How The Beatles Made "I Am The Walrus" | The Magical Mystery Tour Sessions

"I was the Eggman," claims singer Eric Burdon. |

"I Am the Walrus" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 television film Magical Mystery Tour. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single "Hello, Goodbye" and on the Magical Mystery Tour EP and album. In the film, the song underscores a segment in which the band mime to the recording at a deserted airfield.

Lennon wrote the song to confound listeners who had been affording serious scholarly interpretations of the Beatles' lyrics. He was partly inspired by two LSD trips and Lewis Carroll's 1871 poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter". Producer George Martin arranged and added orchestral accompaniment that included violins, cellos, horns, and clarinet. The Mike Sammes Singers, a 16-voice choir of professional studio vocalists, also joined the recording, variously singing nonsense lines and shrill whooping noises.

• I AM THE WALRUS •
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
John Lennon: vocals, pianet electric piano
Paul McCartney: bass guitar, tambourine
George Harrison: electric guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Peggie Allen, Wendy Horan, Pat Whitmore, Jill Utting, June Day, Sylvia King, Irene King, G Mallen, Fred Lucas, Mike Redway, John O’Neill, F Dachtler, Allan Grant, D Griffiths, J Smith, J Fraser: backing vocals
Sidney Sax, Jack Rothstein, Ralph Elman, Andrew McGee, Jack Greene, Louis Stevens, John Jezzard, Jack Richards: violins
Lionel Ross, Eldon Fox, Bram Martin, Terry Weil: cellos
Gordon Lewin: clarinet
Neil Sanders, Tony Tunstall, Morris Miller: horns
Recorded: 5, 6, 27, 29 September 1967
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott
Released: 24 November 1967 (UK), 27 November 1967 (US)

Background music:
• "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles
• "Matilda Mother" by Pink Floyd
• "Flying" by The Beatles
• "Lucifer Sam" by Pink Floyd
• "Light My Fire" by The Doors

Citations:
• http://www.beatlesebooks.com/walrus
• https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/i-am-the-walrus/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_the_Walrus
• https://archive.org/details/livesofjohnlenno0000gold_o3c8

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