The Beatles, 1968

The group tried to soldier on this year without their astute manager. His presence was sorely needed and missed, particularly in regard to business decisions. ( I don't know the exact month of this ocurrence, but Brian Epstein's lawyer was found hanged in his garage. His death was ruled a suicide. Strange, isn't it?)

On Feb. 16, John and George departed for Rishikesh, India for further meditation studies with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul and Ringo followed four days later. The group also attended a TM (transcendental meditation) seminar hosted by the Maharishi at his center. The Fab Four spent a few weeks in this city.

By now, other groups and singers had also taken up studying with the Marharishi or tried to find their own Indian "guru" (copycats, copycats!). The Beach Boys, Donovan, Mia Farrow and her sister, Prudence, and countless others became followers; even Diana Ross had a guru! (I kid you not; I saw the pictures!)

I believe that after a few weeks in India, the Beatles cut their visit short (or at least two of them did) to return home. Legend has it that his holiness the Marharishi wasn't all that holy. Accounts from that time said that the guru was "hitting on" several of the women at his retreat.

Another legend has it that his holiness (already world-famous) was becoming very wealthy (thanks to the Beatles) and quite the capitalist! And while the group DID find the principles of TM uplifting and practical, they were disappointed with its principal practitioner (Don't you love the way I did that?)

On May 14 or 15 (accounts vary) John and Paul appeared on "The Tonight Show" (with guest host Joe Garagiola) to announce the formation of Apple Corps, a business venture that they described as an attempt at "western communism".

Apple Records was the record label that was a division of Apple Corps. EMI and Capitol Records agreed to distribute Apple Records until 1975; Apple owned the record rights to artists the Beatles signed, while EMI retained ownership of Beatle records. (The Beatles were contracted to Parlophone in the UK and Capitol in the U.S.)

The new label's logo was a whole Granny Smith apple for the A-sides of singles and albums, while the flip or B-sides featured the apple cut in half.
Besides releasing the 1968-onwards work of the Beatles and its individual members, Apple Records covered a variety of genres, including jazz, rock, soul, pop, folk, experimental, avant-garde, Indian, and classical. And their artist roster also reflected this range: Badfinger (who were formerly The Iveys), Black Dyke Mills Band, Brute Force, Elastic Oz Band, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Billy Preston (Yes, THE one), Ronnie Spector (The former Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett, lead singer of The Ronettes, now married to Phil Spector, James Taylor (Yes, THE one), Elephant's Memory (also were the Plastic Ono Band, during John Lennon's New York stay), Hot Chocolate (I'm not sure if these are the same guys that did "Sexy Thing" in the '70s; it could well be.), Radha Kristna Temple, The Sundown Playboys (cajun music), Doris Troy (Yes, THE one), and Wings, among others.

The label's most successful non-Beatle single was "Those Were The Days" by Mary Hopkin (not Hopkins). This was Apple's first major hit; it was HUGE worldwide, selling at least 4 millon copies. Hopkin also recorded this in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Paul McCartney was the producer, but he did NOT write it.
It was composed by Gene Raskin.

The first album release was George Harrison's"Wonderwall Music", the soundtrack for the movie "Wonderwall." Then came the notorious "Two Virgins" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono (EMI and Capitol refused distribution, because the duo posed naked. There was full frontal nudity on the front cover, and full back nudeness on the back cover. Transatlantic Records did UK distribution, while Tetragrammaton handled the U.S. I think this album's actual title was "Unfinished Music No. 1-Two Virgins".)
Apple's first Beatles album was "The Beatles". You may know it better as the "White Album".

Did you know that there was a subsidiary of Apple called Zapple Records? It was run by Barry Miles, a friend of Paul McCartney's. Zapple was intended as an outlet for the release of spoken word and avant-garde records. It was active from October 1968 until June 1969. Only two albums were released on this label: "Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and "Electronic Sound" by George Harrison.
There was to be an album of readings by Richard Brautigan and a comedy album by Lenny Bruce, but before this could happen, Zapple was closed down by Allen Klein.
And in the meantime, the Apple boutique had to close. It was losing too much money. Many items were stolen or simply not paid for. On July 31st, there was a "blowout"-the store's stock was given away, one free item per customer (Collectors' items now!).
It's been said that working at Apple was often like being at a never-ending hippie party (which was probably also why it had to be reconstructed).

On July 17th, the animated film, "Yellow Submarine" (featuring a Beatle soundtrack), premiered in London to great success. Paul and George attended the event. (Have you ever seen this movie? It's fantastic! The actual Beatle voices aren't used; there are "voiceover actors", but they sound just like the group. And the animation is just breathtaking!)
Legend has it that this was based on a suggestion by John Lennon in a 3 am. phone call conversation with Al Brodax, who was one of the screenplay writers: "Wouldn't it be great if Ringo was followed down the street by a yellow submarine?"
"Yellow Submarine" (the film) had its American release on November 13th.

