Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

November 1968

The Beatles

By The Beatles

Details

  • UK release date: Nov 22, 1968

Related articles

From thebeatles.com:

The Beatles or “The White album” as it became better known was released on 22nd November, 1968 on the fifth anniversary of their second album, With The Beatles. A total of 34 new tracks were released in 1968 and 30 were contained on this one double-LP.

Following the recording of their single “Lady Madonna” in February, the Beatles flew to Rishikesh, India for several weeks of meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during which they enjoyed a prolific period of song writing. Recording began at Abbey Road on 30th May and studio work occupied most of their time until the final session in mid October.

The colourful artwork that had adorned Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour albums was absent here. The double wallet merely had words The BEATLES embossed on the front cover. Early copies also had a individual number stamped on the front. Inside the package along with the two discs wrapped in black inner sleeves were four individual photographs of the guys and a folded poster containing a photo-collage with the lyrics to the songs on the reverse.

The Beatles was the group’s first album to appear on the Apple label. The change from Parlophone to Apple had first taken place with the release of the “Hey Jude” single in August, 1968.

Despite the fact that it was a double album it entered the UK chart at no. 1 and occupied that position for eight of the 22 weeks it spent in the chart. The US situation was even more impressive with a nine week stay in the top spot during an initial chart run of 65 weeks.

That was the tension album. We were all in the midst of that psychedelic thing, or just coming out of it. In any case, it was weird. Never before had we recorded with beds in the studio and people visiting for hours on end: business meetings and all that. There was a lot of friction during that album. We were just about to break up, and that was tense in itself.

Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years” by Barry Miles
Ad – From Melody Maker – November 23, 1968
Ad – From Billboard, November 30, 1968
From B26689 – The Beatles Promotional 1968 White Album Flyer (UK) – Tracks – A rare original promotional flyer which was used to advertise the 1968 album ‘The Beatles’. The album which was released on November 22nd 1968 was dubbed ‘The White Album’ due to the sleeves plain white design. The flyer has a picture of the group at the top and also full album title, price, mono and stereo catalogue numbers, release date and track listings. The flyer measures 14cm x 21.5cm (5.5 inches x 8.5 inches).

The album

Special editions

Related singles

Related bootlegs

Related songs

Related films

Related people

Related sessions

Related interviews

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.