Anatomy of a Song: "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" Quiz

Answer: Abbey Road

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" was track three on side one of The Beatles' album "Abbey Road".

"Abbey Road" is the eleventh studio album released by The Beatles. It was released in the UK on the Apple record label on the 26 September 1969. It was number one for 17 weeks on the UK album chart for The Beatles in 1969/70. It was number one for 11 weeks on the Billboard album chart in 1969/70.

Answer: Medicine

"Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine".

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song was written in October 1968 and was intended for inclusion on the album "The Beatles", (The White Album). It was then rehearsed again three months later, at the Twickenham film studios during the "Get Back" sessions. It was not recorded until six months later on July 19 at the Abbey Road studios.

Answer: John Lennon

During the later recordings at the Abbey Road studios in July 1969, John Lennon (who had been absent from recording sessions after being injured in a car crash), returned. Yoko Ono, who had been more severely hurt in the accident, lay on a double bed in the studio.

Although he had participated during rehearsals at the "Get Back" sessions John Lennon did not play on the final recording of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" for the "Abbey Road" album.

Answer: The pictures

"Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine
Calls her on the phone
Can I take you out to the pictures
Jo, o, o, oan?"

Who played what on the July Abbey Road studios recordings of "Maxwell's Silver " in 1969:

Paul McCartney sang lead and backing vocals and played piano, electric guitars and Moog synthesizer.
George Harrison sang backing vocals and played acoustic and lead guitar and six-string bass.
Ringo Starr sang backing vocals and played drums and anvil, (a real anvil rented from a theatrical agency).
George Martin played Hammond organ.

Answer: In school

"Back in school again Maxwell plays the fool again.
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid and unpleasant
Sce, e, e, ene"

The photograph on the cover of the "Abbey Road" album that "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is from, was taken by photographer Iain Macmillan. The cover of "Abbey Road", has now become one of the most famous album covers in the world. It has been parodied by other groups, cartoon characters and many individuals.

Answer: 50

"She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
So he waits behind,
Writing fifty times "I must not be so, o, o, o".

The album cover of "Abbey Road" was a big part of the rumour that Paul McCartney was dead. The interpretation is that John Lennon in a white suit represented God, Ringo Starr in a black suit represented a preacher, Paul McCartney in a dark grey suit, had his eyes closed and was barefoot and George Harrison dressed in a shirt and jeans represented a grave digger. Who could make all that up and even worse, how could anyone believe such rubbish.

Answer: P. C. 31

"P. C. 31 said, "We caught a dirty one."
Maxwell stands alone
Painting testimonial pictures.
Oh, oh, oh, oh".

P. C. 31 is the number of the police constable in the song.

P. C. 49 is the number of a police constable in a U. K. radio programme of the 1940s and '50s.

999 in the emergency number in the U. K.

911 is the emergency number in the U. S. A.

Answer: Valerie

"Rose and Valerie screaming from the gallery
Say he must go free (Maxwell must go free)
The judge does not agree and he tells them so, o, o, o".

The name Rose was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. It was most popular in the late 18th century and early 20th century.

The name Valerie was introduced to England from France in the late 19th century. It was most popular in the middle of the 20th century.

Answer: Three

There were three victims of Maxwell's silver hammer. Joan, the teacher and the judge.

I bet John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr wished that Maxwell's silver hammer had come down on Paul's head during the recording. John felt that it had driven George and Ringo into the ground. George felt that it was a real fruity song and that it had taken too long and Ringo felt that it was the worst track that he has ever had to record.

Answer: Frankie Laine

Frankie Laine recorded it in 1976 at the age of 63 with The London Symphony Orchestra, to accompany the musical documentary "All This And World War II".

It featured stock newsreel footage of the Second World War and 20th Century Fox film clips set to performances of the music of the Beatles by various artists. It was released as a single with "You Never Give Me Your Money" by Lou Reizner & Wil Malone on the B-Side.