1967-1970 (US version, 1973)

Track list

Disc 1

1. Strawberry Fields Forever

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   4:07 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Bongos, Electric guitar, Mellotron, Timpani Ringo Starr : Drums, Percussion John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Bongos, Mellotron, Piano, Vocals George Harrison : Electric guitar, Maracas, Svarmandal, Timpani George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Mal Evans : Tambourine Derek Simpson : Cello Norman Jones : Cello Neil Aspinall : Guiro Terry Doran : Maracas Tony Fisher : Trumpet Greg Bowen : Trumpet Derek Watkins : Trumpet Stanley Roderick : Trumpet Joy Hall : Cello

   SessionRecording Take 7 : Nov 29, 1966 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionRecording Take 26 : Dec 08, 1966 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Dec 09, 15 and 21, 1966 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Dec 29, 1966 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

2. Penny Lane

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:00 • Studio version • B2 • Stereo • Mock stereo made from [B] about 1972, by Capitol

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Handclaps, Harmonium, Pianos, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums, Tambourine, Tubular bells John Lennon : Backing vocals, Congas, Guitar, Handclaps, Piano George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Handclaps George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer David Mason : Piccolo trumpet Ray Swinfield : Flute P Goody : Flute Manny Winters : Flute Dennis Walton : Flute Leon Calvert : Trumpet Freddy Clayton : Trumpet Bert Courtley : Trumpets Duncan Campbell : Trumpets Dick Morgan : Cor anglais, Oboes Mike Winfield : Cor anglais, Oboes Frank Clarke : Double bass Unknown : Flugelhorn, Two piccolos

   SessionRecording : Dec 29, 1966 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Dec 30, 1966 and Jan 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 17, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:03 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Lead vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Backing vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Neill Sanders : French horn James W. Buck : French horn Tony Randall : French horn John Burden : French horn

   SessionRecording : Feb 01, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Feb 02, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Mar 03 & 06, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Mar 06, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

4. With A Little Help From My Friends

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:44 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Timpani Ringo Starr : Drums, Lead vocals, Tambourine John Lennon : Backing vocals, Cowbell George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Hammond organ, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Mar 29, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Mar 30, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Apr 07, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:29 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Lowrey organ Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Lead vocals George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Lead guitar, Tamboura George Martin : Piano, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Mar 01, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Mar 02, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Apr 07, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

6. A Day In The Life

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   5:37 • Studio version • B2 • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Final piano chord, Lead vocals, Piano Ringo Starr : Congas, Drums, Final piano chord John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Final piano chord, Lead vocals, Tambourine George Harrison : Maracas George Martin : Harmonium, Orchestral arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jack Brymer : Clarinet Mal Evans : Alarm clock, Final piano chord Sidney Sax : Violin Francesc Gabarró Solé : Cello Jürgen Hess : Violin John Underwood : Viola Alan Civil : French horn David Mason : Trumpet Neill Sanders : French horn Erich Gruenberg : Violin Granville Delmé Jones : Violin Bill Monro : Violin Hans Geiger : Violin D Bradley : Violin Lionel Bentley : Violin David McCallum Sr. : Violin Donald Weekes : Violin Henry Datyner : Violin Ernest Scott : Violin Gwynne Edwards : Viola Bernard Davis : Viola John Meek : Viola Dennis Vigay : Cello Alan Dalziel : Cello Alex Nifosi : Cello Cyril MacArthur : Double bass Gordon Pearce : Double bass John Marston : Harp Basil Tschaikov : Clarinet Roger Lord : Oboe N Fawcett : Bassoon Alfred Waters : Bassoon Clifford Seville : Flute David Sanderman : Flute Monty Montgomery : Trumpet Harold Jackson : Trumpet Raymond Brown : Trombone Raymond Premru : Trombone T Moore : Trombone Michael Barnes : Tubas Tristan Fry : Percussion, Timpani Marijke Koger : Tambourine

   SessionRecording : Jan 19, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jan 20, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Feb 03, 10 and 22, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Feb 23, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

7. All You Need Is Love

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   4:02 • Studio version • B • Mono

