Friday, September 6, 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
For The Beatles
Last updated on October 31, 2024
Friday, September 6, 1968
For The Beatles
Last updated on October 31, 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 Sep 05, 1968 • Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Article Sep 06, 1968 • Paul McCartney and Mary Hopkin filmed for "Magpie" children's TV show
Session Sep 06, 1968 • Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Article Sep 08, 1968 • "Hey Jude" promo film premieres on UK TV
AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "The Beatles (Mono)" LP
For a long time, it was assumed that Eric Clapton overdubbed his lead guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” during this recording session, as noted in Mark Lewisohn’s “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions.” However, the 2018 Super Deluxe edition book of “The Beatles” clarified that Clapton joined The Beatles for several takes the day before, prompted by George Harrison’s decision to remake the song.
On this day, during a session that spanned from 7 pm to 2 am, The Beatles added overdubs onto take 25, and completed the track.
George Harrison recorded his double-tracked lead vocals, contributed some high-pitched organ notes, and played additional guitar parts. Paul McCartney recorded a distorted bass guitar part. Ringo Starr added tambourine and maracas. Depending on the source, either John Lennon or George Harrison recorded an extra bass part.
Initial mono and stereo mixes were created on October 7, but were further improved on October 14.
During this session, there was no producer present because George Martin was away on holiday. The following Monday, his assistant Chris Thomas would return from his holiday to discover that he was to produce the Beatles for all the sessions in September.
Written by George Harrison
Recording • SI onto take 25
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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