The Beatles - Blackbird Rehearsal Session at EMI Studios (June 11th, 1968) [All Available Footage]

Disclaimer: Due to copyright restrictions, I have had to mute certain portions of this video. Most of the video is still intact, but the random dropouts in the first minute and from around 9:30 to 11:00 are audio I had to mute. I tried to dispute this, but it was sadly rejected. I will get a link to the unaltered version in the comments.
Here is a collection of all the available footage from the Beatles' rehearsal session for Blackbird at Studio 2 in EMI. This footage was mainly shot for use in the Apple promotional video, but thanks to a variety of sources, we have a lot of the outtakes and audio as well! A huge thanks to ‪@kq8923‬ , ‪@juancena3073‬ , and ‪@ledzepfilm‬ who helped me in syncing and accurately assembling this. I hope you all enjoy! :)
Track Listing:
1. Introduction (silent early clips) 0:00
2. Blackbird Rehearsals 0:00
3. Dialogue / Helter Skelter 2:21
4. Blackbird Rehearsals 4:26
5. Mother Nature's Son Rehearsal 7:49
6. Blackbird Rehearsals 9:26
7. Outro 11:30
Sources Used:
- Now and Then (Mini-Documentary)
- McCartney 3, 2, 1
- Get Back
- Revolver TV Apple Promo
- Watermark-less Apple Promo Clips (KZbin leaks)
- Blackbird Outtake Clips (KZbin leaks)
- Anthology 8
- The White Album (Mini-Documentary)
- If These Walls Could Sing
- Revolution 2000 (ABC Documentary)

[@stephenbrain3620]

This was a timeless moment and also just an ordinary day.

[@timczifrik7715]

well put..!! Very true brother..!!

[@MicheleJane]

Those of us who are of age being Beatle freaks back then in the 60's would've loved to have seen videos like this back then. Pretty special to see now.

[@titusho2]

Agree we would've have eaten up ' fan since 1964 🪲🪲🪲🪲= Beatles + 🪲Mal Evens 🍏💜💚💎⚡️🙏🕊🕊🕊

[@justinweidenbach3699]

It's a good thing we didn't. It would have ruined the magic.

[@MicheleJane]

@@justinweidenbach3699 That's very true.

[@buttercup1765]

100 percent what I think with all this we can watch now!

[@alephn0l375]

still praying every day hoping some unknown footage like this exist for pepper sessions

[@Mandrake591]

That would be amazing!

[@overjoyous]

There is, lol. This was just some promotional footage that was shot for apple.

[@hugosanchez7599]

That would be crazy. Also for the Abbey Road sessions

[@Mandrake591]

@@overjoyous We’ve probably seen what you’re talking about, I don’t think you understand we were discussing the possibility of film footage of The Beatles actively recording the Sgt Pepper album.

[@overjoyous]

@Mandrake591 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6STi4Kdg9F0abcsi=vfvqmMYaX2WFco2o Yes, it's right here, lol. It's just more promotional footage, just like this video is. The day they recorded A Day In The Life. There isn't any Get Back style footage of that period, if that's what you're implying.

[@ClueSign]

Helter Skelter, that sweet little acoustic tune!

[@seltaeb9691]

It's how they all began, until they & GM & engineers produced it. The Esher tapes of the White Album are so revealing & some songs didn't change at all like Blackbird, Julia.

[@Jim-uj3ty]

Paul is just bursting with creativity and musicality.

[@gehanoates885]

I think it's Billy on guitar here.

[@elmikebit]

@@gehanoates885are you stupid or what? Do you also believe the earth is flat don’t you? Stop being so fucking pathetic. Even if your stupid hoax was true we don’t giveba fuck because “billy” is ten million times better than the “original” Paul but guess what dude…Paul has never died you stupid ass moron.

[@sophiafakevirus-ro8cc]

@@gehanoates885 I've been a conspiracy theorist for 11 years but I don't buy that Billy baloney.

[@markohehe6620]

​@@sophiafakevirus-ro8cc Who cares what you buy? Truth is what matter. And your conspiracy theory badge is not an actual argument.