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Double bass Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Banjo, Harpsichord, Vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Guitar, Violin George Martin : Piano, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Eric Clapton : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mike McCartney / McGear : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mal Evans : Backing vocals, Handclaps Sidney Sax : Violin Pattie Boyd / Harrison : Backing vocals, Handclaps Marianne Faithfull : Backing vocals, Handclaps David Mason : Trumpet Lionel Ross : Cello Eddie Kramer : Recording engineer Mick Jagger : Backing vocals, Handclaps Patrick Halling : Violin Eric Bowie : Violin John Ronayne : Violin Jack Holmes : Cello Rex Morris : Tenor saxophone Don Honeywill : Tenor saxophone Stanley Woods : Trumpet Evan Watkins : Trombone Harry Spain : Trombone Jack Emblow : Accordion Keith Richards : Backing vocals, Handclaps Jane Asher : Backing vocals, Handclaps Keith Moon : Backing vocals, Handclaps Hunter Davies : Backing vocals, Handclaps Gary Leeds : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mike Vickers : Conductor Rose Nash : Backing vocals, Handclaps

   SessionRecording : Jun 14, 1967 • Studio : Olympic Sound Studios, London

   SessionOverdubs : Jun 19, 23, 24, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jun 25, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Oct 29, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Disc 2

1. I Am The Walrus

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   4:33 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Tambourine Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Electric piano, Mellotron, Vocals George Harrison : Lead guitar George Martin : Conductor, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jack Rothstein : Violin Ken Scott : Recording engineer Sidney Sax : Violin Peggie Allen : Backing vocals Wendy Horan : Backing vocals Pat Whitmore : Backing vocals Jill Utting : Backing vocals June Day : Backing vocals Sylvia King : Backing vocals Irene King : Backing vocals G Mallen : Backing vocals Fred Lucas : Backing vocals Mike Redway : Backing vocals John O'Neill : Backing vocals F Dachtler : Backing vocals Allan Grant : Backing vocals D Griffiths : Backing vocals J Smith : Backing vocals J Fraser : Backing vocals Ralph Elman : Violin Andrew McGee : Violin Jack Greene : Violin Louis Stevens : Violin John Jezzard : Violin Jack Richards : Violin Lionel Ross : Cello Eldon Fox : Cello Bram Martin : Cello Terry Weil : Cello Gordon Lewin : Clarinet Neill Sanders : Horn Tony Tunstall : Horn Morris Miller : Horn Ray Thomas : Backing vocals (?) Mike Pinder : Backing vocals (?) The Mike Sammes Singers : Backing vocals

   SessionRecording : Sep 05, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Sep 06, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOrchestra overdubs : Sep 27, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One and Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Sep 28-29 & Nov 06 & 17, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

2. Hello Goodbye

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:27 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Lead vocals, Piano Ringo Starr : Congas, Drums John Lennon : Backing vocals, Lead guitar, Organ George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar, Tambourine George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Ken Scott : Recording engineer Kenneth Essex : Viola Leo Birnbaum : Viola Unknown : Bongos, Maracas

   SessionRecording : Oct 02, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Oct 19, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Oct 20 & 25 & Nov 2, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Nov 06, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

3. The Fool On The Hill

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:59 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Piano, Recorder, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums, Finger cymbals John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Harmonica, Piano George Harrison : Harmonica, Maracas George Martin : Producer Ken Scott : Recording engineer Christopher Taylor : Flutes Richard Taylor : Flutes Jack Ellory : Flutes Ray Thomas : Harmonica (?) Mike Pinder : Harmonica (?)

