THE BEATLES

Lennon was producing Harry Nilsson's latest album, Pussy Cats, when Paul and Linda McCartney dropped in on the Burbank Studios session on March 28, 1974. They were joined by Stevie Wonder, Harry Nilsson, Jesse Ed Davis, May Pang, Bobby Keys and producer Ed Freeman for an impromptu jam session.

Lennon was in his "lost weekend" , separated from Yoko Ono and living in Los Angeles with May Pang. Sandford paints the scene very vividly, as the room froze when McCartney walked in, and remained perfectly silent until Lennon said, "Valiant Paul McCartney, I presume?" McCartney responded: "Sir Jasper Lennon, I presume?" ("Valiant Paul" and "Sir Jasper" were characters played by the two, in a televised Christmas play early in the Beatles's career.) McCartney extended a hand, Lennon shook it, and the mood was pleasant but subdued, cordial but not especially warm, at least initially.

What followed was not very productive. Lennon sounds to be on cocaine—he can be heard offering Wonder a snort on the first track, and on the fifth, asks someone to give him a snort. This is also the origin of the album name, where John Lennon clearly asks: "You wanna snort, Steve? A toot? It's goin' round." In addition, Lennon seems to be having trouble with his microphone and headphones.

Lennon is on lead vocal and guitar, while McCartney sings harmony and plays drums. Stevie Wonder sings and plays electric piano, Linda McCartney on organ, May Pang on tambourine, Harry Nilsson provides vocals, Jesse Ed Davis is on guitar, producer Ed Freeman fills in on bass, Bobby Keyes plays saxophone.[2]

Comments

6 years ago

James Rinaudo

Loose John

7 years ago

Music Chair Reviews

John was going through what they called his summer vacation. Where he split from yoko for about a few years

10 years ago

Beawulfa afluwaeB

Was this the last time Lennon / McCartney's voices were recorded together?

12 years ago

Elliot Burns

@gunskill20 john

12 years ago

isaacbateman76

When John Live With May Pang,I Though The Beatles Will Have A Reunion,well this is the result :D but it doesnt last long because of that YOKO ONO!

12 years ago

Matt Drzik

@789TheBeatles Well there really was no structure to the jam; it was basically whatever goes. The reason it sounds so bad is because 1) The quality of recording was set low 2) It was made even lower by the jackass engineers and 3) Lennon was coked outta his mind.

12 years ago

J Ciner

This is when John was going through some of his hardest times.

13 years ago

scarface12347

@789TheBeatles well they had changed alot in 4 years, they didnt write music the same way i mean listen to paul and his silly love songs. personally i thought this was good i mean, they hated eachother for a while.its wonderful to at least hear that they made some effert to try to get back together.

13 years ago

Yea Ok

"A Toot and a Snore in '74" is just an unfortunate bootleg. john and paul have a reunion in 1974, and do some of the worst music they've ever done

13 years ago

gunskill20

who singing lucielee?????????

14 years ago

jzerony

Jeezuz.... you'd think when GREATS like this happen upon each other that SOME engineers would've made sure to get it recorded properly! They must've been dumbstruck....