[@NaaHva]

​@@sophiafakevirus-ro8cc Then keep believing in lies.

[@jiggersotoole7823]

This is like being transported back there in a time machine.

[@DrVonChilla]

"Blackbird" was the very first finger-picked song I ever learned on the guitar. 40+ year later, my now-arthritic fingers can STILL play it, using sheer force-of-will. 😃

[@mcadeemcnasty2460]

Organic Castor oil bandage?

[@walrus0972]

me too.

[@seltaeb9691]

The Beatles didn't know how to do the picking until Donovan taught them in India. Donovan had quite an influence on the Beatles in the psychedelica period.

[@richardichard4237]

Wow...!! Fascinating information about you. Whats your favorite colour....??

[@7colliemac]

That was the first song you learnt to play?? .. that’s a damn hard song.. I can play it but not like Paul .. I haven’t seen many that can. His technique is extremely hard to copy.

[@louissaraiva2296]

Paul is a musical genius 👍🏻😊

[@meyou-dv8ns]

Frank Zappa is, his IQ is above Genius. Pauls is not

[@maricaro8315]

@@meyou-dv8ns 🥱

[@potterwalker4823]

Franks, instantly forgettable music.No one knows one of his songs.

[@louissaraiva2296]

@@meyou-dv8ns I don't agree . Frank was a Genius true . But so is Paul .

[@jimbrennan1181]

Paul's taste in shoes might be questionable, even given the timeperiod.

[@JMDewald]

Only McCartney could make bowling shoes top tier epicness.

[@glenrichardson6396]

It must have been great being Macca. You’ve just written an incredible song, you’ve got your ‘fancy woman’ sitting adoringly at your feet and your feet are sporting the best shoes ever made. Not too shabby.

[@Bugs_fuckin_Bunny]

Ya - but was he happy, that's the real question

[@swizerland100]

yes i could'nt help but notice the shoes even without the camera close up hehe, i think if i look at them too much i'll feel abit sickly but that could just be me.😁😁

[@wflack]

…and just about anywhere you go in the world you are adored by young and old..in our house like the other Beatles he was just know by his first name by all of us like he was a member of the family.

[@nenisguevaragomez8122]

What shoes are those??

[@danaarden8373]

Sad. You see the roots of The Beatles’ fracture and break up right there. Paul’s trying as hard as he can to “lure” or “temp” John into joining him but John’s owned by Yoko now and if she can’t be part of the process, she’s not going to let John be either.

[@Soulfulvision1111]

Yoko oh no 😢

[@psychomexicanoldies3508]

Exactly!

[@damonarvid3548]

So that's why Helter Skelter evolved from.a sweet acoustic ballad to a chaotic, anger-fueled rocker.

[@hejla4524]

Not much interaction between the two at all in this segment.

[@PogieJoe]

It's passion projects like this that make the Beatles fandom so awesome

[@kimdiez2681]

Fandom?

[@lordvespatron]

❤

[@JAGAE]

oh wow ... i never knew Helter skelter was in that same Session ;) Blackbird/HelterSkelter .. what a contrast it is

[@neilafacci5833]

Yes blackbird and helter skelter together George Martin tells John the Warner Brothers thing is ridiculous . Look who was right in the end

[@seltaeb9691]

Buy the White Album with the bonus Esher tapes of virtually all of the tracks. Before doing the songs at Abbey Rd, they & George Martin met at George's Esher home & played the tracks acoustically to then discuss further. Many of the acoustic tracks remained the same, Blackbird, Julia, Mother Nature's Son & others with strong acoustic feel. They were composed in India & had a glut of songs, hence a double album. It's more appreciated now than it's 60s release.

[@Kieop]

@@neilafacci5833 which Warner bros thing are they discussing? I'm having trouble following that conversation. What does GM want JL to listen to?

[@signe2023]

Paul practicing Blackbird & Helter Skelter genius man!

[@JonnyRollin]

How many geniuses can fit into one studio and good to know,they struggle with guitar tuning,like us mere mortals-Thanks for this fascinating footage.

