What's the New Mary Jane
From BeatlesWiki
What's the New Mary Jane is a Beatles song originally intended to be included on their 1968 self-titled album, but would not be released until 1996 on Anthology 3. It was written by John Lennon and Alexis Mardas (AKA Magic Alex).
Contents |
AKA and Working Titles
- What A Shame Mary Jane Had A Pain At The Party, mislabelled as this on bootlegs, a Lennon interview implies this was a working title.
- What A Shame, Mary Jane, mislabelled as this on bootlegs
Writing
The song was one of John's first avant-garde songs. He first mentioned it in 1969, when he said, "This was a thing I wrote half with our electronic genius Alex [Mardas]. It was called What A Shame Mary Jane Had A Pain At The Party, and it was meant for The Beatles album." It was done in a nursery rhyme style, although the title, as well as the lyrics are referencing marijuana and other recreational drugs. A demo was recorded in May 1968 in Kinfauns, George's home in Esher, Surrey. It included the chorus, as well as some verses, played on acoustic guitar and sung, while The Beatles shouted in the background.
Recording
The song was recorded on August 14, 1968, when Lennon and Harrison recorded four takes. The first was incomplete, the second lasted 2:35, the third lasted 3:45, and the last lasted 6:12. John played piano and sang, while George played guitar. Both tracks were double-tracked. Other instruments, including xylophone and handbell were used, as well as several sund effects. Take Four was commonly bootlegged after the band had broken up, although it was legitimately released in 1996 on Anthology 3. At the end of that take, John says "Let's hear it, before we get taken away." The tape stops running when he is in the middle of the word 'away.'
As a Plastic Ono Band single
Although Lennon liked the song, it was decided to be left out of the final album durng the mixing in October 1968. Three new stereo mixes were created on September 11, 1969, as John was intending to release it as a Plastic Ono Band single, along with You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) as the B-Side. On November 26, he made another stereo mix, this time with new vocals and more sound effects from him and Yoko. It was planned to be released December 5 with catalog number APPLES 1002, but for reasons unknown, possibly The Beatles protesting, the single was shelved. Although, an earlier Apple press release says that The Plastic Ono Band single would feature "many of the greatest show business names of today," referencing The Beatles.
Recording and Mixng Sessions
- September 26, 1968: Mixing Session. Songs Mixed: Happiness Is A Warm Gun, What's The New Mary Jane, Glass Onion, Glass Onion sound effects tape and I Will. →
Personnel
The Beatles
- Lead Vocals: John Lennon
- Sound Effects: John Lennon
- Piano: John Lennon
- Backing Vocals: George Harrison
- Rythm Guitar: George Harrison
- Sound Effects: George Harrison
Guest Musicians
Production
- Producer: George Martin
- Producer: Geoff Emerick
- Producer: John Lennon
- Engineer: Ken Scott
- Engineer: Mike Sheady
Available On
- Various Bootlegs
- Anthology 3, 1996
Available Versions
- Kinfauns Demo (Bootlegs), May 1968
- Take 4 unedited (Bootlegs), August 14, 1968
- Take 4 Sessions edit (Intended to be on Sessions, Bootlegs) August 14, 1968]
- Take 4 Anthology edit (Anthology 3), August 14, 1968
- Take 4 Abbey Road Show edit (Played publicly at the Abbey Road Show, Bootlegs), August 14, 1968
- Unknown Take (Most likely Take 1), (The Beatles Anthology TV series), August 14, 1968
- Take 4 with Overdubs, (Bootlegs), September 11, 1969
- Take 4 with more overdubs acetate mix (Bootlegs), November 26, 1969
- Take 4 with overdubs unedited tape (Bootlegs), November 26, 1969
- Take 4 with overdubs stereo single edit (Bootlegs), November 26, 1969
