Paul McCartney and George Harrison’s differing attitudes during the recording of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band reflected growing tensions within The Beatles. McCartney later criticised Harrison’s apparent absences, while Harrison felt alienated by a recording process that he believed reduced the group’s ability to play together as a band.

McCartney said in a 1990 interview that Harrison showed up for few sessions and suggested he was occupied with building a swimming pool. Harrison, however, said in Anthology that he was less interested in the album’s piecemeal, overdub-heavy production, preferring the more collaborative approach used on Rubber Soul and Revolver; he also felt his experiences in India had moved him beyond the group’s direction.