Changes

Album: Odessey and Oracle (1968)
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Songfacts®:

  • Bassist Chris White in The Guardian February 22, 2008: "We were doing some live vocal harmonies on 'Changes' and at one o'clock two guys walked in wearing long brown coats and started moving the grand piano. I watched in amazement as they maneuvered it out of the studio and we just kept singing. Whether that's actually on the final take, I don't know."
  • White was the band's songwriter, together with Rod Argent. He recalled in the same Guardian interview: "Rod and I were sharing a flat in North Finchley and writing in rooms next to each other. We'd play the songs to each other and then go and rehearse in a village hall in Wheat Hampstead (a village in Hertfordshire north of London.)"
  • This song, along with several others on Odessey and Oracle, was recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios. The remainder were taped at another well-known London venue, Olympic Studios. Rod Argent recalled to The Guardian about the recording of the album: "We were the first band not signed to EMI that was allowed into Abbey Road. So we very much benefited from some of the technical advances the Beatles had made with Sgt. Pepper. They walked out and we walked in. We would go in with a basic arrangement worked out and then throw things on which were virtually improvised. We were kids in a sweetshop. It made everything seem possible. The whole of the '60s were a brilliant time to record because everything was exploding and there was such a feeling of positivity in the air. People were willing to embrace any ideas and see where they led."

Comments: 3

  • Bunny from VictoriaThe word after platinum is "clasp" as in the clasp on a necklace.
  • Kathleen from Clinton, MdThe word after platinum, where you have a [?], is clasp. The line is "Like emerald stones and platinum clasp." I LOVE this song. It's one of my favorites from this album.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, MoThis album is so horribly underrated! I could listen to it all day; its a masterpiece on the same level as Sergeant Pepper.
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