[@rayberry4261]

When Paul was in the talent line God just gave it all to him that day.

[@DenizeSouza-et8zl]

😂😂😂😂 exatamente!! O homem talentoso, uauuu !!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🥰🥰

[@martinwalker3372]

Wow!!! Great stuff. 56 years ago today. Thank you.

[@zuider77]

This is a fantastic part of music/Beatles history and it's wonderful to see it all collected together.

[@liamsemicolon]

seeing him tap his colorful shoes brings a life to the song that was always there, but that i couldn't really perceive until now. thanks as always, adam.

[@changoperry9217]

Those are the same shoes he wore in the hello/goodbye video in his blue Sgt Pepper military band outfit 😮

[@WillyTheComposerOfficial]

@@changoperry9217holy crap you’re totally right

[@caolruadh1]

Notice how all the other staff, sound technicians etc are all wearing shirts, ties and suits. A very different world back then.

[@icallmybabystp]

And before the shirts and ties and suits they were literally wearing lab coats. Love it. Music engineering is a true art and I do believe they deserve to be referred to as scientists. John Fry is an example of a genius engineer who used science to make his recordings sound beautiful and timeless

[@DrewBlankMusic]

The Helter Skelter snippet was amazing. Thanks for sharing !

[@garylester8621]

God, what a colossal intrusive act of having Yoko in the stuido

[@jugibur2117]

I'm excited about every snippet I can get of the Beatles - fantastic work again AdamBound, thanks a lot!

[@daddo2413]

Paul perfecting every note, every sound for the final version. Now listen to the record. As sweet as the first time I heard it with my chin on the floor. Never gets old.

[@jukkatolonen2957]

Thank you for showing this! ❤🎶🤗

[@timczifrik7715]

awesome..!! This was just a couple weeks before I was born..!! But I could watch this all day. I wish there was more of this type of footage. They were here and gone in a second... Yet made such an impact on so many lives. It blows my mind on "what could have been" if they did another 10 years,... Or even lasted as long as the Rolling Stones. I always wonder what they may sound like, or what solo work would have produced if given that chance. My mind is awash in imagination as days move on...

[@glass2467]

Priceless footage!

[@Radio868]

Thanks a lot for your work. Really good and warm moments

[@ochaiky]

6:03 "Which key is it in really?" "G~~~~~" I like this. Paul was singing but heard what John said and answered it.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

This is great.thank you!

[@SoulSonder26]

This is amazing!! Thank you so much for this! You can here paul writing helter skelter! So cool!!

[@NaaHva]

It's all acting. Tavistock wrote Billy's songs.

[@beatlemike9]

WOW MATE! Amazing footage! I always knew there was more!!

[@thefool2007]

Absolutely love this!

[@tbx59]

I love this.

[@Tunachaz62]

It takes a great group of guys that can relate to each other musically.

[@Said-ic2km]

Excellent work!!!!!!

[@vidviewer100]

amazing thank you

[@Greathall75]

Excellent work, AdamBound. It's nice to finally see more than a brief glimpse of Francie Schwartz.

[@NormanPeterson]

Francie Schwartz??

[@DavidRuff-qh5jq]

@@NormanPetersonMacca should have married her …

[@sebastiandenhoff1616]

​@@NormanPetersonYes, Schwarzbird that is.

[@judyakajude3370]

​@@NormanPetersonShe was Paul's gf for a while.

[@ced95570]

Not really ​@@DavidRuff-qh5jq

[@warren52nz]

Good work! I've been playing that since it was released. Pity there are still copyright restrictions on stuff that's history and almost 60 years old.

[@Planktilious1]

And thus became the music that all music would be judged upon. Amen.

[@MarkCook-tl8po]

I love watching how they develop and work out their songs even though I am compelled to burn my guitar and take up gardening for at least two days. Such skill. But it all comes from years of practice doing what they love doing.

[@ynjyc]

amazing as always... there are many footage left from: fool on the hill footage that paul did in france and rain

[@FuturCrayon]

John tuning his guitar like a indie rock slacker from the 90s is the best bit

[@alanrich8697]

Thank you. Great one. Subbing in.

