Yer Blues: Introduction
“Yer Blues” is a Beatles’ rock song on their “White Album.” John Lennon wrote it in Rishikesh, India, after “trying to reach God and feeling suicidal.” He wanted to compose a blues number. However, he felt unsure if he could. So, together with his insecurities, he decided to mock the British blues boom of 1968.
In Detail
- Publisher: Northern Songs
- Release Date: November 22, 1968 (UK), November 25, 1968 (US)
- Recorded: August 13, 14 & 20, 1968
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Blues rock, hard rock
- Track Duration: 4:01 (stereo), 4:16 (mono)
- Record Label: Apple
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Ken Scott
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: vocals, also the electric guitar
- Paul McCartney: the bass guitar
- George Harrison: an electric guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums
Where To Find “Yer Blues”
You can easily find this great song because it is on a monumental album. Just click on the album to see the other great songs that are on it.
Yer Blues: Background
While John Lennon was at school, his interest in music was intense. As well as rock and roll, he took an interest in blues music too. However, even though John tried to create something bluesy while in India, his realisation was that this type of music was best left alone, for now at least!
In the UK during 1968, there was a slight surge in interest in blues music. So, with John Lennon suffering the frustration of not being able to create something to add to this explosion, he decided to mock the British imitators of the blues. Of course, this included himself too!
Beatlemania had come and gone long before the “White Album”. Since those heady days, the band created many distinctive sounds. However, while blues music was a big influence on The Beatles, the band wouldn’t really have a classic blues number. That said, it is possible to hear the blues influence in songs such as, “Come Together” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” etc.
Apart from “Yer Blues,” those songs that shine most with the blues are “For You Blue,” “Revolution,” and “Oh Darling.”
Recording Studio
Recording of “Yer Blues” took place on August 13, 1968, in a large closet in the control room described as being “EMI Studio Two’s annexe.” This was because they were just talking about the closeness of a “packed-in-a-tin thing.”
Indeed, this was an impromptu moment where they crammed into an ill-equipped room full of odds and ends. As a result, we get a live, raw feel to the song, and the “White Album” is better off for it.
On August 14, 1969, John Lennon added further vocals, while Ringo Starr’s contribution on the 20th of August was to add the beginning count-in sequence, “Two, Three.“
Cover Versions
The following artists have all made cover versions of “Yer Blues”:
Take A Listen To “Yer Blues.”
With all the information above, you’ll want to hear the song, so just click play. Once you hear it, share your thoughts with us below. Alternatively, we have a Beatles Forum to discuss things further.
