Alma Cogan - Final Recordings

Final Recordings

Cogan hoped to use her association with the Beatles to abet a recording comeback by cutting an album comprising Lennon–McCartney compositions. The concept was nixed by EMI because of the plethora of similar albums then on the market. However, Cogan did cut versions of "I Feel Fine", "Yesterday", "Eight Days a Week" and "Help", with the last two tracks being released as a single in 1965: the A-side "Eight Days a Week" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, 4 October 1965. Although being considered one of Cogan's most distinguished tracks, it was not, as rumour would later have it, recorded in the presence of either John Lennon or Paul McCartney, neither of whom were then at the studio or, as has been suggested, played an instrument such as the tambourine.

Cogan also funded and recorded tracks for producer Andrew Loog Oldham including a remake of Barbara George's "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)": these tracks which showcased Cogan as a much grittier vocalist than previously were dismissed by EMI as substandard and unreleasable.

In 1965 EMI's dissatisfaction with Cogan manifested itself in the label's decision to have her cut an album, the recording of which would satisfy the number of tracks remaining on Cogan's contract, after which EMI would not renew her contract. The production was assigned to David Gooch, the recently hired staff producer who had been responsible for the recording of several West End musical soundtracks for EMI's affiliate MFP label. With orchestrations by veteran Cogan associate Stan Foster, the recording of tracks for the final album began that summer in Studio 1 at Abbey Road Studios.

All of the songs were initially recorded without the presence of the singer because Cogan was unwell ("supposedly with a bad cold or the flu" – Gooch): the Musicians' Union gave permission for the backing tracks to be recorded to which she later added her voice.

The Abbey Road sessions featured a version of "A Lover's Concerto": a German language version of that song cut in Cologne would be Cogan's final recording which she recorded together with the orchestra.