Monday 15 July 1968 | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Geoff Emerick
On 15 July 1968, The Beatles held two recording sessions at Abbey Road’s Studio Two, completing work on ‘Revolution’ and ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’, and beginning rehearsals for ‘Cry Baby Cry’. It was also the day that engineer Geoff Emerick — who had worked with The Beatles since Revolver — walked out of the White Album sessions, unable to bear the tension in the studio any longer.
Session One: 3.30–8pm
Revolution — Mono Mixes 20 and 21
The first session produced two mono mixes of ‘Revolution’, numbered 20 and 21. These were created to replace the four mixes made on 12 July 1968, which John Lennon had considered substandard. Mix 21 was selected as the B-side of the ‘Hey Jude’ single, released on 26 August 1968.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da — Vocal Re-recording and Mono Mixes 12–21
The second song tackled in the first session was ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’. Paul McCartney had decided to re-record his lead vocals. Background contributions from the rest of the group included various jokey noises — forced laughter, and the words “arm”, “leg” and “foot”, after Molly or Desmond let the children lend a hand.
Ten mono mixes were then made, numbered 12–21, completing the song — “doubtless to the relief of the group”, as Mark Lewisohn noted in The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions. ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ had been one of the most fraught recordings of the entire White Album project.
Geoff Emerick Walks Out
It was during the ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ session that engineer Geoff Emerick reached his breaking point. Emerick had been The Beatles’ recording engineer since Revolver (1966) and had been central to the sonic innovations of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. But the atmosphere during the White Album sessions had become increasingly toxic.
“I lost interest in the White Album because they were really arguing amongst themselves and swearing at each other. The expletives were really flying. There was one instance just before I left when they were doing ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ for the umpteenth time. Paul was re-recording the vocal again and George Martin made some remark about how he should be lilting onto the half-beat or whatever and Paul, in no refined way, said something to the effect of ‘Well you come down and sing it’. I said to George [Martin] ‘Look, I’ve had enough. I want to leave. I don’t want to know any more.’ George said ‘Well, leave at the end of the week’ – I think it was a Monday or Tuesday – but I said ‘No, I want to leave now, this very minute’. And that was it.
I went down to the studio to explain it to the group and John said ‘Look, we’re not moaning and getting uptight about you, we’re complaining about EMI. Look at this place, Studio Two, all we’ve seen is bricks for the past year. Why can’t they decorate it?’ Admittedly the studio did need smartening up a little bit but I knew this was just an outlet for a bigger problem. They were falling apart.”
— Geoff Emerick, quoted in The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn
Emerick’s departure was a significant moment in the White Album story. He was replaced for the remainder of the sessions by Ken Scott and others. Emerick would later return to work with The Beatles on Abbey Road (1969).
Session Two: 9pm – 3am (16 July)
Cry Baby Cry — Rehearsals
The second session ran from 9pm on 15 July until 3am on the morning of 16 July. The Beatles began work on ‘Cry Baby Cry’, a John Lennon song that would appear on the White Album. These were unnumbered rehearsal takes rather than proper recording attempts. Four reels of tape were filled, but unfortunately most of the recordings were erased in subsequent sessions.
Key Facts: 15 July 1968
| Date | Monday 15 July 1968 |
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer | Geoff Emerick (who quit during the session) |
| Session 1 | 3.30–8pm: Revolution mono mixes 20–21; Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da vocal re-record and mono mixes 12–21 |
| Session 2 | 9pm–3am (16 July): Cry Baby Cry rehearsal takes (unnumbered; most later erased) |
| Key outcome | Revolution mix 21 selected as B-side of Hey Jude; Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da completed; Geoff Emerick quits |
Abbey Road Studios, St John’s Wood, London — where The Beatles recorded the White Album throughout the summer and autumn of 1968.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Revolution recorded?
Revolution was recorded over several sessions in July 1968. The mono mix used as the B-side of Hey Jude — mix 21 — was created on 15 July 1968 at Abbey Road’s Studio Two, replacing earlier mixes that John Lennon had considered substandard.
Why did Geoff Emerick quit the White Album sessions?
Geoff Emerick quit the White Album sessions on 15 July 1968, unable to bear the tension and arguments between The Beatles. He later recalled that the breaking point came during the Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da sessions, when the atmosphere became unbearable. He said of the group: “They were falling apart.” He was replaced by Ken Scott and others for the remainder of the White Album sessions, before returning to work with The Beatles on Abbey Road.
Was Revolution the B-side of Hey Jude?
Yes. Revolution was the B-side of Hey Jude, released on 26 August 1968. The mono mix used — mix 21 — was created on 15 July 1968 at Abbey Road.
What is Cry Baby Cry by The Beatles?
Cry Baby Cry is a John Lennon song that appeared on The Beatles (the White Album, 1968). Rehearsals began on 15 July 1968 at Abbey Road, though these were unnumbered takes and most of the recordings were later erased.
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