Recording and mixing "Don't Pass Me By", Recording and mixing "Revolution", Mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"

About

Early June, during the first days of the recording sessions for the new album, The Beatles had recorded the first song written by Ringo Starr, “Don’t Pass Me By“. On this day, they returned to it. A violin overdub, played in a country music style, was added to “Don’t Pass Me By” by jazz bassist Jack Fallon.

Jack Fallon was known from the Beatles, as, besides being a jazz player, he was also a booker/promoter, who had booked The Beatles into their first professional gig on March 31, 1962, at the Subscription Rooms.

George Martin had jotted down a 12-bar blues for me. A lot of country fiddle playing is double-stop but Paul and George Martin – they were doing the arranging – suggested I play it single note. So it wasn’t really the country sound they originally wanted. But they seemed pleased. Ringo was around too, keeping an eye on his song.

Jack Fallon – From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, quoted in beatlesebooks.com

We played it with a country attitude. It was great to get my first song down, one that I had written. It was a very exciting time for me and everyone was really helpful, and recording that crazy violist was a thrilling moment.

Ringo Starr – From The Beatles Anthology Book, 1995

On the mono version of “Don’t Pass Me By“, there is some extraneous fiddle that then fades away with the song. As Jack Fallon remembers:

I thought that they had had enough so I just busked around a bit. When I heard it played back at the end of the session I was hoping they’d scrub that bit out, but they didn’t, so there I am on record, scaping away! I was very surprised they kept it in; it was pretty dreadful.

Jack Fallon – From “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn, quoted in beatlesebooks.com

This violin overdub was recorded between 3 pm and 6:40 pm. Paul McCartney then added another bass part and Ringo a piano part. Four mono mixes were made, but wouldn’t be used.

The last overdub would be added during the July 22 session.

Two new mono mixes of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” were then made. But Paul was still not happy with the result and would re-record his lead vocal on July 15. It was 11 pm and The Beatles took a break.

From 12 pm to 4 am, they worked on “Revolution” and added the final overdubs. Paul recorded another bass part, and John Lennon added a lead guitar part. Four mono mixes were made, but further mixes would be created on July 15.

Last updated on September 7, 2021

Songs recorded

Staff

Musicians on "Don't Pass Me By"

Paul McCartney:

Bass

Ringo Starr:

Piano

Jack Fallon:

Violin

Musicians on "Revolution"

Paul McCartney:

Bass guitar

John Lennon:

Electric guitar

Production staff

George Martin:

Producer

Geoff Emerick:

Engineer

Richard Lush:

Second Engineer