The Beatles

140 km North from Pondicherry is located Mamallapuram. It was one of the landmarks (with Rishikesh) of the Beatles stay in India in1968.

We can find  in the fab four workmanship many influences originating from India.

Let's see a chronogical overview describing events .

16 Février 1968
George Harrison, his wife Pattie (in the future, Mrs Eric Clapton), John Lennon and his wife Cynthia arrive in India and head for Rishikesh where they begin their long promised private period of transcendental meditation under Maharashi Mahesh Yogi.

19 Février 1968
Paul Mc Cartney, Jane Asher, Ringo Starr and his wifeet Maureenfly from London Airport to India

1er Mars 1968
Ringo and Maureen leave Rishikesh much earlier than anticipated. They are unhappy there and ringo says that the place is not unlike a Butlin's holiday camp.

26 Mars 1968
Paul and Jane return to England.

12 Avril 1968
John, Cynthia, George and Pattie return to London Airport from Rishikesh after an alleged assault from "holy" Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on actress Mia Farrow, who was also attending the academy. It was subsequently revealed that Maharishi was probably innocent and that John and Georges where victims of a hoax perpetrated by a friend possibly envious of the Beatles' attention being directed elsewhere. 

During this stay, our four friends wrote a lot of songs. Back in England they will spend May 30 at George's "Kinfauns" in Esher, Surrey to record 23 demos. Most of them will be the basic tracks of the "White Album".

• Cry Baby Cry (John)
• Child of Nature (John) futur Jealous Guy (Ra 3)
• The continuing story of Bungalow Bill (John)
• I'm so tired (John)
• Yer Blues (John)
• Everybody's Got something to hide except me and my monkey (John)
• What's the new mary Jane (John)
• Revolution (John)
• While my guitar gently weeps (George)
• Circles (George). Solo recording in 82 en solo
• Sour Milk sea (George) given to Jackie Lomax
• Not Guilty (Georges) solo recording in 79
• Piggies (Georges)
• Julia (John)
• Blackbird (Paul)
• Rocky Raccoon (Paul)
• Back in USSR (Paul)
• Honey Pie (Paul)
• Mother's nature's son (Paul)
• Ob La Di Ob La Da (Paul)
• Junk (Paul) sorti en solo en 70
• Dear Prudence (John)
• Sexy Sadie (John) (Ra3)

India and Beatles masterworks

The Beatles and theirYogi

Within You Without You (Ra 3)
The basic track , take one was taped on wednesday 15 March 1967 during a 7.00 PM - 1.30 AM session. Playing tabla, Natver Soni member of the Eastern Music Circle of London.
Amrat Gajjar played dilruba and  PD played swordmandel. At no time did any other Beatles participate in the recording of this song. A rough mono mix of the night's work was made by Georges and taken home to Esher.

The Inner Light
Taped on Friday 12th 1968 in Bombay (Mumbaï)
Taking benefit of the recording for "Wonderwall", George tapes many ragas (traditional Hindu pieces of music) aimed for the next Beatles LP. Only instruments are taped in Bombay, voice will be recorded on 6 and 8 february in Abbey Road.