Songs > Across The Universe

Across The Universe

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
"Across the Universe" was originally donated to a charity album for the World Wildlife Fund. That original song was a faster, higher version than the "Let It Be" version, which was the original track slowed down and combined with an orchestra by producer Phil Spector.

Recording dates

February 4, 1968 (6 takes, basic track, plus overdubs)
February 8, 1968 (overdubs)
April 1, 1970 (Phil Spector reworking and overdubs)

Release dates

December 12, 1969 (on No One's Gonna Change Our World)
May 18, 1970 (US & UK) (on Let It Be)
March 8, 1988 (UK & US) (on Past Masters Vol. 2)

Recording notes

On the original recording, two female vocalists are heard singing the lines "nothing's gonna change my world" after John's choral line "jai guru deva ohm". These vocalists were chosen by Paul outside the Abbey Road studios after he and John realized the song was lacking harmony vocals. Chosen were 16-year old Brazilian Lizzie Bravo and 17-year old London native Gayleen Pease - the first and only fans ever invited to participate in a Beatles recording. Their contribution was taped on February 4, 1968.
The original single was sped up by a semi-tone during mixing.
For release on Let It Be, Phil Spector took the original master of the song, omitted some of the sound effects, added others, slowed the tape down, and added an orchestra.

Chart performance

Quotes

"The Beatles didn't make a good record of "Across the Universe." I think subconsciously we - I thought Paul subconsciously tried to destroy my great songs. We would play experimental games with my great pieces, like "Strawberry Fields," which I always felt was badly recorded. It worked, but it wasn't what it could have been." - John Lennon, Playboy, 1980

Awards

Other notes

The No One's Gonna Change Our World version was released in stereo for that compilation but was originally mixed in mono on the day it was recorded. That mono mix was released for the first time on the 2009 box set The Beatles In Mono.
"Across The Universe" was originally intended for inclusion on an aborted EP with the 4 new songs which turned up on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.

Notable covers

Fiona Apple (from the soundtrack to the film Pleasantville)
David Bowie (from Young Americans)