Recording: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

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

‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’, one of the more complex recordings for the White Album, was begun on this day. It was later subject to two remakes, and wasn’t completed for another six sessions.

This session began at 8pm and finished at 3.15am the following morning. Seven takes of ‘Ob-La-Di’ were recorded, with Paul McCartney on acoustic guitar and guide vocals, and Ringo Starr playing drums. Take seven was then given a proper lead vocal and more acoustic guitar.

McCartney then decided that take four was superior, and so he overdubbed more acoustic guitar onto that. The guitar was slightly distorted to make it sound like an electric instrument.