Recording "Don't Pass Me By", "Good Night"

On this day, The Beatles were in Studio One at Abbey Road, recording orchestral parts for Ringo Starr’s “Don’t Pass Me By” and John Lennon’s “Good Night.” The session ran from 7 pm to 1:40 am.

“Don’t Pass Me By” had been recorded in early June. In the meantime, George Martin composed an orchestral introduction for the track. Although four takes were recorded by a 26-piece orchestra on this day, they were ultimately not used. This piece was titled “A Beginning” when it was first released on the “Anthology 3” album in 1996. It was also included in the 50th-anniversary edition of the White Album in 2018, labeled as take 4.

Designed as an introduction to Ringo’s composition Don’t Pass Me By, this George Martin orchestral arrangement – soaring flutes, harps, violins, violas, cellos, clarinets, bass and other instruments – has remained unissued until now. This piece was recorded during the session that fashioned the orchestral overdub for Good Night, the closing track on The Beatles (better known as the White Album), and utilised the same musicians.

From the “Anthology 3” liner notes

Rather than using the orchestral score, a piano introduction performed by Ringo Starr was used on the final version. “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn notes that this piano piece was recorded on this day as well:

This day’s other recording was of a tinkling piano introduction to “Don’t Pass Me By”. Four such edit pieces were recorded, the best being the fourth. But at 45 seconds it was to be substantially edited down (to just eight seconds) on 11 October when it was joined to the remainder of the song and given new mono and stereo mixes.

From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, 1988

“Don’t Pass Me By” was mixed in mono and stereo on October 11.

The Beatles initially recorded a version of “Good Night” on June 28 and July 2. However, this version was rejected in favor of an orchestral arrangement by George Martin, which was recorded on that day.

John and Paul wrote this sad, wistful song for Ringo to sing. Mind you the words aren’t all that sad – just a very straightforward “goodnight, sleep tight” theme to them. 30-piece orchestra was brought in for the backing. Including even a harp! Also an eight-voice choir of four boys and four girls.

Mal Evans – From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°64, November 1968

Before the orchestra recording, Ringo rehearsed with George Martin on piano and George Harrison playing the shaker for timing. John listened from the control room. They recorded seven takes, numbered 16 to 22, but only part of take 21 and all of take 22 survived on tape (Take 22 was released on the White Album’s 50th anniversary re-release in 2018.)

The musicians who recorded “A Beginning” also played the score for “Good Night,” with Ringo singing his vocal part live. This is confirmed by George Martin’s inquiry, “Was Ringo in time with the orchestra?” after take 23. They completed 12 takes, numbered from 23 to 34, with take 34 being labeled as the best. This part of the session concluded at 10 pm.

The musicians then left Studio One and were succeeded by the Mike Sammes Singers, a choir described as “4 girls, 4 boys” on the EMI sheet. Four members of this ensemble had previously collaborated with The Beatles on “I Am The Walrus” in 1967. The recording session here was also conducted efficiently, concluding by 11:50 pm.

Ringo then re-recorded his lead vocals from 11:50 pm to 1:40 am.

This was clearly a lot of fun too, for outtakes kept for posterity on the “Beatles Chat” tape depict Ringo in fits of laughter between takes and telling jokes aplenty, and it also contains a few seconds of Ringo chatting with George Martin and Ken Scott.

From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, 1988

The next day, six attempts at a mono mix were made, but the final mixes were made on October 11.

Session activities

1. A Beginning

   Written by George Martin

   Recording • Take 1

2. A Beginning

   Written by George Martin

   Recording • Take 2

3. A Beginning

   Written by George Martin

   Recording • Take 3

4. A Beginning

   Written by George Martin

   Recording • Take 4

   AlbumOfficially released on The Beatles (50th anniversary boxset)

5. Don't Pass Me By

   Written by Ringo Starr

   Recording • Edit piece - Take 1

6. Don't Pass Me By

   Written by Ringo Starr

   Recording • Edit piece - Take 2

7. Don't Pass Me By

   Written by Ringo Starr

   Recording • Edit piece - Take 3

8. Don't Pass Me By

   Written by Ringo Starr

   Recording • Edit piece - Take 4

9. Good Night

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Recording • Take 16

10. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 17

11. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 18

12. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 19

13. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 20

14. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 21

15. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 22

16. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 23

17. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 24

18. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 25

19. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 26

20. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 27

21. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 28

22. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 29

23. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 30

24. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 31

25. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 32

26. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 33

27. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • Take 34

28. Good Night

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Recording • SI onto take 34

Staff

Musicians on "Don't Pass Me By"

Musicians on "Good Night"

Musicians on "A Beginning"

Production staff

Going further

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