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Historical event

The Beatles · 1968

The Beatles

Historical music event in the Radio Music History database.

Description

The Beatles worked at London's Abbey Road Studios on overdubs for George Harrison's new song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Eric Clapton recorded the guitar solo and became the first musician from outside the Beatles to appear on one of their recordings. George Harrison also recorded the lead vocal. The Beatles subsequently completed the recording; the song was released as a single on November 22, and although Eric Clapton was not credited, he played the main guitar part.

Related events

  1. The Beatles
    The Beatles officially launched their own multimedia company and record label, Apple Corps.
  2. The Beatles
    The Beatles recorded the song “Yer Blues”.
  3. The Beatles
    They recorded the song “Rocky Raccoon”.
  4. The Beatles
    The Beatles recorded 14 versions of George Harrison's new song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at Abbey Road, developing it from its original acoustic version into an electric arrangement.
  5. The Beatles
    The Beatles released the single “Hey Jude” on the A-side and “Revolution” on the B-side through Apple Records, their first release on their own Apple Records label. The single was released in both the UK and the US; “Hey Jude” became the group's biggest hit, spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 1 on 23 charts worldwide and selling more than eight million copies. The song received three Grammy nominations but did not win any of them.
  6. The Beatles
    At Trident Studios in London, The Beatles began recording a new John Lennon song, “Dear Prudence”. They built the song instrument by instrument using the studio’s eight-track equipment. John Lennon and George Harrison played guitars, while Paul McCartney played drums because Ringo Starr had left The Beatles on August 22.
  7. The Beatles
    The Beatles released their first single in the UK on their own Apple Records label. The single contained “Hey Jude” and “Revolution”.
  8. The Beatles
    The Beatles filmed promotional videos for “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” at Twickenham Film Studios. The vocals were recorded live over prerecorded instrumental tracks to circumvent the British Musicians' Union ban on miming performances. For “Hey Jude,” they were accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra and 300 fans and extras who joined in the singing during the extended finale.
  9. The Beatles
    The Beatles began recording “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar.
  10. The Beatles
    The Beatles performed before a live audience for the first time in two years when they filmed promotional films for “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” before approximately 100 spectators at Twickenham Studios. The filming went so well that they decided to create a documentary, which became Let It Be.
  11. The Beatles
    “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles was the best-selling single in the U.S. according to Cashbox magazine. A week later, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart and later topped the charts in nine other countries.
  12. The Beatles
    The Beatles scored their fourteenth US No. 1 single with “All You Need Is Love”, which remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. The song became a worldwide hit that year and topped the charts in eleven countries. It was the British contribution to Our World, the first live global television broadcast, in which The Beatles performed it from the EMI studios in London on 25 June. The programme was transmitted by satellite and watched by more than 400 million people in 25 countries. Backing vocals on the recording were provided by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull and Gary Leeds of the Walker Brothers.