Beatles history - 1968 September
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Date Event
3
Tuesday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.30am. Tape copying: `While My Guitar Gently Weeps' (of take 15 into take 16). Recording: `While My Guitar Gently Weeps' (overdub onto take 16). Tape copying: `Revolution' (of take 16, rythm track only). Producer: not assigned; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith. Copy of `Revolution' rythm track, to use as a playback for the promotional clip. First use of 8-track machines at Abbey Road.
3
Tuesday
`Hey Jude' has already sold 1 000 000 copies in the USA.
4
Wednesday
Twickenham Film Studios. Filming of clips for `Hey Jude' and `Revolution'. Ringo returns to the Beatles. David Frost records the introduction for the clip of `Hey Jude', to present it later on his programme `Frost On Sunday'.
5
Thursday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.45am. Recording: `While My Guitar Gently Weeps' (overdub onto take 16); `While My Guitar Gently Weeps' [re-re-make] (takes 17-44). Producer: not assigned; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith. Ringo returns to the studio. His drum kit is decorated with flowers.
6
Friday
UK single releases: `Sour Milk Sea', with Jackie Lomax, and `Thingumybob', with the Black Dike Mills Band.
6
Friday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.00am. Recording: `While My Guitar Gently Weeps' (overdub onto take 25). Producer: not assigned; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith. Recording of Eric Clapton's guitar solo for `While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. First session of Chris Thomas as producer, due to Martin's vacations.
7
Saturday
`Hey Jude', 2nd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
8
Sunday
Performance on the David Frost TV show, `Frost On Sunday', singing `Hey Jude' (filmed 4 September 1968).
9
Monday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.30am. Recording: `Helter Skelter' [re-make] (takes 4-21). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith. Released version. A session with out-of-control Beatles. Paul records bass for `Helter Skelter' [?], laying on his back. [If `Helter Skelter', 10 September?] Visit at the studio: Francie Schwartz.
10
Tuesday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.00am. Recording: `Helter Skelter' (overdub onto take 21). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith. Recording of final overdubs for `Helter Skelter'. Paul records bass for `Helter Skelter' [?], laying on his back. [If `Helter Skelter', 9 September?] Visit at the studio: Francie Schwartz.
11
Wednesday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.30am. Recording: `Glass Onion' (takes 1-34). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith.
11
Wednesday
`Hey Jude' number 1 (UK Record Retailer chart).
12
Thursday
Studio 2. 8.30pm-1.30am. Recording: `Glass Onion' (overdub onto take 33). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith.
13
Friday
Studio 2. 8.00pm-1.45am. Recording: `Glass Onion' (overdub onto take 33). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: John Smith.
13
Friday
US Gold certification for `Hey Jude'/`Revolution'.
13
Friday
The Beatles appear on cover of magazine `Life', under the headline: `The Days In The Lives Of The Beatles'.
14
Saturday
`Hey Jude', 3rd week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
14
Saturday
Tony Palmer produces the TV programme `All My Loving' for the BBC, with interviews and performances of the Beatles.
16
Monday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.00am. Recording: `I Will' (takes 1-67). Tape copying: `I Will' (of take 65 into take 68). Recording: `Glass Onion' (overdub onto take 33). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Between takes of `I Will', recording of various ad-libs by Paul, among them `Can you take me back... `Step Inside Love', `Los Paranoias'. For `Glass Onion', recording of notes from a recorder, for parody to `The Fool On The Hill'.
17
Tuesday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-5.00am. Mono mixing: `Helter Skelter' (remix 1, from take 21). Recording: `I Will' (overdub onto take 68). Tape copying: `Cry Baby Cry' (of take 12 into take 13). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Copy of `Cry Baby Cry' for future use in 8-track tapes, never done.
18
Wednesday
Studio 2. 5.00pm-4.30am. Recording: `Birthday' (takes 1-20). Tape copying: `Birthday' (of take 20 into takes 21, 22). Recording: `Birthday' (overdub onto take 22). Mono mixing: `Birthday' (remix 1, from take 22). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. By 8.30pm, the rythm track is ready. 9.05-10.40pm. `The Hollywood Musical' TV series: First broadcast on British TV of `The Girl Can't Help It' (1956), classical rock and roll film. The Beatles take a break during the session to watch it. 4.30-5.00am. Mono mixing: `Birthday'. Visit at the studio: Pattie Harrison.
19
Thursday
Studios 1, 2. 7.15pm-5.30am. Recording: `Piggies' (takes 1-11). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady.
19
Thursday
BBC-TV's `Top Of The Pops' broadcasts a documentary about the recording of `Revolution' (Thursday, 19:30-20:00), the one and only British television transmission of a 'Revolution' promotional clip.
20
Friday
Studio 2. 7.00-11.00pm. Tape copying: `Piggies' (of take 11 into take 12). Recording: `Piggies' (overdub onto take 12). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Copy of `Piggies' from 4- to 8-track tapes. Recording of vocals and pigs sounds for `Piggies'.
21
Saturday
`Hey Jude', 4th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
23
Monday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.00am. Recording: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand' (working title of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun') (takes 1-45). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Recording of rythm track of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun'.
24
Tuesday
Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.00am. Recording: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand' (working title of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun') (takes 46-70). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Recording of rythm track of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun'. It is decided to edit two takes, for the first and second parts of the song.
25
Wednesday
Studio 2. 7.30pm-5.00am. Editing: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand' (working title of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun') (of takes 53, 65, called take 65). Recording: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand' (working title of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun') (overdub onto take 65). Studio 2. 5.00-6.15am. Mono mixing: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand' (working title of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun') (remixes 1, 2, from take 65). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Recording of `Happiness Is A Warm Gun' vocals.
26
Thursday
Studio 2 (control room only). 7.00pm-1.30am. Mono mixing: `Happiness Is A Warm Gun' (remixes 3-12, from take 65); `What's The New Mary Jane' (remixes 1, 2, from take 4); `Glass Onion' (remixes 1, 2, from take 33); `I Will' (remixes 1, 2, from take 68). Recording: `Glass Onion' (one unnumbered take of sound effects). Producer: Chris Thomas; Engineer: Ken Scott; 2nd Engineer: Mike Sheady. Recording of sound effects, never used, for `Glass Onion'.
28
Saturday
`Hey Jude' number 1, 1st week, 5th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
30
Monday
The Beatles' biography `The Long And Winding Road', is published.
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