   SessionRecording : Sep 26, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Sep 27, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Oct 20, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Nov 01, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

4. Magical Mystery Tour

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:50 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Lead vocals, Piano Ringo Starr : Drums, Percussion (?) John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Percussion (?) George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Percussion (?) George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Mal Evans : Percussion Neil Aspinall : Percussion David Mason : Trumpets Elgar Howarth : Trumpets Roy Copestake : Trumpets John Wilbraham : Trumpets

   SessionRecording : Apr 25, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Apr 25 & 26 & 27, May 3, Nov 7, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Nov 06, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Nov 07, 1967 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

5. Lady Madonna

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:19 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Handclaps, Mellotron, Piano, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums, Handclaps, Tambourine John Lennon : Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar George Harrison : Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Ken Scott : Recording engineer Bill Povey : Tenor saxophone Harry Klein : Baritone saxophone Ronnie Scott : Tenor saxophone Bill Jackman : Baritone saxophone

   SessionRecording : Feb 03, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Feb 06, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Dec 02, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

6. Hey Jude

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   7:12 • Studio version • B

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Piano, Vocals Ringo Starr : Backing vocals, Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar George Martin : Producer Ken Scott : Recording engineer Barry Sheffield : Recording engineer Bill Jackman : Flute Unknown : Bassoon, Contrabass clarinet, Contrabassoon, Four trombones, Four trumpets, One flute, One percussionist, Ten violins, Three violas, Two cellos, Two clarinets, Two double basses, Two french horns John Perry : Backing vocals Bobby Kok : Cello

   SessionRecording & overdubs : Jul 31, 1968 • Studio : Trident Studios, London, UK

   SessionOverdubs : Aug 01, 1968 • Studio : Trident Studios, London, UK

   SessionMixing : Dec 05, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road

7. Revolution

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:27 • Studio version • B

   Paul McCartney : Bass guitar, Hammond organ, Handclaps Ringo Starr : Drums, Handclaps John Lennon : Electric guitar, Handclaps, Vocals George Harrison : Electric guitar, Handclaps Nicky Hopkins : Electric piano

   SessionRecording : Jul 10, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jul 11, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jul 12, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Dec 05, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road

Disc 3

1. Back In The U.s.s.r.

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:44 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Percussion, Piano, Vocals John Lennon : Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Percussion George Harrison : Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Percussion, Six-string bass guitar George Martin : Producer Ken Scott : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Aug 22, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Aug 23, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Oct 13, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

   Written by George Harrison

   4:45 • Studio version • B

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass guitar, Organ, Piano Ringo Starr : Drums, Maracas, Tambourine John Lennon : Bass guitar George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Hammond organ, Vocals George Martin : Producer Eric Clapton : Lead guitar Ken Scott : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Sep 05, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Sep 06, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Oct 14, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

3. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:09 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass part on distorted acoustic guitar, Handclaps, Percussion, Vocals Ringo Starr : Conga drum, Drums, Handclaps, Maracas, Percussion John Lennon : Backing vocals, Handclaps, Piano George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Handclaps George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Rex Morris : Saxophone James Gray : Saxophone Cyril Reuben : Saxophone

   SessionRecording : Jul 08, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jul 09, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jul 15, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Oct 12, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

4. Get Back

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:14 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Lead vocal Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Backing vocal, Lead guitar George Harrison : Rhythm guitar George Martin : Producer Glyn Johns : Engineer Billy Preston : Electric piano Jerry Boys : Second engineer

   SessionRecording : Jan 27, 1969 • Studio : Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London

   SessionRecording : Jan 28, 1969 • Studio : Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London

   SessionMixing : Apr 03, 1969 • Studio : Olympic Sound Studios, London

5. Don't Let Me Down

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   DDSI.28.45 • 3:30 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmony vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Glyn Johns : Recording engineer Billy Preston : Electric piano

   SessionRecording : Jan 28, 1969 • Studio : Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London

   SessionOverdubs : February 14-22, 1969 ? • Studio : Apple offices, 3 Savile Row • London • UK

   SessionMixing : Apr 03, 1969 • Studio : Olympic Sound Studios • London • UK

6. The Ballad Of John And Yoko

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:01 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Drums, Harmony vocals, Maracas, Piano John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Guitar-thumps percussion, Lead guitar, Vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording & overdubs : Apr 14, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Apr 14, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

7. Old Brown Shoe

   Written by George Harrison

   3:18 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Drums (?), Piano (?) Ringo Starr : Drums (?) John Lennon : Backing vocals, Piano (?) George Harrison : Guitars, Lead vocal, Organ George Martin : Producer Chris Thomas : Producer Jeff Jarratt : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording & Overdubs : Apr 16, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs & Mixing : Apr 18, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Disc 4

