Recording "Across The Universe"

The exact date that The Beatles began working on John Lennon’s “Across the Universe” remains a subject of debate. While some sources suggest February 3, 1968, others point to February 4. Mark Lewisohn, in his comprehensive book “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions,” indicates February 4. However, in the liner notes he wrote for The Beatles Anthology 2, he mentions “Saturday 3 February 1968.” Additionally, John Barrett’s notes reference tape E67494, which contains Takes 1 to 3 of “Lady Madonna” (dated February 3) and Takes 1 and 2 of “Across the Universe” (dated February 4). Tape E67495 has “Across the Universe,” with no take numbers noted, also from February 3. Complicating the matter further, the book accompanying the White Album’s 50th anniversary re-release states that “The Beatles began recording ‘Across The Universe’ on 4 February 1968“.

We assume that the basic track of “Across The Universe” was recorded on February 3, and the first overdubs were added on this day, February 4, during two different sessions – he first from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the second from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The first round of overdubs was made on Take 2, with John adding his lead vocals and extra acoustic guitar, Ringo Starr playing some swarmandal (a stringed Indian instrument), and George Harrison contributing some tamboura. This version was later included in “Anthology 2” in 1996.

Here, for the first time, is an unembellished and alternative recording Across The Universe, Take 2, recorded on Saturday 3 February 1968 in EMI Studio Three, temporarily marked “best” on the tape box and so afforded overdubs and technical wonders like the phasing on John’s guitar and the percussion.

From the liner notes of “Anthology 2“

After this, work on Take 2 was stopped, and the focus shifted to Take 7. John double-tracked his lead vocals, and George added a tamboura.

Paul and John then decided that high falsetto harmonies were needed to complement John’s vocals. In a surprising move, Lizzie Bravo and Gayleen Pease, two fans who were waiting outside the studio, were invited in to provide the additional vocals.

There was a whole crowd of girls outside and Paul went out to find a couple of suitable ones. They were so excited. They couldn’t believe they’d actually been invited by Paul not just inside the building but into the studio itself, to sing with The Beatles.

Martin Benge – Technical engineer

One of the three titles which the Beatles recorded at the EMI St. John’s Wood studio in the first week of February, was “Across the Universe” with the lead vocal sung by John. The recording session was well underway on Sunday, February 4th, when John and Paul decided at the last moment that girls would be needed to sing a particularly high falsetto voice passage. So, Paul walked out and started talking to the crowd of Beatle people gathered outside the recording studio gates. Eventually, he invited two girls to come in for a tryout take — they were, Lizzie Bravo, 16 Compayne Gardens, London, N.W.6, and Gayleen Pease, 17 Amhurst Road, London, N.16.

The Beatles were delighted with the girls voices and so Lizzie and Gayleen were suddenly transported from being Beatle fans to actually recording with them.

Quotes from Lizzie and Gayleen:

Said Lizzie: “I still don’t believe it happened!” Added Gayleen: “It was like a dream. The Beatles are so easy to get on with.“

And from producer George Martin: “Considering the girls had never done any recording before, I think they were really great.“

From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°56, March 1968

On Sunday February 4 another new number was started one which — was NOT used on the single. It is “Across The Universe” which is going to appear as one track on a special charity LP album. It was for this session that Paul invited two teenage girl fans to provide extra vocal accompaniment. “Across The Universe” has some very high bits in it so Paul went out of the front door of the EMI Studios in St. John’s Wood and chatted up the bunch of Beatle People who were waiting there in the rain. Eventually he chose Lizzie Bravo a 16-year-old who came from Rio de Janeiro and is hoping to become an actress plus Gayleen Pease, a 17-year-old who is studying for her ‘A’ level exams this summer. Lizzie lives in Maida Vale and Gayleen lives in Stoke Newington, both just a few miles from St. John’s Wood. It’s the first time fans have joined The Beatles in a recording session. The two girls had to repeat over and over the line of lyrics which goes “nothing’s going to change my world”.

Mal Evans and Neil Aspinall – From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°57, April 1968

Describe the fateful invitation you received to contribute to a Beatles recording. What feelings and emotions were going through your mind when you got invited into Abbey Road Studios?

There was only a handful of us fans waiting for them to come out that night. It was a Sunday; they didn’t normally record on weekends. The doorman had let us inside the building. Paul came out of the glass doors and asked: “Can any of you girls hold a high note?” I went in and asked to bring my friend Gayleen. You have to realize that we were used to seeing them almost every day, so this particular night was just a much nicer situation since we were inside and not outside the studios. We were just enjoying our time with them (approximately two hours), we were too young to realize what was really going on: we were recording with the biggest rock and roll band that ever was… sharing a microphone with John and Paul (there were two mikes, I was with John first and then we switched).