[@winstongotsole]

Genius at work

[@rezedent9104]

..and no 'Autotune'. How did they manage?

[@CartersRemasters]

3:23 Love the sequence of sources

[@Kenny-ko4hj]

This is my favorite...so beautiful

[@michaelcolarossi5062]

Fantastic! fly on the wall

[@stoneyripley7752]

The acustic version of Helter Skelter is awesome !

[@glenweisberg1992]

That was quite lovely, well performed.

[@gudlisner501]

There it is, Yoko holding John back and that is such a crying shame.

[@roywatson8133]

correct think about me now forget being a beatle cant stand her

[@user-wr1tl4tt9t]

TAL VEZ ERA EL MISMO JOHN QUIEN LE PEDIA QUE LO ACOMPAÑARA EN EL ESTUDIO.....AUN ASI, ELLA , SABIENDO QUE ERAN LA BANDA No 1 DEL PLANETA, DEBIO MARGINARSE EN FAVOR DEL TRABAJO DE LOS GENIOS LENNON - McCARTNEY......NO LO HIZO......

[@nenisguevaragomez8122]

​@@user-wr1tl4tt9tclaro que no lo hizo pues ella se consideraba mejor que ellos , era una "artista Avant Garde" obvio que no iba a marginarse, era demasiado orgullosa para hacer eso, queria sobresalir en todo y quien mejor que John Lennon miembro de la banda numero uno del planeta para lograrlo.

[@Tunachaz62]

It makes you appreciate how talented these guys were at that time.

[@felipedej.cervera6514]

6:39 Young Alan Parsons

[@golds04]

Such a talented man. 💐

[@Tunachaz62]

And they did!

[@fabricetremblay9023]

Incredible song......

[@damonarvid3548]

Super interesting. Looks like John was trying to tune up and learn Blackbird and then said forget it.

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

That’s really cool to see that woman singing the words @ 7:23 - that’s a reassuring sign that Paul was writing a hit song

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

I’m astounded the Beatles weren’t always being recorded.

[@franceshaha]

nice!!

[@gaizkasalazar6948]

MARVELLOUS!!!☄️☄️❤️❤️❤️

[@janaparoubkova5895]

Úžasné 🤩 škoda, že chvílemi nefungoval zvuk 🙂

[@macspuppy]

当時の映像、ありがとうございます。ブラックバード、勿論素晴らしいけど、ラフなヘルタースケルターがヤバかった😊ビートルズは楽曲の制作過程も実に面白い！！

[@rayberry4261]

Blackbird was almost finished here. The other two were in embryonic stage. I am a songwriter and believe me, his genius creativity was in full bloom here. He was creating at warp speed while the others were doing who knows what? John was babysitting Yoko, we know that. I have written songs that fast, but not close to that quality. He is one in a billion.

[@Tunachaz62]

They were an unbelievable band.

[@DeD00RS]

Mit den Stones.

[@noelwalsh5898]

The Beatles were the best band ever they were just FAB.😊

[@idoireallydo]

lol at Paul dragging Francie Schwartz into studio.

[@harvey1954]

Gathering info for her book on Paul, Body Count.

[@kimdiez2681]

What was she there for? Thanks.

[@timbrown1834]

​@@kimdiez2681 she was sleeping with Paul at that moment. She's the reason his relationship with Jane Asher ended. She's also a writer.

[@kimdiez2681]

@@timbrown1834 thanks for the info 👍

[@nenisguevaragomez8122]

​@@timbrown1834she was only sleeping with him??? Not dating?

[@csedan510]

Love the special tapping shoes.

[@judyakajude3370]

At 8:16 you can see Paul has Francine sitting closer. If I'm not mistsken, she is the women Jane Asher caught in bed with Paul. Sadly, that is when Jane broke up with Paul 😢

[@Phillyfan45]

I was wondering if that was the one he schtupped to shun Jane.

[@gaylealleluia8392]

You are correct, Judy. Francine is the one Jane caught Paul in bed with

[@nenisguevaragomez8122]

​@@Phillyfan45to shun jane???

