Day Tripper

Initially released on the single with "We Can Work It Out," it was The Beatles first double A-sided single. It was completed in three takes in one recording session on October 16, 1965, at Kenwood. This single was released on December 3, 1965, the same day as their album, "Rubber Soul." This single went straight to No. 1 on December 8, 1965, and stayed there for five weeks, selling 750,000 by 12/08, and one million by 12/20. This would be the seventh consecutive Beatles’ single to enter the charts at No. 1, and their tenth consecutive single to reach No. 1 in Britain. World-wide, this single sold about three million copies.

Day Tripper was written mainly by John, with Paul’s help. John and Paul sing lead, with George assisting on harmony. Lennon also played the tambourine. Basically, the song is about LSD and tripping, using phrases that The Beatles knew the kids would understand, but older adults may not. The reference to "She’s a big teaser," meant is sexual terms, the likes of a prick teaser. The Beatles thought that the "mums and dads" wouldn’t get it but the kids would.

Included on the same single as "Day Tripper", this song was recorded in two takes on October 20, 1965. Written mainly by Paul, with John contributing the middle section, the song deals entirely with Paul’s relationship with Jane Asher, and its various problems. Paul sings lead with both John & George singing backgrounds and harmony. The harmonium is by John.

Paul wrote most of the lyrics and the tune, and John contributed the remaining lyrics. Paul sings lead, with John and George harmonizing. Paul plays his Rickenbacker bass guitar and the Vox organ. The basic track of guitars, drums and vocals were recorded on Wednesday, April 16, 1966 at EMI Studio No. 3. Although some special effects were added a few days later, the entire song took ten hours to record.

Released on the single with "Paperback Writer," "Rain," was recorded in late April 1966. Written entirely by John who sings lead, the song also included Paul and George with supporting vocals.

Lady Madonna

The first single of 1968 contained "Lady Madonna," and "The Inner Light." This song is special in that it was the first Beatles’ single to contain a song written by George Harrison, with "The Inner Light." The single entered the charts on March 20, 1968 at No. 6 and a week later went to No. 1. Global sales went to about two million, with this single reaching No. 1 also in Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, France and Australia.

Written by Paul, recording began in February 1968. On the first recording session, John and George played two guitars through the same amplifier, while Ringo played drums. Paul then added the bass guitar and his own voice. Then four jazz musicians, Ronnie Scott, Harry Klein, Bill Povey and Bill Jackson all played saxophones. This was a last minute addition instigated strictly by Paul. Also on "Lady Madonna," Paul plays the piano, with backing vocals by all four Beatles, all singing with their hands cupped around their mouths!

Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest

See how they run

Lady Madonna, lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head

Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stockings needed mending
See how they run

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet

The Inner Light

As said, this is George’s first song to appear on a single. All the music was recorded in India at EMI Studios, Bombay, in January, 1968, using Indian musicians until George’s control. George added his own voice to the basic instrumental track in England on February 6. John and Paul added the backing harmony.

Hey Jude

This single consisting of "Hey Jude" and "Revolution," was unique in that it was the first to be released on The Beatles’ Apple Label. The eighteenth single to be released by The Beatles, it entered the Top 30 charts at No. 3 on September 4, 1968. One week later it rose to No. 1 where it stayed here for three before being knocked out by Mary Hopkins's "Those Were The Days," the second single released on Apple Records, which was produced by Paul.

Released on August 26 and August 30, in various parts of the world, it sold 250,000 copies by September 4. By the 27^th of September sales rose to 558,535. The total sales reached about 700,000 by the end of November, and by December 31, was about 800,000. World sales topped two million by September 11, and October 20, reached 4,738,000. By October 1972, it had sold nearly 8 million copies. To date it is the highest selling Beatles song in their history. The single reached No.1 in the US, Britain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

The song was written by Paul with help from John and final touches were put on the song on Friday July 26, 1968 at Paul’s house. The following Monday, The Beatles rehearsed the song at EMI Studios. The next night, Tuesday, The Beatles recorded the song while being filmed at EMI for a fifty minute feature about the national music of Britain. On July 31, 1968, the Beatles moved from EMI to Trident Studios, where they scraped the first version of the song, and recorded a second one. On this version, George played electric guitar, Paul played the piano, Ringo was on the tambourine, and John played on rhythm.

On the first backing track, Paul added his solo voice, after which the other four Beatles joined in for the harmonies. Then Paul brought in a forty piece orchestra on Thursday August 1. Paul initially wanted a full symphony orchestra of about 100 musicians, however George Martin said that it was not possible on such short notice. By the end of the evening, the orchestra members were asked if they would clap and sing the "la-la-la" chorus, which they agreed to do. On Friday, August 2, the first rough discs were made.

Hey Jude was the longest single The Beatles ever released at 7:15 (some versions are 7:11) and contains one of the longest fade-outs ever recorded at four minutes.

Revolution

(Lennon/McCartney)

The flip side to "Hey Jude," was "Revolution." This version heard here is one of three "Revolution," songs released by the Beatles in 1968. This one was the last to be started and the first to be issued. Recording took 16 takes and began on July 10 and was completed two days later. John is the lead singer, with Paul on the organ and the piano. They also used as a guest musician, Nicky Hopkins, a leading British session musician, who contributed to the piano track.

