Back in the U.S.S.R.

Well, we’re performing the Beatles’ White Album next month and are learning the songs. Back in the U.S.S.R. is the first track on the album and I thought it would be fun to start looking up some of the “song facts” about each of the songs (at least those I can find facts about). Here are some interesting things I dug up about this one:

• Mike Love from the Beach Boys was sitting in a hotel lobby when Paul McCartney came down for breakfast. The two of them chatted for awhile, and Love suggested that The Beatles incorporate a little bit of a Beach Boy sound in a song, “Like we did in California Girls.” McCartney was impressed with the idea and used some Beach Boys’ elements in this song: Instead of “California Girls” is was “Moscow Girls.” Plus, the definitive Beach Boy “Oooeeeeoooo” in the background harmonies.
• The title was inspired by Chuck Berry’s “Back In The U.S.A.”
• Things were tense when they were working on this album, and Ringo walked out during recording, briefly quitting the band. Paul McCartney played drums in his place.
• The Beatles originally wrote this for wafer-thin actress and model Twiggy.
• The line “Georgia’s always on my mind” in a play on the Ray Charles song “Georgia On My Mind.” It has a double meaning, since Georgia was part of the U.S.S.R.
• Elton John performed this when he toured Russia in 1979. Billy Joel also played it when he toured Moscow in 1987. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)
• Paul McCartney used this as the title to an album he released only in Russia in 1989. In 2002, McCartney called his US tour the “Back In The US” tour.
• This opens with the sound of an airplane flying from left to right across the speakers. Stereo was relatively new, so this was very innovative for the time.
• On August 22, 1968, following an argument with McCartney over the drum part for this song, Ringo walked out on The Beatles. He flew to Sardinia for a holiday to consider his future. While there he received a telegram from his bandmates saying, ‘You’re the best rock ‘n’ roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you.’ On his return, he found his drum kit covered with flowers. A banner above read, ‘Welcome Back.’

So there ya go We’ll be adding others as we work on them.