Video: 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer (Anthology 3 Version)' (take 5)

(Wednesday, July 9, 1969, 2:30 p.m.-10:15 p.m. BST; during sessions for Abbey Road) — The Beatles today began formally recording Paul McCartney’s “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” attempting 16 takes of the backing track (with guide vocals) at EMI Studio 2 in London.

Acoustic guitars were overdubbed towards the end of the session onto the last two choruses of take 21 (there were no takes 6-10).

This was John Lennon’s first recording session since he was involved in a car crash in Scotland on July 1, 1969. Lennon had recuperated but his wife, Yoko Ono, was less well and a double bed was brought into the studio for her to be near to her husband.