1. Here Comes The Sun

   Written by George Harrison

   3:06 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Handclaps Ringo Starr : Drums, Handclaps George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Handclaps, Harmonium, Moog synthesiser, Vocals George Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Jul 07, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : 7, 8, 16 Jul, 6, 11, 15, 19 Aug 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Aug 19, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

2. Come Together

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   4:20 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Electric piano, Harmony vocals Ringo Starr : Drums, Maracas John Lennon : Handclaps, Harmony vocals, Rhythm guitar, Tambourine, Vocals George Harrison : Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Jul 21, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 Jul 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Aug 07, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

3. Something

   Written by George Harrison

   3:03 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Piano George Harrison : Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Martin : Producer, String arrangement Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Chris Thomas : Producer Jeff Jarratt : Recording engineer Glyn Johns : Recording engineer Billy Preston : Hammond organ Unknown : Four cellos, Four violas, One double-bass, Twelve violins

   SessionRecording : May 02, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : May 05, 1969 • Studio : Olympic Sound Studios, London

   SessionOverdubs : 11,16 Jul, 15 Aug 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Aug 19, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

4. Octopus's Garden

   Written by Ringo Starr

   2:51 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Piano Ringo Starr : Drums, Effects, Percussion, Vocals John Lennon : Guitar George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar, Synthesiser George Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Chris Thomas : Producer Jeff Jarratt : Recording engineer

   SessionRecording : Apr 26, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs & mixing : Apr 29, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs & mixing : Jul 18, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

5. Let It Be

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   DDSI.31.64 • 3:52 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass guitar, Electric piano, Maracas, Piano, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Ringo Starr : Drums George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Phil McDonald : Recording engineer Jeff Jarratt : Recording engineer Glyn Johns : Recording engineer Billy Preston : Electric piano, Organ Unknown : Cellos, One baritone saxophone, Trombone, Two tenor saxophones, Two trumpets

   SessionRecording : Jan 31, 1969 • Studio : Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London

   SessionOverdubs : Apr 30, 1969 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Jan 04, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road • London • UK

   SessionMixing : Jan 08, 1970 • Studio : Olympic Sound Studios • London • UK

6. Across The Universe

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   3:48 • Studio version • B • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Piano Ringo Starr : Drums, Percussion, Svaramandal John Lennon : Acoustic rhythm guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Organ, Vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Maracas, Tamboura George Martin : Hammond organ, Producer Phil Spector : Producer Phil McDonald : Assistant recording engineer Ken Scott : Recording engineer Peter Bown : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Martin Benge : Recording engineer Lizzie Bravo : Backing vocals Gayleen Pease : Backing vocals Richard Lush : Assistant recording engineer Mike Sheady : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Unknown : Eighteen violins, Four cellos, Four violas, Fourteen vocalists, Harp, Three trombones, Three trumpets Bill Parkinson : Guitar Martin Kershaw : Guitar

   SessionRecording : Feb 04, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

   SessionOverdubs : Feb 08, 1968 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   SessionOrchestral overdubs : Apr 01, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Apr 02, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road

7. The Long And Winding Road

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   DDSI.26.91 • 3:38 • Studio version • A • Stereo

   Paul McCartney : Piano, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Bass George Harrison : Guitar Richard Hewson : Orchestra arrangement Phil Spector : Producer Peter Bown : Recording engineer Glyn Johns : Recording engineer Unknown : Eighteen violins, Four cellos, Four violas, Fourteen vocalists, Harp, Three trombones, Three trumpets

   SessionRecording : Jan 26, 1969 • Studio : Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London

   SessionOrchestra overdubs : Apr 01, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

   SessionMixing : Apr 02, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Room 4, Abbey Road

From thebeatles.com:

The Red and Blue albums were compiled and released in the spring of 1973, a year when the legend of The Beatles was even bigger than it had been when the group was together.  Three years after the break-up, all four former Beatles were enjoying enormous solo success.

Less greatest hits collections than surveys of The Beatles’ high points, the two double albums became essential introductions for fans who came aboard after The Beatles broke up.  For millions of music lovers born after the mid-fifties, these have been and always will be where The Bealtes experience begins.

