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The Beatles – Flying (2:13)

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About This Track

“Flying” is an instrumental by The Beatles which first appeared on the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour release (two EP discs in the United Kingdom, an LP in the United States).

The first since “Cry for a Shadow” in 1961, this rare Beatles instrumental (although chanting is heard at the end) was the first song to be credited as being written by all four members of the band with the writing credits of “Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr” (another being “Dig It” on Let It Be). It was recorded on September 8, 1967 with mellotron, guitar, bass, maracas, drums, and tape loops overdubbed September 28.

“Flying” was originally titled “Aerial Tour Instrumental”. The end of the recording originally included a fast-paced traditional New Orleans jazz-influenced coda, but this was removed and replaced with an ending featuring tape loops created by John Lennon and Ringo Starr during the September 28 session. The loops initially resulted in a track length of 9:38, but the track was later cut down to only 2:17. Part of the loops were used alongside an element of the ending jazz sequence to make “The Bus,” an incidental piece used at various points, for the TV movie. The track is likely to have originally started simply as a jam session — it is in simple 12-bar blues form in a straight-forward 4/4 time and the key of C major.
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  • pablo_cerve

    underrated beatles' song

    March 2012

  • EvanSites

    Best Beatles Instrumental until Paul finally gets permission to release Carnival of Light

    January 2012

  • ark4real

    high

    December 2011

  • obscurecendo

    downtempo, anyone?

    December 2011

  • lihei

    The organ does it for me.

    September 2011

  • farmgirlblues

    I listened to this album endlessly in high school; at the time, instrumental songs bored the hell out of me. Listening to it now, however, just might be my favorite happy place.

    August 2011

  • mgpixlab

    there go tha' 12 bar blues.

    July 2011

  • fromabeach

    holy shit i never noticed the blues structure.

    June 2011

  • boehj

    classic shit!

    June 2011

  • sodr2

    i wish this song was 1hour longer [2]

    May 2011

  • atomicpanda325

    Possibly my favorite Beatles song.

    March 2011

  • blaze1289

    The definition of chill.

    March 2011

  • hydecrabs

    la la la la laaaaaa! laaaa! laaaa! laaaaaaaaaaaa! [3]

    January 2011

  • GoldenTouf

    la la la la laaaaaa! laaaa! laaaa! laaaaaaaaaaaa! [2]

    December 2010

  • Enkuturi

    I want to listen to this song while being brutally murdered.

    December 2010

  • takoinche

    Has anyone noticed this song has a blues structure? :3 its just great.

    November 2010

  • Rapowke

    A true pearl on the Magical Mystery Tour Album.

    September 2010

  • backtothelight

    It's alright. Nuffin' special.

    September 2010

  • GiseleMartel

    first downtempo track

    July 2010

  • Kreen-Akrore

    This song always puts me in a good mood. :)

    July 2010
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