Who wrote the melody and lyrics for A Day in the Life?
John Lennon wrote the melody and most of the lyrics to A Day in the Life in mid-January 1967. He presented the song to Paul McCartney shortly after finishing his draft.
Questions about A Day in the Life
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was A Day in the Life recorded at EMI Studio Two?
The Beatles began recording the track at EMI Studio Two on the 19th of January 1967 under the working title In the Life of. They rehearsed with Lennon playing piano, McCartney on Hammond organ, Harrison on acoustic guitar, and Starr on drums.
What inspired the opening verses of A Day in the Life?
The opening verses drew directly from a Daily Mail article published on the 17th of January 1967 about Tara Browne, a 21-year-old heir to the Guinness fortune who died in a car crash on the 18th of December 1966. Browne was a close friend of both musicians and had introduced McCartney to LSD earlier that year.
How long does A Day in the Life last according to John Covach?
A Day in the Life spans four minutes and forty-five seconds yet remains among rock's shortest epic pieces according to John Covach. The composition features two orchestral glissandos partly improvised in avant-garde style reflecting influences from Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage.
When did the BBC lift restrictions on broadcasting A Day in the Life?
The ban remained in place until the 13th of March 1972 when the corporation finally lifted restrictions on broadcasting the song. Critics like Richard Goldstein described the lyrics as deadly earnest excursions in emotive music with chilling undertones.
How much did Lennon's handwritten lyrics sell for at Sotheby's London auction on the 27th of August 1992?
Lennon's handwritten lyrics sold at Sotheby's London auction on the 27th of August 1992 for $100,000 to Joseph Reynoso from Chicago. The lyric sheet appeared again in March 2006 when sealed bids opened offering starting around two million dollars before selling for $1,200,000 in June 2010.