Friday, July 12, 1968
Recording and mixing "Don't Pass Me By", Recording and mixing "Revolution", Mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
For The Beatles
Last updated on October 21, 2024
Friday, July 12, 1968
For The Beatles
Last updated on October 21, 2024
"The Beatles" (aka the White Album) sessions
May 30 - Oct 18, 1968 • Songs recorded during this session appear on The Beatles (Mono)
Recording studio: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Jul 10, 1968 • Recording "Revolution"
Session Jul 11, 1968 • Recording "Revolution", recording and mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Session Jul 12, 1968 • Recording and mixing "Don't Pass Me By", Recording and mixing "Revolution", Mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Interview Jul 13, 1968 • The Beatles interview for New Musical Express (NME)
Article Jul 15, 1968 • Apple moves into its new headquarters at 3 Savile Row, London
Next session Jul 15, 1968 • Mixing "Revolution", recording and mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", recording "Cry Baby Cry"
AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "The Beatles (Mono)" LP
In early June, during the first days of the recording sessions for the new album, The Beatles recorded the first song written by Ringo Starr, titled “Don’t Pass Me By“. On this day, they returned to it, enriching it with a country-style violin overdub performed by jazz bassist Jack Fallon.
Jack Fallon was familiar to The Beatles; he was not only a jazz musician but also a booker/promoter. He had secured The Beatles’ first professional performance on March 31, 1962, at the Subscription Rooms.
George Martin had jotted down a 12-bar blues for me. A lot of country fiddle playing is double-stop but Paul and George Martin – they were doing the arranging – suggested I play it single note. So it wasn’t really the country sound they originally wanted. But they seemed pleased. Ringo was around too, keeping an eye on his song.
Jack Fallon – From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, 1988
We played it with a country attitude. It was great to get my first song down, one that I had written. It was a very exciting time for me and everyone was really helpful, and recording that crazy violist was a thrilling moment.
Ringo Starr – From “The Beatles Anthology” book, 2000
In the mono version of “Don’t Pass Me By,” there is an extraneous fiddle that eventually fades out with the song. Jack Fallon recalls:
I thought that they had had enough so I just busked around a bit. When I heard it played back at the end of the session I was hoping they’d scrub that bit out, but they didn’t, so there I am on record, scaping away! I was very surprised they kept it in; it was pretty dreadful.
Jack Fallon – From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, 1988
The violin overdub was recorded between 3 pm and 6:40 pm. Subsequently, Paul McCartney recorded an additional bass part, and Ringo contributed a piano part. Four mono mixes were made, but wouldn’t be used.
The final overdub was added during the July 22 session.
Two new mono mixes of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” were then made. But Paul was still not satisfied with the result and decided to re-record his lead vocal on July 15. At 11 pm, The Beatles decided to take a break.
From 12 pm to 4 am, they returned to “Revolution,” which they had recorded the previous day. They added the final overdubs. Paul re-recorded his bass part, and Ringo added some snare and tom-tom shot. Four mono mixes were made, but further mixes would be created on July 15.
Written by Ringo Starr
Recording • SI onto take 7
Written by Ringo Starr
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 1 from take 7
Written by Ringo Starr
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 2 from take 7
Written by Ringo Starr
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 3 from take 7
Written by Ringo Starr
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 4 from take 7
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 10 from take 23
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 11 from take 23
Recording • SI onto take 16
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 10 from take 16
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 11 from take 16
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 12 from take 16
Mixing • Mono mixing - Remix 13 from take 16
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions • Mark Lewisohn
The definitive guide for every Beatles recording sessions from 1962 to 1970.
We owe a lot to Mark Lewisohn for the creation of those session pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - the number of takes for each song, who contributed what, a description of the context and how each session went, various photographies... And an introductory interview with Paul McCartney!
The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 4: The Beatles through Yellow Submarine (1968 - early 1969)
The fourth book of this critically acclaimed series, "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 4: The Beatles through Yellow Submarine (1968 - early 1969)" captures The Beatles as they take the lessons of Sgt. Pepper forward with an ambitious double-album that is equally innovative and progressive. From the first take to the final remix, discover the making of the greatest recordings of all time. Through extensive, fully-documented research, these books fill an important gap left by all other Beatles books published to date and provide a unique view into the recordings of the world's most successful pop music act.
If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.
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