Title:	Back In The USSR
Credits:	John Lennon Paul - McCartney
Recorded:	EMI Studios, London, 22 and 23 August 1968
Producer:	George Martin
Location:	The Beatles - track 1, disc 1

The Beatles began rehearsal sessions at George Harrison's home in Esher on May 20, 1968, during which they recorded a demo of 'Back In The USSR'. This recording has been bootlegged and can be found on "Unsurpassed Demos" (CD) and "The 1968 Demos" (CD).

The Beatles began recording 'Back In The USSR' on August 22, 1968. Ringo Starr had quit the group the day before, so on the five takes (1 - 5) recorded this day Paul McCartney played drums, George Harrison played first lead guitar and John Lennon played first bass guitar. Two more drum tracks were added August 23, as were two more bass parts, two more lead guitar parts, a piano, lead vocals by Paul, backing vocals by John and George, and handclaps.

A tape reduction was made (take 5 into take 6) and the sound of an airplane taking off and landing was added. The mono mix was then prepared (remix 1 from take 6). 'Back In The USSR' was mixed for stereo on October 13 (remix 1 from take 6). There are several differences between the mono and stereo releases of this track.

Only one mono mix of this song was officially prepared at EMI Studios. The alternate mono mix appears to have been the mix used by Ringo for the tape he gave to Peter Sellers. This recording has been bootlegged and may be take 5 before overdubs. It can be found on "Unsurpassed Masters 4" (CD).

In the spring of 1976 George Martin remixed a stereo version of 'Back In The USSR' in Los Angeles for the LP "Rock 'N' Roll Music." This album was released in the US on June 7, 1976 and in the UK on June 11, 1976. The original UK release of this LP contained the original stereo mix of this track, until October 1980, when the double-LP was issued as two single budget label LP's. At that time the new George Martin remixes were used.

On January 3, 1969, during rehearsals for the aborted "Get Back" film/album project, George led this very brief instrumental bit (3.78) which is available as a bootleg.

Ringo joined The Beach Boys during their Washington DC concert on July 4, 1984. Ringo played drums on this track which was released on the album "Fourth Of July: A Rockin' Celebration Of America" in the US in December 1986.

Paul McCartney performed this song at several concerts during his 1989 - 1990 world tour including Stockholm's Johanneshovs Isstadion (September 30), Milan (October 26), Rotterdam (November 8), Los Angeles (November 23 and 27), New York (December 15), Berkeley (March 31 and April 1), Glasgow (June 23) and Washington, DC (July 4). All of these performances have been bootlegged.

Paul also performed this song at his concert at the Tokyo Dome on March 5, 1990. This performance was released on his album "Tripping The Live Fantastic" in both the US and the UK on November 5, 1990.