[@Playwright62]

He taps with both feet! Somehow, how amazing.

[@jamesbyronmusic9843]

Paul was hard at work making songs happen, while John is discussing gibberish sound byte ideas with Yoko. What a shame.

[@ronnieechavez5393]

BEATLES 4EVER ❤

[@harvey1954]

We finally get to see Paul fingerpick for the first time and the camera keeps zooming in on his shoes !?!?!

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

It’s still magic. Flow

[@user-mo5qc1hk3x]

Yes, really annoying! Too many cameramen think they're artists..

[@harvey1954]

@@dr.buzzvonjellar8862 Great tune. Kudos to Donovan for showing the Fabs how to fingerpick. Still, I would like to have seen the hand on the fretboard all the way through.

[@Crackhead_Jim]

They're some killer boots though.

[@harvey1954]

@@Crackhead_Jim Except they ain't boots.

[@evrmoor]

Director to camera man: FOCUS ON HIS SHOES!!!!! NO ONE CARES ABOUT WATCHING HIM PLAY AND SING!!!!!

[@leilanirocks]

Beautiful song. Paul, the bowling alley called and needs those shoes back, man! 😂

[@jaimealvaradol.5235]

those are his "Sgt. Pepper" album cover shoes

[@AdamSandaver]

Gold

[@JudyMora-oq2rb]

That’s it ! I’m breaking out the Martin and relearning Blackbird ! Thank you sir Paul you inspire me every single day! And I’m strictly adhering to “meatless Mondays” Let’s all save the planet & don’t eat meat on Mondays

[@TimCleese]

I had no idea he used tap shoes for that beat.

[@Tunachaz62]

They can tune guitars so different in this day and age.

[@arsen5479]

Paul is the greatest. Period.

[@joseantoninomarinhoneto7625]

Exactly, my friend.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

“The greatest” WHAT? Never mind: You don’t know.

[@petejones879]

Ewww you're comparing Paul to a woman's monthly?

[@MarkSeibold]

You might need to see the entire Get Back documentary. It eventually becomes obvious to everyone that Paul is the main driving force, always compelling the group forward to get productive, for the last four albums that The Beatles produced.

[@walrus0972]

I learned it from my lead guitarist, 1989-91, (I was Bass). Perfected it while trippin and it still rolls off the fingers easy peasy..

[@mattgoldberg4335]

How's that for range and versatility? In the same session, Blackbird and Helter Skelter. And then, for good measure, a little Mother Nature's Son.

[@chordacopia5149]

Paul's pinch-and-strum technique (pinching bass and treble notes for the outer voices and then "strumming" a single open string with rapid alterations of the thumb and index) seems unique. Is there anybody else who plays guitar like that?

[@WillStephensArt]

Bach

[@anthonyparker3482]

@@WillStephensArt Paul was inspired by George playing Bach's "Bouree BWV 996" at a party, he recounts in one interview. The result was "Blackbird" which used the contrapuntal bass and treble movement, which requires pinching the treble and bass strings together. Having myself worked on both of these pieces personally, I can say that what Paul does is unique, and definitely not standard classic guitar technique, especially with the steel-string guitar. He is capitalizing on the brassy, bright tone those Martin guitars have.

[@oojudg3oo]

Me

[@chordacopia5149]

@@oojudg3oo Maybe it's left-hander's thing. ☺ Loved your Norwegian Wood cover!

[@timbrown1834]

I feel like it influenced Elliott Smiths technique

[@seltaeb9691]

Abbey Road was their chill & music place, where the Beatles madness stopped at the door. Paul playing & composing Blackbird, whilst John & Yoko whispered. The place didn't look that inviting but they loved it.

[@RogerPeet]

I luv everything Beatles "and what's wrong with that?"

[@lennon1252]

5:23 John tuning his Gibson J160e by ear by listening to the piano. No clip on tuners in those days boys and girls. ☺

[@user-gg8zd8my6o]

There was another popular group recording at Abbey Road at the time as The Beatles. I can't remember who it was, but one of the recording engineers asked if the singer if he wanted to meet the Beatles. This other artist said as soon as they stepped into tge other studio, all 4 Beatles were in the room, not really doing anything special, just sitting and talking, but they said tge energy in the room was crazy! They said, in that room, it felt like there was electricity in the air. It felt like the room was alive. It was nuts

[@denisesaxton790]

I think that was James Taylor.

