Recording: Magical Mystery Tour

Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick

The Beatles began work on the title track of what would become their next film and EP/LP release, ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, recording three takes of the backing track.

The group rehearsed the song extensively in the studio before recording began, with Paul McCartney guiding the group from the piano. Eventually they taped a rhythm track of two guitars, piano and drums.

Satisfied with take three, The Beatles then oversaw five reduction mixes to free up extra tracks on the tape. The last of these, numbered take eight, was used for further overdubs on subsequent days.

The group also assembled a tape loop of traffic noises, taken from EMI’s sound effects collection Volume 36: Traffic Noise Stereo. This was added to the song during a final mixing session on 7 November 1967.