Blue Moon

The Beatles performed a cover version of “Blue Moon” as part of a jamming session while recording for the “White Album“.

White Album 50th Anniversary Edition (2018)

Blue Moon

The song, “Blue Moon”, dates back to 1934 but it became a very popular song. Indeed there are many cover versions from a wide variety of artists available. So much so that some have recorded a jazz version like Billie Holiday while some have recorded a ballad version like Elvis Presley and now The Beatles. Of course, had The Beatles recorded it professionally and not for fun, it may have been rock and roll or some other style, we may never know.

Perhaps the most famous version is by The Marcels from February, 1961. Their version is in the style of doo wop/R&B. Moreover, it was a single release with the B-side being “Goodbye to Love” that reached number one in both the UK and the US. Undoubtedly, it is a classic song which has reached the American charts five times with different artists. The Beatles impromptu version lasts just over a minute but is now commercially available.

Recording Studio

The Beatles recorded “Blue Moon” on the 16th September, 1968, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 7.00pm-3.00am recording session. The band were in the studio that day recording “I Will” for their new album, “The Beatles” aka the “White Album”. In fact, on that day they recorded 67 takes of that song alone!

Just before their 28th take of “I Will” they has an impromptu session and sang “Can You Take Me Back?“. Then they burst into this old song, “Blue Moon”. Part of the former became an unlisted track on the “White Album”, while the latter came to nothing until its commercial release in November 2018.

During this recording session they also recorded versions of “Step Inside Love“, “Los Paranoias” and “The Way You Look Tonight”.