Old Brown Shoe: Introduction

“Old Brown Shoe” is the B-side of the Beatles single “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” released in 1969. However, now the song is available on the “Past Masters” album. Furthermore, the demo version is also available on their “Anthology 3” album as well.

In Detail

• Release Date: May 30, 1969
• Recorded: April 16 & 18, 1969
• Format: 7-inch singles record (B-side); (A-side is “The Ballad of John and Yoko”)
• Studio: EMI Studios, London
• Genre: Rock
• Track Duration: 3:16
• Record Label: Apple
• Songwriter: George Harrison
• Producer: George Martin
• Engineer: Jeff Jarratt

Performers And Instruments

• George Harrison: vocal, electric guitars, Hammond organ, and bass guitar
• John Lennon: backing vocal
• Paul McCartney: backing vocal, tack piano
• Ringo Starr: drums

With the release of the Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe, we have since found out from the notes that there is a difference for Take 2 of this track. Apparently Ringo Starr was not there; he was filming The Magic Christian at the time. So, the line-up for take 2 is as follows:

• George Harrison: lead vocals, guitars, organ
• John Lennon: piano, backing vocals
• Paul McCartney: drums, bass, backing vocals

Where To Find “Old Brown Shoe”

The song is still available on the following releases:

**If your budget is limited and you only need the original version of this song, buy the single or the Past Masters album.

Old Brown Shoe: Background

This George Harrison song was the B-side of a Beatles’ non-album single and, as such, appears on the “Past Masters” album from 1988. Harrison wrote the song in late 1968, using a piano at first. However, there is a slight indication that the rhythm may indicate the influence of ska music.

In the UK, this was only the second time that a Harrison composition found its way onto a Beatles’ single.

His first was when “The Inner Light” was on the B-side of “Lady Madonna” in March 1968.

The content of Harrison’s lyrics started as a study in opposites.

“I started the chord sequences on the piano, which I don’t really play, and then began writing ideas for the words from various opposites… Again, it’s the duality of things—yes, no, up down, left right, right wrong, etcetera.”

George Harrison
I Me Mine, 1980

The Beatles tried this idea, as well as word association, in their 1967 single “Hello, Goodbye“, of course. At that time, The Beatles also began experimenting successfully with randomness.

Recording Studio

The Beatles began rehearsing “Old Brown Shoe” in January, but they didn’t record the song then. However, on February 25, 1969, the day of his 26th birthday, George Harrison recorded a demo at EMI Studios. Indeed, this demo is available on the Anthology 3 album from 1996. The demo stayed on hold for a short while.

On March 20, 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory off the coast of Spain. Lennon’s account of his wedding and honeymoon became the subject of The Beatles’ next single, “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” which the band recorded on April 14, 1969.

When The Beatles were looking for a B-side to accompany Lennon’s recollection, they took another look at “Old Brown Shoe.” During the afternoon sessions on April 16, George Harrison recorded a second demo of the song. The band deemed it a suitable proposition after they took a listen to Harrison’s demo and then began recording it on the same evening when they recorded four takes.

On take four’s basic rhythm, they had separate tracks for Ringo Starr’s drum piece, George Harrison’s vocals, and another for his guitar work, Paul McCartney’s piano piece, John Lennon’s rhythm guitar, etc.

The recordings took place in EMI’s Studio Three, where Harrison sang in a corner in order to capture the reverberation from the room.

Harrison’s Bass And Organ

The prominent bass line from George Harrison is particularly noticeable. In order to replicate the bass line on Harrison’s demo, they doubled up McCartney’s lead guitar and Harrison’s bass. When interviewed about the bass line, Harrison recalls, “That was me going nuts. I’m doing [on the bass] exactly what I do on the guitar.“

On April 18, further overdubbing took place. This saw Lennon’s rhythm guitar piece dropped in favour of a new Hammond organ part from Harrison. Further tweaks and additions to the guitar work from Harrison completed the “Old Brown Shoe” recording sessions. Obviously, with the separate tape tracks in place, the final official mix became available for the new single.

Chart Success

That was with the official “last Beatles single,” Now And Then (November 2023).

Take A Listen To “Old Brown Shoe.”

Finally, if you have time, click play to listen to the song. Then, leave us your thoughts and opinions below.