Friday 9 August 1968 | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Ken Scott | Session: 7.30pm–2am
On 9 August 1968, The Beatles worked on two songs during a session at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road: George Harrison’s unreleased composition ‘Not Guilty’ and Paul McCartney’s ‘Mother Nature’s Son’. The session was produced by George Martin and engineered by Ken Scott.
‘Not Guilty’
The first task of the evening was a new reduction mix — take 102 — of ‘Not Guilty’, a Harrison composition that had already been the subject of an extraordinary number of recording attempts. The reduction combined bass guitar and drums onto one track, and electric guitar and harpsichord onto another. The third track was then filled with more electric guitar, bass and drums.
Harrison requested that the studio engineers crank his amplifier to a high level, but rather than stand next to it in the studio, he devised an ingenious solution to protect his hearing:
“George asked us to put his guitar amplifier at one end of one of the echo chambers, with a microphone at the other end to pick up the output. He sat playing the guitar in the studio control room with a line plugged through to the chamber.”
— Brian Gibson, studio engineer, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn
Despite the extensive work put into ‘Not Guilty’ — over 100 takes — the song was ultimately left off The Beatles (The White Album). It was eventually released on Anthology 3 in 1996. George Harrison later re-recorded it for his 1979 solo album George Harrison.
The Beatles: The White Album — officially licensed merch
Beatles White Album Tracks T-Shirt in white.
‘Mother Nature’s Son’
The session was originally due to end at 10pm — unusually early for The Beatles during the White Album sessions. When the rest of the group had gone home, Paul McCartney stayed behind and recorded 25 takes of ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ alone. The song featured none of the other Beatles, though additional percussion and brass were overdubbed on 20 August 1968.
Take 24 was selected as the best and became the version released on The Beatles (The White Album). The second take was later issued on Anthology 3 (1996), alongside the version of ‘Not Guilty’ from these sessions.
‘Mother Nature’s Son’ was inspired by a lecture given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during The Beatles’ stay in Rishikesh, India, earlier in 1968. McCartney has described it as one of his favourite compositions.
The Beatles: The White Album — officially licensed merch
Beatles White Album Faces T-Shirt in black.
Key Facts
| Date | Friday 9 August 1968 |
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Session times | 7.30pm – 2am |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer | Ken Scott |
| ‘Not Guilty’ work | Reduction mix take 102; additional guitar, bass and drums overdubs |
| ‘Not Guilty’ release | Omitted from White Album; released on Anthology 3 (1996) |
| ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ takes | 25 takes recorded; take 24 selected for White Album |
| ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ overdubs | Percussion and brass added 20 August 1968 |
| Anthology 3 releases | Take 2 of ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ and ‘Not Guilty’ both issued 1996 |
EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios), Abbey Road, London — where ‘Not Guilty’ and ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ were recorded on 9 August 1968.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was ‘Not Guilty’ left off The White Album?
‘Not Guilty’ was omitted from The Beatles (The White Album) despite over 100 takes being recorded. It was eventually released on Anthology 3 in 1996. George Harrison later re-recorded it for his 1979 solo album.
Did any other Beatles play on ‘Mother Nature’s Son’?
No. Paul McCartney recorded ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ alone after the other Beatles had gone home. Additional percussion and brass were overdubbed on 20 August 1968, but none of the other Beatles played on the track.
What inspired ‘Mother Nature’s Son’?
‘Mother Nature’s Son’ was inspired by a lecture given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during The Beatles’ stay in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968. McCartney has described it as one of his favourite compositions.
How did George Harrison protect his hearing during the ‘Not Guilty’ session?
Harrison had his amplifier placed at one end of an echo chamber with a microphone at the other end, then played his guitar part from the control room, connected by a line to the chamber — allowing him to play at high volume without damaging his hearing.
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