[@toddjohnson271]

Pink Floyd was recording Piper as Beatles were recording Sgt Pepper

[@RadCenter]

George Martin was like a midwife to the Beatles, helping them give birth to their full creative selves.

[@bewareofchild2462]

Thank you for this video. I would ask Paul if he still has those shoes.

[@polytheneprentiss1534]

I wouldn’t doubt if he does. He is very good about saving his clothes. Did you see he wore the jacket from the Hard Day’s Night premiere to the Eight days a week premiere, which was like 50 years later!!

[@RedWindField]

Aside from the all incredible slice of life with the Beatles, my favourite shot was 6:39 seeing the stern man drinking tea. His attire with his expression, conservative, like an apprentice vicar. and when the camera zoomed out revealing his tight and bright mandarin pants, I couldn't help but giggle

[@AlfredoRoccia]

Amazing stuff. Hopefully soon someone at Apple will release it properly. What's that first frame when they're both playing guitar?

[@neilhawk]

good work. you got a link for the unaltered version?

[@jonathansimons5715]

RIP Tony Bramwell 6.41

[@denisesaxton790]

Thank you for that note.

[@lazyartiste_2357]

I gotta get me a guitar.

[@leejohnson3209]

Nice shoes and red socks combo. And of course an amazing tune, simple and effective. How did he do it. That little strum between the picks is lovely and a bit tricky to get right if you're rubbish on guitar like me.

[@ProfessorKenneth]

George is one of my favourite musicians still.🙏🏻 and I get cross sometimes when a watch a doc about the Beatles..any documentary and George feeling left out an unappreciated. Get back film, i was watching last night and George was really like a boiling pot. Sad to see John talk about heroin..in away, and Paul struggling to keep then together. Yoko was annoying and daft as shite. John fell yo pieces because of her. Anyway, Great film it was. Peter Jackson and his crew did a brilliant job hooking up the old footage and sounds👍🏻 the Beatles.. the greatest band in the bloody universe.

[@tboguthh]

4:23 George Martin getting uncomfortable realizing he’s on camera with John smoking weed😂

[@Mike1614b]

Paul drove that band. Ringo was ringo. George had a chip because he was overshadowed. John was talented but lazy and confused (yoko). Paul carried most of the weight.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Not really. John was the sensei and crucial thru to the end. Paul really needed John as a ‘witness’ even when John was being lazy. Also the White Album has a whole lot of great Lennon songs on it - he got ‘over’ his occasional writers block in India and was truly prolific.

[@user-lb1ru8bv3l]

George was seriously under appreciated and palmed off by his friends - you’d get annoyed too. He was the most talented beatle

[@ROSTAFA]

John Lennon lazy? Yeah okay. Correction, Billy Preston later confirmed it was "John's band. John started it. Ran it. Despite Paul wanting to make 3 more albums before calling it quits.

[@seerstone8982]

If George had been given more songs, The Beatles wouldn't have been soo successful 😊

[@edwardmeradith2419]

@@seerstone8982 thank you! I LOVE George - he was not on par with Lennon/McCartney as a songwriter- yes, he wrote some gorgeous songs toward the end of the Beatles. He’d amassed a mess of songs (two LPs for All Things Must Pass - the third in that set was a listen-once-and-done jam LP) There were scattered gems throughout the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s. And the great Traveling Wilbury’s project was proof perhaps that George was happiest, in the long run, as a collaborator.

[@GeorgieWood765]

Given that John was in the studio, it's such a shame he didn't add harmonies to Blackbird.

[@kimdiez2681]

He was lazy and on heroin probably by this time.

[@lisamalone5219]

Black Bird 🐦‍⬛ Fly! 🙆🫶 🌎✌️💙

[@JimCutler]

Paul had songs pouring out of him. Here sitting next to Francie.