Also, by 1973 it was becoming clear that the breakup of The Beatles was not going to be, as many had believed, a temporary thing.  There was still widespread hope that they would reunite at some point, but their continued success as solo artists made it apparent that the four former Beatles were serious about going their separate ways.  The Beatles had never had a career spanning Best-Of or Greatest Hits – in a very real senses all of their LPs were Greatest Hits albums.  They had more hit singles that could fit on even a double album, and to complicate things, some of the group’s most important songs – “A Day In The Life”, The Fool On The Hill”, and in England even Yesterday – were not released as singles.

The Red and Blue albums had to tell The Beatles’ story in limited time, necessarily leaving out many big songs while conveying a sense of the whole history of the group.

 The Red and Blue albums do a  superb job of condensing a rich and complicated musical journey into four discs that move easily through a range of styles.  Through all the changes we always feel at home – because we are in the company of John, Paul, George and Ringo.  They never let us down.

Bill Flanagan

Author – Evening’s Empire

June 2010

From Wikipedia:

1967–1970 (widely known as “The Blue Album”) is a compilation of songs by the English rock band The Beatles, spanning the years indicated in the title. It was released with 1962–1966 (“The Red Album”), in 1973. 1967–1970 made number 1 on the American Billboard chart and number 2 on the British Album Chart. This album was re-released in September 1993 on CD, charting at number 4 in the United Kingdom.

The album was compiled by Beatles manager Allen Klein. Songs performed by the Beatles as solo artists were also considered for inclusion, but like the cover songs on 1962–1966, limited space resulted in this idea having to be abandoned.[citation needed] Along with its 1962–1966 counterpart, it compiles every single A-side released by the band in the UK.

As with 1962–1966, this compilation was produced by Apple/EMI at least partially in response to a bootleg collection titled Alpha Omega, which had been sold on television the previous year. Print advertising for the two records made a point of declaring them “the only authorized collection of the Beatles.”

Album covers

For the group’s 1963 debut LP Please Please Me, photographer Angus McBean took the distinctive colour photograph of the group looking down over the stairwell inside EMI House (EMI’s London headquarters in Manchester Square, now demolished).

In 1969, the Beatles asked McBean to recreate this shot. Although a photograph from the 1969 photo shoot was originally intended for the then-planned Get Back album, it was not used when that project saw eventual release in 1970 as Let It Be. Instead, another photograph from the 1969 shoot, along with an unused photograph from the 1963 photo shoot, was used for both this LP and 1962–1966.

The inner gatefold photo for both LPs is by Don McCullin from the “Mad Day Out” photo session in London on Sunday 28 July 1968.

The album cover was designed by Tom Wilkes.

International versions

Unlike the 1962–1966 collection, the Blue Album was largely the same in the US and UK, although there were some variations.

The US edition had both “Penny Lane” and “Hello, Goodbye” in fake stereo, and “I Am the Walrus” with a four-beat electric piano introduction; the UK version had the more common six-beat beginning.

In the Spanish edition “One After 909” substituted “The Ballad of John and Yoko”, a song that was banned from the airwaves shortly after being released as a single in 1969, for its allusion to “Christ” and “Gibraltar” in the lyrics.

The albums had several other variants and anomalies. “Get Back” was described as the album version in the US liner notes, although it was in fact the single version. In both countries, “Hey Jude” was around nine seconds shorter than it had been on the original single, although the full length was restored for the 1993 compact disc edition.

The original vinyl version faded in during the crowd noise at the beginning of “A Day in the Life”. The original compact disc edition, meanwhile, featured a clean version previously heard on the Imagine: John Lennon soundtrack album in 1988.

The album liner notes state that all songs were produced by George Martin, except “Across the Universe” and “The Long and Winding Road” produced by Phil Spector, meaning that George Martin was credited as producer of the song “Don’t Let Me Down” which usually has no official producer’s credit. […]

Certifications

In the US, the album sold 1,294,896 double LPs by December 31, 1973 and 3,850,026 double LPs by the end of the decade. […]