Recording: Revolution 1 ā 30 May 1968
Thursday 30 May 1968 | Studio, White Album
Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, England
Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Geoff Emerick
On Thursday 30 May 1968, The Beatles began recording their double album ā simply titled The Beatles but more commonly known as the White Album. The session lasted a little over 12 hours, beginning at 2.30pm and ending at 2.40am the following morning, and saw the group work on 'Revolution 1'.
The First White Album Session
This was the very first recording session for the White Album ā one of the most ambitious and sprawling projects in Beatles history. The group would go on to record the double album across dozens of sessions through the summer and autumn of 1968.
At this stage, the song being recorded was simply called 'Revolution'. It would only become known as 'Revolution 1' later, after it was vetoed for single release and a new, faster version was recorded under the name 'Revolution' instead.
The Takes
The Beatles recorded 16 takes of 'Revolution 1' on 30 May 1968. These were numbered 1ā18, although there were no takes 11 and 12. The recording featured piano, drums, and acoustic guitar all on a single track of the tape, with John Lennon's vocals on another.
Take 18: The Extended Jam
Take 18 was markedly different from all the others, running to an extraordinary 10 minutes and 17 seconds. It included an extended jam in the coda that lasted well beyond Lennon's instruction to the studio control room at 7:31: "OK, I've had enough."
The final six minutes featured feedback, screaming, and moaning, including vocal contributions from Lennon's new girlfriend Yoko Ono. This remarkable full take was eventually released in 2018 on the super deluxe 50th anniversary reissue of the White Album.
What Happened Next
Overdub work on 'Revolution 1' continued during the next two sessions, on 31 May and 4 June 1968. Lennon subsequently made the decision to create the experimental sound collage 'Revolution 9' from the final minutes of the extended take ā one of the most avant-garde recordings ever released by The Beatles.
Key Facts: 30 May 1968
- Studio: Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Geoff Emerick
- Session time: 2.30pm ā 2.40am (approx. 12 hours)
- Occasion: First White Album recording session
- Song: 'Revolution 1' (then known as 'Revolution')
- Takes recorded: 16 (numbered 1ā18; no takes 11 or 12)
- Take 18 duration: 10'17"
- Take 18 released: White Album 50th anniversary super deluxe edition (2018)
- Follow-up sessions: 31 May and 4 June 1968
Frequently Asked Questions
When did The Beatles start recording the White Album?
The first White Album recording session took place on 30 May 1968 at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road. The session ran from 2.30pm to 2.40am and focused on 'Revolution 1'.
How many takes of Revolution 1 were recorded on 30 May 1968?
16 takes, numbered 1ā18 (with no takes 11 or 12).
What is take 18 of Revolution 1?
Take 18 ran to 10 minutes and 17 seconds, featuring an extended jam coda with feedback, screaming, and moaning, including contributions from Yoko Ono. It was released in 2018 on the White Album 50th anniversary super deluxe edition.
How did Revolution 9 come about?
John Lennon decided to create 'Revolution 9' from the final minutes of the extended take 18 of 'Revolution 1', transforming the experimental coda into a standalone avant-garde sound collage.
Why is Revolution 1 called Revolution 1?
The song was originally simply called 'Revolution'. It became 'Revolution 1' after it was vetoed for single release and a new, faster version was recorded under the name 'Revolution' ā which became the B-side to 'Hey Jude' in August 1968.
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