Recording: Revolution 9 β 10 June 1968
Monday 10 June 1968 | Studio Session | Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Geoff Emerick | Time: 2.30β5.45pm
On 10 June 1968, John Lennon spent a three-hour session at Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, assembling sound effects for 'Revolution 9'. Working primarily with Yoko Ono, Lennon gathered and organised the tape loops and sound fragments that would form the raw material of the piece. The session ran from 2.30pm to 5.45pm. Lennon continued working on effects and tape loops over the following days, with the material mostly assembled into a master reel on 20 June 1968, when George Harrison also joined the session.
'Revolution 9': The Piece
'Revolution 9' is an eight-minute sound collage that occupies the penultimate position on The Beatles β the double album released in November 1968 and universally known as the White Album. It is the longest track on any Beatles album and one of the most radical departures from conventional pop music that the group ever made. It consists of tape loops, sound effects, orchestral fragments, backwards recordings, crowd noise, spoken word, and a recurring voice intoning 'Number nine, number nine, number nine' β a phrase taken from a tape of an EMI examination announcement that Lennon found in the Abbey Road tape library.
The piece was conceived and executed primarily by John Lennon, with significant involvement from Yoko Ono, whose background in avant-garde art and music β she had been associated with the Fluxus movement in New York in the early 1960s β was directly relevant to the kind of work 'Revolution 9' represented.
The Sessions: 10 June and Beyond
The 10 June session was the first dedicated to assembling the sound effects and tape loops that would form the basis of 'Revolution 9'. Lennon and Ono spent time going through the Abbey Road tape library, selecting fragments of orchestral recordings, sound effects, and other material. The 'Number nine' loop β the most recognisable element of the finished piece β came from this source.
The material was mostly assembled into a master reel on 20 June 1968. George Harrison joined the session on that date. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were not involved β a fact McCartney later acknowledged, noting he had reservations about including the piece on the album at all.
Yoko Ono's Role
Yoko Ono's presence at the sessions was both practical and conceptual. Her background in the Fluxus movement β which emphasised process, chance, and the dissolution of boundaries between art forms β gave her a framework for the kind of work 'Revolution 9' represented. 'Revolution 9' pointed directly towards the experimental recordings β Two Virgins, Life with the Lions, Wedding Album β that Lennon and Ono would release under their own names in 1968 and 1969.
The 'Revolution' Sessions: Context
'Revolution 9' grew out of the same sessions that produced 'Revolution 1'. The original recording of 'Revolution', made on 30 and 31 May 1968, had run to over ten minutes, with a long experimental coda of tape loops that Lennon had added to the end. This coda was eventually separated from 'Revolution 1' and became the starting point for 'Revolution 9'.
George Martin and Geoff Emerick
George Martin was the nominal producer, though his role in the creation of the piece was limited. Geoff Emerick, the balance engineer, had been with The Beatles since 'Paperback Writer' in 1966. The White Album sessions were a difficult period for Emerick: the tension within the group led him to resign as engineer in late July 1968, replaced by Ken Scott.
Key Facts: 10 June 1968
- Date: Monday 10 June 1968
- Studio: Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
- Session time: 2.30β5.45pm
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Geoff Emerick
- Activity: Assembling sound effects and tape loops for 'Revolution 9'
- Present: John Lennon, Yoko Ono
- Master reel assembled: 20 June 1968 (George Harrison also present)
- Album: The Beatles (White Album), released 22 November 1968
- Track length: 8 minutes 22 seconds (longest track on any Beatles album)
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Revolution 9 recorded?
Assembly of sound effects began on 10 June 1968 at Studio Three, Abbey Road. Lennon continued over the following days, with the master reel assembled on 20 June 1968, when George Harrison also joined.
Who made Revolution 9?
Primarily John Lennon with significant involvement from Yoko Ono. George Harrison joined the final assembly on 20 June. McCartney and Starr were not involved.
What is Revolution 9?
An eight-minute sound collage on the White Album, consisting of tape loops, sound effects, orchestral fragments, backwards recordings, crowd noise, and a recurring voice saying 'Number nine'. The longest track on any Beatles album.
What is the 'Number nine' voice in Revolution 9?
A tape of an EMI examination announcement that Lennon found in the Abbey Road tape library. It became the most recognisable element of the finished piece.
What was Yoko Ono's role in Revolution 9?
Ono was present throughout and played a significant conceptual and practical role. Her background in the Fluxus avant-garde movement was directly relevant to the collage approach of the piece.
Why did Geoff Emerick leave the White Album sessions?
Emerick resigned in late July 1968 due to the tension within the group and the difficult atmosphere in the studio. He was replaced by Ken Scott.
β 10 June in Beatles History
β John Lennon | Paul McCartney | George Harrison | Ringo Starr
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