In late August, recording sessions begun on the "The Beatles" or "White Album". And these revealed deep divisions within the band; there always were, but they were small. These were not. There was growing artistic and personal estrangement between Lennon and McCartney, George wanted to feature his songs more on the albums, George and John argued, which even lead Ringo to walk out for two weeks. And then there was Yoko.
Yoko Ono ( Her name means "Moon Child". She and John had actually met a couple of years earlier; remember the art gallery?) was born in 1933, and was eight years older than Lennon. She was also a Japanese-born American and divorced from American businessman Tony Cox, with one daughter, Kyoto. And at the time, Beatle fans, particularly female, hated her! She was seen and portrayed as the "Asian homewrecker", who drove a wedge between John and the lovely, blonde Cynthia; how dare she! ( Racism DID play a large part in this too.)
Yoko and John embarked on an affair. The couple quickly became inseparable, thus further alienating the other Beatles. Yoko was brought to almost every recording session and a bed was even installed in the studio so she could recuperate after their car crash in Scotland. The group's longstanding rule was NO outsiders at the recording sessions.
Did you know that the other three Beatles didn't like "Revolution No. 9", one of the album tracks? Know why? Influenced by Yoko, this was a experimental concoction of tape loops and "found sounds". The other three didn't feel that this wa really "them" and tried (but failed) to keep it off the album. This broke yet another rule: If just ONE group member objected to a song, it wouldn't be on an album.
That's Eric Clapton, George Harrison's good friend (who fell in love with Harrison's wife, Patti, who later became HIS wife) you hear on the guitar solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." And that's Paul McCartney playing drums, not Ringo, on "Back In The USSR" (And lead guitar).
By this time, the Beatles would often book two or three studios at the same time, where the four would work alone or in pairs. Several tracks were cut at other studios such as Trident, Olympic, and of course, Abbey Road (Studio Two).

By August 23rd, Cynthia Lennon sued John for divorce.

On the 26th, "Hey Jude" was released; it would sell at least 6 million copies worldwide and become the year's biggest hit. It was written as a "it'll be all right" song for Julian Lennon. On his way to console Cynthia, Paul wrote this in his car.
Throughout the fall, "Hey Jude" was THE song. The group performed this on TV shows "David Frost" (UK) and "The Smothers Brothers" (U.S.-from the Frost broadcast).

Oct. 18-John and Yoko were busted and charged with marijuana possession.

Nov. 8-Cynthia is granted her divorce from John. She much later reflected that: ..." John had at last found his soul mate...Yoko did NOT take John away from me, because he had never been mine. He had always been his own man and had always done his own thing as I had learned to do. I had grown to be independent of John. I was shocked, shattered and lost, but not weak."

On Nov. 22 or 25 (Accounts vary) "The Beatles ("White Album")was released and zoomed to no. 1 in Britain and America. Advance orders numbered 1.9 million copies. The cover design was thought up by Richard Hamilton; on the original releases, "The Beatles" name was embossed. On later releases, the group's name appeared in light gray.
It was also Hamilton's idea to have each album individually numbered (Collector's items again!-If you got copy 000200, you have an early one. Legend has it that Ringo owns copy 000001, the first one.)

Dec. 2- The album,"Wonderwall Music" by George Harrison was released.

" " 17-The movie "Candy" featuring Ringo Starr premieres in New York.

" " 20-"The Beatles 1968 Christmas Record" was issued to fan club members.

Here are the singles for this year:

"Lady Madonna" was a no. 4 smash (top 40 entry Mar. 23).

"Hey Jude" was a no. 1 smash (for 9 weeks!)/backed by "Revolution", a no. 12 hit ( both top 40 entries Sept. 14).

Here's the album (just one) for this year:

THE BEATLES (a.k.a. THE WHITE ALBUM)-released Nov. 25, 1968

Side 1
Back In The U.S.S.R
Dear Prudence (about Mia Farrow's sister)
Glass Onion
Oh-La-Di, Oh-La-Da
Wild Honey Pie
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Side 2
Martha, My Dear
I'm So Tired
Blackbird
Piggies
Rocky Racoon
Don't Pass Me By
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
I Will
Julia

Side 3
Birthday
Yer Blues
Mother Nature's Son
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Helter Skelter
Long, Long, Long

Side 4
Revolution 1
Honey Pie
Savoy Truffle
Cry Baby Cry
Revolution 9
Good Night