Lovely Rita

For the Austrian film, see Lovely Rita (film).

"Lovely Rita"
Song

"Lovely Rita" is a song by the Beatles performed on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, written and sung by Paul McCartney, although as with all McCartney or Lennon-written Beatles' songs, it is credited to Lennon–McCartney. It is about a female traffic warden and the narrator's affection for her.

Inspiration

The term "meter-maid", largely unknown in the UK prior to the song's release, is American slang for a female traffic warden. According to some sources, the song originates from when a female traffic warden named Meta Davies issued a parking citation to McCartney outside Abbey Road Studios. Instead of becoming angry, he accepted it with good grace and expressed his feelings in song. When asked why he had called her "Rita," McCartney replied, "Well, she looked like a Rita to me".

Recording

Recording began on 23 February 1967. Using a four-track recorder, this first performance featured Harrison's guitar on track 1, Lennon's guitar on track 2, Ringo's drums on track 3, and McCartney's piano set on track 4. Once those tracks were "bounced," the band later added lead vocal, bass, and a three-part backing vocal section featuring George, John, and American session musician Shawn Phillips. Engineer Geoff Emerick noted McCartney's vocal arrangements were directly inspired by Brian Wilson's work for the Beach Boys. A second piano, played by George Martin and processed electromechanically to wobble in and out of tune was added for the distinctive solo. By 21 March, the final mono mix was completed and a month later, the stereo mix was done.

The unusual noises during the song after the lines "and the bag across her shoulder/ made her look a little like a military man" were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison playing comb and paper.

Pink Floyd watched the Beatles recording "Lovely Rita". Later, Pink Floyd took the effects of "Lovely Rita" for recording their instrumental compostition, "Pow R. Toc H." from their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass, piano, comb and tissue paper kazoo
• John Lennon – backing vocal, vocal percussion, acoustic rhythm guitar, comb and tissue paper kazoo
• George Harrison – backing vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar, comb and tissue paper kazoo
• Ringo Starr – drums
• Shawn Phillips - backing vocals
• George Martin – producer, piano
• Geoff Emerick – engineer

Personnel per Ian MacDonald

According to some sources George Harrison played slide guitar on the recording. However, this has not been confirmed by either MacDonald nor Lewisohn

Live performances

Paul McCartney performed the song live for the first time by any Beatle on 4 May 2013 at the Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil and throughout his 2013–2015 Out There! Tour.

Other versions

• Fats Domino included a cover of this song in his 1968 album Fats is back. He also released it as a single, with "Wait 'Till It Happens to You" on B side.
• In 1976, Roy Wood of ELO and Wizzard recorded the song for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
• In 2007, Travis recorded the song for It Was 40 Years Ago Today, a television film with contemporary acts recording the album's songs using the same studio, technicians and recording techniques as the original.
• Les Fradkin has an instrumental version on his 2007 release Pepper Front to Back.
• Joan Osborne sings the song on the 2009 Cheap Trick release, Sgt. Pepper Live.
• Andy Timmons recorded an instrumental version of the song on his 2011 album "Andy Timmons Band Plays Sgt. Pepper".