McCARTNEY Photo Archive 39 : Beatles 1968 White Album Session

My favorite period of the band as well.

Funny, I first heard it at night in the dark lying between two stereo speakers. It's always felt like a "night" album to me. Strange to see that it wasn't recorded in the dark. : )

 

"Goodnight"?

 

Where would we be without 'Beatles Monthly'?.

 

Lulu and Davy Jones?

 

Yeah I was trying to remember whether I could hear John's acoustic as I have no recollection of it there. Maybe I should listen for it.

 

I'm not sure it's on the final recording --probably not. I thought he was doing a guide version or bits for the orchestra and Ringo in these pictures. I wish there was a recording of John playing and singing this.

 

According to the original caption in 'Beatles Monthly', it's Lulu and Ringo.

 

Next to Lulu in the striped shirt?

 

Definitely Davy in that photo.

 

Ah, sorry; I didn't see him at first (yes, I know he wasn't THAT short); yes, it's Davy Jones.

 

Thanks for posting these!

I love seeing pictures busting the myth that all four Beatles were just in separate rooms doing their own thing during these sessions.

Of the 32 released songs recorded during the White Album sessions (counting the Hey Jude/Revolution single):

22 feature all four Beatles

2 feature the Beatles without Ringo (USSR and Dear Prudence)

4 feature McCartney alone (Blackbird, Wild Honey Pie, Why Don't We Do It..., Mother Nature's Son)

1 features John alone (Julia) though Paul was encouraging him via talkback

1 features Paul, John, and Ring0 (I Will/Can You Take Me Back)

1 features Ringo alone (Good Night) with coaching from John

1 features all four Beatles (Revolution 9) but was a John and George session

All songs but 8 feature fine, collaborative ensemble playing

HISTORICAL NOTE: Previously, no Beatle played instruments on Eleanor Rigby, The Inner Light, She's Leaving Home, Within You Without You, and Love You To; it was not an unusual concept within the band.

 

What is that stringed instrument in the right background? A lute?

 

Were the Abbey Road sessions highly documented like this?
I've always wondered...They went from cameras surrounding them during the Get Back sessions, but how much do we have from the final album sessions?

 

Here's another clue for you all: The Walrus was Paul.

 

Ringo played drums on Why Don't We Do It In The Road, and George Harrison played sitar on Within You, Without You and Love You To.
Source: Mark Lewisohn's "The Beatles Recording Sessions".

 

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threa...ns-40th-anniversary-in-pictures.195074/page-9

 

That was my other thought.

 

'Long Long Long' and 'Savoy Truffle' didn't feature Lennon at all.
Lennon's only contribution to the recording of 'Piggies', was the tape-loops.
'Martha My Dear' only featured McCartney.
'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' features Ringo on drums.

 

Good info, thanks.

It seems John Lennon was indeed absent from the sessions for most of the first week of October, though many sources (including Ian Macdonald and Lennon himself) give him credit for the guitar solo on Honey Pie, recorded Oct. 2.

Lewisohn guesses that Oct. 4's recording of 'Marth My Dear' was all done by Paul McCartney, but admits, "It's difficult to say for sure, even by referring to the master eight-track recording..."

The site below is very well done, but I'm finding out it contradicts itself quite a lot.
http://www.thewhitealbumproject.com/songs/overview-a-quick-look-at-the-tracks/

 

Seems like he also played tambura and acoustic guitar as well! (Source: Ian Macdonald)

 

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