How were you received by The Beatles during the “Across the Universe” recording session? What did you notice about their interaction as a band?

They were very nice and made us feel at home. They were funny and we laughed at the jokes and situations. They seemed to get on well. You have to realize we were 16 and 17, just enjoying our time with them. We weren’t there to analyze them as a band or as people.

What were your initial thoughts about “Across the Universe” as a song?

It took a long time for us to hear it for the first time. For me, it was on Kenny Everett’s radio show. I thought it was beautiful.

How did your family and friends respond to this extraordinary event of you singing on a Beatles song?

I personally didn’t tell very many people. There was a note in the March 1968 issue of The Beatles Monthly and that was it. For many years it never appeared in any books or magazines. I don’t remember anyone making a big fuss out of it. It happens a lot more nowadays.

What is the one lingering memory from recording with The Beatles that has stayed with you over the years? 

There are many moments I remember vividly, too many to list here. Being beside John Lennon, my idol, singing on the same microphone with him, so close…

Lizzie Bravo – From Another Fifth Beatle: Lizzie Bravo – CultureSonar, October 6, 2021

The session for “Across the Universe” took place on February 4, 1968. You had 16 years old then, and you were outside the studios of EMI. Please tell us about the moments before the meeting with Paul and his request to fans outside Abbey Road for the recording session.

Lizzie Bravo: We were few fans, we were not on the street or parking lot, we were inside the building, in the entrance corridor, between two doors of glass. Paul came from inside and asked “Can any of you girls hold a high note?”

Only the two of you immediately agreed to Paul’s request? Or were there other fans who wanted to do it too?

I said I could do it, and then I asked for Gayleen to come with me. Because I knew that she sang at school like me. It seemed to me that two voices would be better than just one. My best friend Denise was there but I couldn’t take her because she didn’t sing anything. The other fans didn’t say nothing. As I said before, there were few of us that day, and I don’t think anyone would dare to say that he knew how to sing when he did not know…

How long did the recording session last? What details do you remember about her?

The recording lasted a little over two hours. We were with the four Beatles and George Martin. Mal [Evans] brought us tea and biscuits. John called me to sing with him on his microphone and explained how it worked, that it was directional and we both had to sing in this rectangle. Paul asked permission, fixed my hair and put the phones on my head. He explained to me that I had to leave one side out to hear the sounds of the environment. There were two microphones. Later we changed, Gayleen came to sing with John and I with Paul. The first thing Paul said when we entered the studios was that I “sang in Brazilian”, but I was embarrassed and said I wasn’t going to sing… they were very simple and normal, we were happy but calm, because we saw them almost every day and we were used to them. It was a very pleasant atmosphere. They told us several times that they really liked what we sang. A very special day, totally unforgettable. Gayleen and I are still friends to this day.

Lizzie Bravo – From BEATLES MAGAZINE: REMEMBERING: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LIZZIE BRAVO (translated from Spanish)

After their contribution, the two girls were asked to leave the studio.

Before the Beatles added the final overdubs of the day, a reduction mix of take 7, named take 8, was made. Then, they added backward recordings of Paul’s bass and Ringo’s drums. However, those recordings were erased and replaced with more vocals on February 8.

At the end of the session, The Beatles recorded three experimental sound effects onto a separate four-track tape. The first sound effect, named “Hums Wild,” consisted of 15 seconds of humming overdubbed three more times to fill up all four tracks of the tape.

The second sound effect was a guitar, and the third one was a harp-like sound. The tape box indicated that these effects were “to be played backwards” and added to “Across The Universe.“

Indeed, those sound effects were added to an open track of Take 8. A mono mix was prepared and given as an acetate for John to review at home. This unique mix, circulating on bootleg recordings, has become known as the “Hums Wild” version.

Work on “Across The Universe” continued on February 8.

Session activities

1. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • SI onto take 2

   AlbumOfficially released on Anthology 2

2. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • SI onto take 7

3. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Tape copying • Tape reduction take 7 into take 8

4. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • SI onto take 8

5. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • Sound effects - Take 1

6. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • Sound effects - Take 2

7. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • Sound effects - Take 3

8. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 1 from take 8 - "Hums Wild" mix

Staff

Musicians on "Across The Universe"

Production staff

Going further

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