rejection.

1963 – Concert at the Granada, Bedford (Helen Shapiro tour).

1964 – Tickets for the Ed Sullivan Show sell out.

1965 – 'Rolling Stones II' replaces Beatles For Sale as number 1 (UK Record Retailer chart).

1967 – It is announced that the Beatles have signed contracts with EMI until 1976.

1968 – Studio 1. 2.30-8.00pm. Tape copying: "The Inner Light" (of take 5, numbered take 6). Recording: 'The Inner Light' (overdub onto take 6). Mono mixing: 'The Inner Light' (remix 1, from take 6). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys.
– Recording of George vocal for "The Inner Light".
– About 6.30pm. Harry Klein is contacted at home for the 'Lady Madonna' session. – 8.00-9.00pm. Ringo appears on Cilla Black's live programme 'Cilla', at the BBC Television Theatre, Shepherd's 

– Bush, London. The recording session is interrupted to see the show. 

– Studio 1. 9.00pm-2.00am. Recording: "Lady Madonna" (tape reduction take 3 into take 4, overdub onto take 4, tape reduction take 4 into take 5, overdub onto take 5). Mono mixing: 'Lady Madonna' (remixes 1, 2, from take 5). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys. 

– Recording of vocal brass impersonation and brasses for "Lady Madonna".

– Royal Garden Hotel, London. Paul participates in a press conference announcing the Leicester University's art festival.

1970 – UK single release: "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)"/"Who Has Seen The Wind".