Monday 12 August 1968 | Studio, White Album
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer | Ken Scott |
| Session ended | 4.15am |
George Harrison finished work on ‘Not Guilty’ during this session at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road. Despite spanning four separate recording sessions, the song was left off The White Album and remained unreleased until Anthology 3 in 1996.
The session
Harrison overdubbed his lead vocals on 12 August 1968. He initially recorded in Studio Two, occasionally with harmonies from John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but was unhappy with the results.
He then decided to record the vocals in the studio control room, with the backing track playing live through the monitor speakers — the same unconventional technique he had used for his guitar overdub on 9 August. The approach gave him the feel of performing on stage rather than in a recording booth.
“George had this idea that he wanted to do it in the control room with the speakers blasting, so that he got more of an on-stage feel. So we had to monitor through headphones, setting the monitor speakers at a level where he felt comfortable and it wouldn’t completely blast out his vocal.”
— Ken Scott, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
A mono mix was created before the session ended at 4.15am. However, by the time stereo mixes for The White Album were made in October 1968, ‘Not Guilty’ was evidently no longer a contender for inclusion.
The Beatles — officially licensed merch
The Beatles: Revolver Album Cover Unisex T-Shirt (Black).
‘Not Guilty’: the song
‘Not Guilty’ was written by George Harrison and is widely interpreted as a response to the tensions within The Beatles during the White Album sessions — and possibly to the criticism he had received for introducing the group to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation. The lyrics protest Harrison’s innocence against unspecified accusations, with lines referencing “Bengali” and “Hare Krishna” suggesting a spiritual dimension to the song’s subject matter.
The song went through 101 takes across its four recording sessions — an extraordinary number even by the standards of the notoriously laborious White Album sessions. Despite this investment of time and effort, it was ultimately omitted from the album.
Harrison later recorded a new version of ‘Not Guilty’ for his 1979 solo album George Harrison, which was released as a single in some territories. The original 1968 Beatles recording was finally released on Anthology 3 in October 1996.
Ringo Starr — officially licensed merch
Ringo Starr Unisex T-Shirt: Colour Peace (Black).
Key Facts
| Date | Monday 12 August 1968 (session ended 4.15am) |
| Song | ‘Not Guilty’ (George Harrison) |
| Total takes | 101 across four sessions |
| Vocal technique | Recorded in control room with monitor speakers blasting, for on-stage feel |
| Omitted from | The White Album (November 1968) |
| First released | Anthology 3, October 1996 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was 'Not Guilty' left off The White Album?
The precise reason is not documented, but by the time stereo mixes for The White Album were made in October 1968, 'Not Guilty' was no longer being considered for inclusion. The double album was already very long, and many strong songs were omitted.
How many takes did 'Not Guilty' require?
'Not Guilty' required 101 takes across four recording sessions in August 1968 — an extraordinary number even by the standards of the notoriously laborious White Album sessions.
When was the Beatles' version of 'Not Guilty' released?
The 1968 Beatles recording of 'Not Guilty' was first released on Anthology 3 in October 1996. George Harrison had previously recorded a new version for his 1979 solo album George Harrison.
What is 'Not Guilty' about?
'Not Guilty' is widely interpreted as Harrison's response to tensions within The Beatles and possibly to criticism he received for introducing the group to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The lyrics protest his innocence against unspecified accusations, with references to Bengali and Hare Krishna suggesting a spiritual dimension.
→ John Lennon and Yoko Ono attend an Ossie Clark fashion show – 12 August 1968
→ The Beatles live: International Amphitheatre, Chicago – 12 August 1966
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
Shop Beatles merch: Revolver T-Shirt | Ringo Starr Colour Peace T-Shirt | Beatles collection
0 comments