The next song on the Apple 2-lp/2-CD release "The Beatles" (White Album) is an original Lennon/McCartney composition written mainly by John entitled "Cry Baby Cry". This was written in the form of a nursery ryhme and the lyrics were also inspired by a television commercial in which the tag line was something like "Make your mother buy". It's mainly acoustic number with a very haunting Lennon vocal.
There were tons of rehearsal for this fairly simplistic song which was carried out on Monday July 15 1968 at EMI studio two. The Beatles filled up four 30 minute tape reels with (according to Lewisohn) approximately 30 un-numbered takes.
The next evening session saw the Beatles tackling the song once again only this time actually numbering and recording proper takes. The session took place on July 16 1968 once again in EMI studio two with 10 takes being performed and the last one being used as the commercial version. The instrumentation for the takes appear to be John on acoustic/organ and vocal, Paul on the bass and Ringo on drums. Take 1 from this session appearson the Apple 3-LP/2-CD "Anthology 3"( as well as it's promotion equivalent catalogue number DPRO 7087). Two reduction mixes of the four track were completed bringing the song to take 12. Upon this take, piano played by John and harmonium played by George Martin filled up the two tracks leaving one track which would be filled with another overdub later.
Finally, two day later on July 18 1968 from EMI studio two, the vocal by John and the backing vocal harmony by Paul were added, George Martin re-did his harmonium work, Ringo added tambourine and George Harrison added his lead guitar parts. This concluded the track and mixing was all that was left to do.
Interestingly, on September 17 1968 from the control room of EMI studio two, a tape copy of the four track master of "Cry Baby Cry" was copied onto eight track for future overdubbing although this never happened.
On Tuesday October 15 1968 from the control room of EMI studio two, both the stereo and mono mixing of the song was completed. Both mixes were derived from the four track master. Three attempts of the stereo mix was required while only one attempt was required for the mono mix. There are no major differences between the two mixes.
"Cry Baby Cry" is available on the Apple 2-LP/2-CD "The Beatles" (White Album). A truly lovely deep track.
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