Back in the U.S.S.R.
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| "Back in the U.S.S.R." | ||
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| Song by The Beatles | ||
| From the album The Beatles | ||
| Album released | 22 November 1968 | |
| Recorded | 22 and 23 August, 1968 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Song Length | ??? | |
| Record label | Apple Records | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| Track Number | Track 1 of Disc 1 | |
"Back in the U.S.S.R." is a song by The Beatles written by Paul McCartney (John Lennon shares songwriting credits), and which opens the double-disc album The Beatles (a.k.a. The White Album).
The song describes: a bad flight from the United States to the Soviet Union on board a British BOAC airplane; the "superior" beauty of Soviet women over those of the Western world; the sound of balalaikas ringing; and the incredible fortune of returning to a communist state.
The song was a parody of Chuck Berry's Back in the U.S.A. and the Beach Boys' California Girls, also containing a reference to Georgia on My Mind. The title was inspired in part by Harold Wilson's "I'm Backing Britain" campaign.
A conservative American backlash against the song rapidly ensued, citing the song as evidence of left-wing Beatle propaganda. McCartney's recent confession of having used LSD (combined with Lennon's assertion that the Beatles were "bigger than Jesus") made The Beatles the target of a new anti-rock campaign. A flustered McCartney responded: "Back In The USSR is a hands-across-the-water-song...They like us out there. Even though the bosses in the Kremlin may not, the kids do."
"Back in the USSR" was released by Parlophone as a single in the UK in 1976. It featured the song "Twist and Shout" on Side B.
The letters from the song's titles can form the anagram "Sick Sunbather."
Ringo Walks
The "White Album" sessions allowed the four members to work on separate projects at the same time and, as a result, keep tensions to a minimum. However, during the recording session on 22 August, 1968, tempers flared, and Ringo walked out and announced that he had quit.
"Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Dear Prudence", the first two tracks of the album, were then recorded without Ringo, with Paul playing the drums instead. Ringo would then return to the group. The next session he played might possibly be the 8 September, 1968, for Helter Skelter. The stereo mix of that song includes Ringo shouting "I've got blisters on my fingers!" which might be taken from the 22 August session for "Back in the U.S.S.R."
External links
- Song lyrics (http://frogcircus.org/beatles/the_beatles_white_album/back_in_the_ussr)
- All Music Guide review (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=33:kuoibkj9ka1z)
- Alan W. Pollack's Notes On... (http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/bitu.html)
| Missing image Jk_beatles_paul.jpg Paul McCartney | The Beatles | 
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