Back in the U.S.S.R.

"Back in the U.S.S.R." is a song written and sung by Paul McCartney, credited Lennon/McCartney. It was included as the leading song on The Beatles album. It was written by McCartney to sound like a Beach Boys song. This is most obvious around the line "The Ukraine girls really knock me out."

Why We Love it
Yeah, right. we are going to rate our top 100 Beatles songs and not include the leadoff song on what may be the Beatles' greatest album. What do you think we are, barmy?

Recording
August 22, 1968- Five takes of the rhythm track were recorded with Paul on drums, George on lead guitar and John on bass.

August 23, 1968- Overdubbing of two more drum tracks (probably John and George), two more bass parts (probably Paul and George), two more lead guitar parts (probably John and Paul), a piano, the lead vocal, John and George backing vocals and handclaps. They also overdubbed the opening airplane sound, which was a Viscount jet taken from EMI's sound effects library, Volume 17: Jet and Piston Engine Aeroplane as well as Mono mixing and tape copying.

October 1, 1968- Stereo mixing

November 22, 1968-First released on The White Album in the UK.

Credits

 * Paul McCartney: Lead vocals, bass guitar, lead guitar, piano, drums and handclaps
 * John Lennon: Backing vocal, Fender Bass VI, lead guitar, drums and handclaps
 * George Harrison: Backing vocal, Fender Jazz Bass, lead guitar, drums and handclaps