Get Back

The phrase "Get Back," was originally the title of not only a song, but also the recording sessions that eventually became "Let It Be." The song was recorded live, without any overdubs, with organist Billy Preston, at The Beatles’ new Apple Studios at Saville Row in London on January 28, 1969, five days after it was first attempted. This version heard here was issued as the single on April 11, 1969, and is a different recording that closes the original "Let It Be," compact disc, which was taped the previous day on January 27.

The song was written by Paul, who sings lead and plays bass guitar. John played lead with George on rhythm guitar, with Ringo on the drums. Billy Preston, mentioned herein was the first guest artist to be credited as playing on a Beatles single - -the label read, "The Beatles with Billy Preston."

The "B" side to "get Back," this song was written by John who sings the lead, which is a doubled tracked lead vocal, with Paul helping out with the backing vocals. Billy Preston also is featured on the electric piano.

The Ballad Of John And Yoko

This song was written by John, about his marriage to Yoko, their trips to Paris and Amsterdam, and their life in general. John sings lead with Paul helping with backing vocals near the end. George and Ringo did not play on this song. John plays acoustic and two lead guitars, percussion, and lead vocal. Paul played the drums, bass guitar, piano, maracas, and the backing vocals.

John was quite impatient on this one, getting it recorded and released in lightning time. Recorded and mixed in one eight and one-half hour session, at Abbey Road on April 14, 1969. It was issued as a Beatles single, their twentieth, on May 1. This version heard here is take number ten, of eleven takes.

Old Brown Shoe

(George Harrison)

Issued as the "B" side to "The Ballad Of John And Yoko," it was recorded in four takes at Abbey Road on April 16, 1969. It was completed two days later. George sings lead backed up by John and Paul.

Across The Universe

This version heard here is different, but not different from the version on the "Let It be," compact disc. This one is that which is commonly referred to as the "Wildlife" version because it appeared first on the charity album titled "No One’s Gonna Change Our World," for the World Wildlife Fund, released on December 12, 1969. Recorded especially for this purpose it also contained wildlife sound effects. But the song had been recorded much earlier, in eight takes on February 4 and 8, 1968, as the "B" side to "Lady Madonna," for that single. In March 1970, Phil Spector re-worked the original tape, omitted some of the original instrumentation in a new re-mix, omitted the wildlife sound effects, slowed it down then added an orchestra and choir.

The album "No One’s Gonna Change Our World," was released in 1978 with all the royalties going towards funds dealing with rare animals in danger of extinction. Only released in Britain, George Martin helped with the project. The version of "Across The Universe," in its original form used on the charity album was not included on any Beatles album until the 1978 Beatles Collection, when it was included on the free Rarities album included with this boxed set.

This original version, on the charity album, and not which appears on the original "Let It Be," was made as said in February 1968. Interestingly, John and Paul decided at the last moment that they needed two girls to sing a high falsetto passage in the song. So, Paul went outside and started talking to the Beatle fans gathered outside the recording studio gates. Eventually he invited two girls inside the studio for a try-out. These two very privileged girls were Lizzie Bravo of 16 Compayne Gardens, London, and Gayleen Pease of 17 Amhurst Road, also of London. The Beatles found the girls to be ideal for the purpose intended, and they sang the line "nothing going to change my world," over and over and over again.

Let It Be

This version heard here was that which was released as a single (The Beatles last) on March 6, 1970, and seems the same as that which is only the album of the same name. But it is different! The major difference is the lead guitar solo and its slightly longer running time. Actually, the two versions were mixed from the same eight-track master recording which contains both guitar solos playing at the same time. The song has a long recording history. It was first recorded at Apple Studios on January 25, 1969, then the released versions come from a January 31^st session, with over-dubs from April 30 1969 and January 4, 1970. During the January 4^th session, Lennon was absent.

The song was written by Paul, who sang lead, with George and John supplying the background harmony. Paul plays piano, with John on the bass guitar, and George plays a guitar passage. On the album version, George plays his Lesley guitar, which resembles an organ at times. The Beatles, (basically Paul) added the orchestra. Billy Preston also plays on this one-- on the organ.

The "B" side to "Let It Be," this song was recorded much earlier, about the time as the songs on Sgt. Pepper. It was written by John, who sings solo, with Mal Evans supplying the background vocals.

It was recorded without any vocals in five parts, all separate, at Abbey Road on May 17, and June 7 & 8, 1967. It was then complied into one master take on June 9, 1967. It then sat on a shelf until April 30, 1969, when John and Paul added vocals, aided by Evans. Originally the song lasted more than 6 minutes, and despite three different re-mixes, it was again left un-issued. On November 26, 1969, Lennon edited it down to the best four minutes for release by the Plastic Ono Band. That never happened, and about three months later it was finally cropped for use as the "B: side to "Let It Be." A rather bizarre song, it also features the late Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones who plays saxophone. His recording was done on June 8, 1967.

NOTE: All lyrics contained herein are © Copyright Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. The lyrics contained herein are for the sole use of reference for the readers of this article. All other uses are in violation of international copyright laws. This use for educational reference, falls under the "fair use" sections of U.S. copyright law. The same such reference applies to images/photos of album covers used herein. Information contained in this article, except song titles, lyrics, and photos, © Copyright 2000-2022 by John T. Marck, and some information taken directly from the album liner notes. Complied and written by Mark Lewisohn. Original sound recordings used for this album made by EMI Records, Ltd., © 1968 EMI Records, Ltd.