February 1968

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr fly to India

Paul McCartney, his partner Jane Asher, plus Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen, flew from London Airport on this day. They were bound for Delhi, India, where John Lennon and George Harrison had arrived three days earlier.

Mixing: Lady Madonna

Studio Three (control room), EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineer: Geoff Emerick The final studio session before The Beatles flew to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was for creation of final mono mixes of Lady Madonna.

John Lennon and George Harrison fly to India

The Beatles' long-planned trip to India finally got underway on this day, with John Lennon and George Harrison, plus their wives Cynthia and Pattie, flying from London Airport to Delhi, India.

Mal Evans flies to India

The Beatles' assistant Mal Evans gathered together luggage belonging to George and Pattie Harrison, her sister Jenny, plus John and Cynthia Lennon, to take it to India ahead of their trip to study Transcendental Meditation with

Recording, mixing: Hey Bulldog

Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineer: Geoff Emerick Just days before they were due to fly to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, The Beatles recorded a brand new song during the filming of a promotional clip for Lady Madonna.

Recording, mixing: The Inner Light, Across The Universe

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott There were two scheduled recording sessions on this day. The first took place from 2.30-9pm and saw the completion of The Inner Light and further work on Across The Universe, while the second was a mixing session from 10pm to 12.15am.

Ringo Starr appears on Cilla Black's television show

Ringo Starr was not present for The Beatles' recording sessions on this day, as he was at the BBC's Television Theatre in London to rehearse and record an appearance on Cilla Black's television show Cilla.

Recording, mixing: The Inner Light, Lady Madonna

Studio One, EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineer: Geoff Emerick Ringo Starr was not present at Abbey Road on this day, as he was rehearsing and filming an appearance on Cilla Black's television show Cilla, broadcast between 8 and 9pm.

Recording: Across The Universe

Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineers: Ken Scott, Martin Benge Work continued on John Lennon's song Across The Universe during two sessions on this day, which took place in Abbey Road's Studio Three from 2.30-5.30pm and 8pm-2am.

Recording: Lady Madonna, Across The Universe

Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineer: Ken Scott The Beatles began recording their first single of 1968, Lady Madonna, during two sessions on this day, from 2.30-6pm and 7pm-1.30am.

Tape copying: Only A Northern Song

Studio Two (control room), EMI Studios, Abbey Road Producer: George Martin Engineer: Geoff Emerick While Ringo Starr was rehearsing for an appearance on Cilla Black's BBC television show, George Martin made a copy of the vocal track for George Harrison's Only A Northern Song.