The Beatles’ work on the song Back in the U.S.S.R by Paul McCartney on August 22, 1968, took place in Studio 2 at Abbey Road from 7:00 pm to 4:25 am with production by George Martin and Ken Scott as a sound engineer.
Three Beatles recorded 5 takes of the song; drums by Paul, lead guitarist George Harrison, and six-string bass John Lennon. The bass track played by Lennon was removed the next day. During a brief rehearsal, Ringo Starr left the group after an argument with McCartney over the drum arrangement for the song. All as a result of the accumulated tension and personal problems between the Beatles. In Ringo’s absence, Paul McCartney took over the drums. In rehearsal outtakes and on the official version of the White Album Lp, McCartney plays drums.
Paul McCartney: “I’m sure Ringo was pretty pissed off that he didn’t play Back In The U.S.S.R. and that I take his place.”
Ringo Starr flew to the Mediterranean where he spent two weeks on Peter Sellers’ yacht. During these vacations, he composed the song Octopus’s Garden, and was absent for 11 days, rejoining the group on September 3, 1968.
Listen to Paul McCartney’s isolated drum track for ‘Back in the U.S.S.R.’ below: