The Beatles share previously unreleased recording "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2)"

I am actually loving this early previously-unreleased recording of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" that has just been released...Robert Kinsler 

The Beatles, Rubber Soul Cover Shoot, 1965.
Photographer Robert Freeman. 
Photo Credit: Apple Corps Ltd

THE BEATLES

RELEASE RARE RECORDING

"NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN) (SECOND VERSION - TAKE 2)"

 ALTERNATE VERSION OF “NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)” CAPTURES AN EARLY ARRANGEMENT OF THE SONG AND GEORGE HARRISON’S PIONEERING USE OF THE SITAR

 

TAKEN FROM NEW RUBBER SOUL SPECIAL EDITION OUT OCTOBER 2 VIA APPLE CORPS LTD./CAPITOL/UMe

 

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW ON MULTIPLE LP, CD, AND BLU-RAY FORMATS

UMG and Apple Corps Ltd. have released “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2)” from the forthcoming expanded Special Edition of The Beatles’ landmark 1965 album Rubber Soul.

 

The first version of what was then called “This Bird Has Flown” was recorded during the first day of sessions for Rubber Soul and featured George Harrison’s new discovery, the sitar. The band were not happy with this version, so nine days later they taped three more performances.

 

On take two, track one featured John Lennon’s acoustic guitar, Paul McCartney’s bass, Ringo Starr on drums and George playing drone notes on sitar. George added more sitar on tracks two and three, with John and Paul’s vocals also recorded on track three. Rather than starting with an instrumental version of the verse melody, as the final version does, this arrangement opens with double-tracked sitar playing the tune of the bridge section.

 

George had first been exposed to the sound of the sitar during the filming of Help! and became increasingly curious about Indian music. During a meeting with members of The Byrds in Los Angeles, David Crosby spoke about the music of Ravi Shankar, which prompted George to explore his recordings.

 

George explained how the instrument came to be used: “It felt very familiar to me to listen to that music. Around that time I’d bought a cheap sitar in a shop called Indiacraft in London. When we were working on ‘Norwegian Wood’, it just needed something and it was quite spontaneous. I picked the sitar up and kind of found the notes. We put it on and it seemed to hit the spot and that was it.”

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2)” is included in the forthcoming Rubber Soul Special Edition, newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell. The expanded collection opens the studio doors on the making of Rubber Soul, bringing together 24 early session recordings, including 20 previously unreleased takes and three previously unreleased home demos, alongside the album’s new stereo mix, original mono mix, original Capitol U.S. album version and the contemporary “Day Tripper” / “We Can Work It Out” single.

Following the release of “Michelle (Take 1)” at the time of the Special Edition announcement, followed by “Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape),” “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2)” is the latest recording to be made available ahead of the release on October 2.

 

First released on December 3, 1965, Rubber Soul marked a pivotal moment in The Beatles' evolution. Arriving at the end of a remarkable year that saw John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr reach artistic and commercial heights, the album revealed a band pushing beyond the conventions of pop music and embracing a more adventurous approach to songwriting and recording.

 

The Rubber Soul Special Edition will be released on October 2 and is available to pre-order now across multiple LP, CD and Blu-ray formats. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2)” features on both the Super Deluxe and Deluxe editions.

 

The Beatles remain the most successful and influential rock acts in history. More than five decades after their split, their music continues to resonate across generations, from fans who lived through Beatlemania in the 1960s to new audiences discovering “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be” through streaming and social media. Beyond record sales, they reshaped fashion, youth culture, songwriting and album production, sparked the “British Invasion” in America, and redefined popular music with groundbreaking albums like Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

 

Their legacy continues to draw millions of visitors to landmarks such as Abbey Road Studios, where fans still flock to recreate the iconic Abbey Road crossing photo. In an announcement made earlier this month, 3 Savile Row, the location of their iconic rooftop concert, is to be made into the first official fan experience, opening in 2027. Looking ahead, an eagerly anticipated four-film Beatles cinematic event is set for release in April 2028 through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions. The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film. Directed by Sam Mendes, it will star Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison).

 

More than six decades after its original release, Rubber Soul remains a defining moment in The Beatles' story as an album that bridged the craze of Beatlemania and the experimentation that would follow on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and beyond.

 

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Micky Dolenz celebrates The Monkees' 60th Anniversary at MIM Music Theater

Micky Dolenz

What: 60 Years of the Monkees

Where: The MIM Music Theater, located inside the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, AZ

When: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026

Next: The United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, Sept. 12

Information: mickydolenz.com

Review and Photos by Robert Kinsler

As the sole surviving member of the influential made-for-TV group The Monkees, singer/actor/multi-instrumentalist Micky Dolenz continues to champion the beloved quartet via winning live appearances. That was proven throughout his wonderful two-hour show at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

"The Monkees" TV show made its debut on September 12, 1966, so this coming Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the series' first episode's airing on NBC-TV. Dolenz has a winning sense of humor first displayed on that groundbreaking series, and what's more his signature vocals impressed at the MIM Music Theater whether he was performing soaring power pop, garage rock or emotive ballads. While many of his classic rock contemporaries have lost their ability to sing well, Dolenz delivered top-tier vocals to an enthusiastic crowd.

Backed by a terrific six-member troupe (including his sister / singer Coco Dolenz), the 81-year-old Dolenz performed a mix of songs from across The Monkees' wide-ranging discography bolstered by insightful stories about his television co-stars/bandmates (Davy Jones, Peter Tonk and Michael Nesmith), the production of the TV series, 1968 Monkees film "Head" and even his memorable invitation to hang out with The Beatles during a Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band recording session. A rear projection screen displayed vintage images and film footage artfully in sync with the specific selections being performed. 

The night opened with his band performing an instrumental version of The Monkees' theme song heard at the beginning of the show before Dolenz came out on stage to offer up a rousing performance of "Last Train to Clarksville." And it was quickly clear that it didn't matter whether Dolenz and company were performing well-known hits or more under the radar tracks, the energy and delivery were inspired. 

The parade of Monkees favorites was offered up in chronological order, with early standouts including the sublime psychedelic folk rocker "Take a Giant Step," the tender "Sometime in the Morning," Americana-styled "You Just May Be The One," Baroque gem "Shades of Gray" featuring Micky and Coco sharing lead and harmony vocals, a rollicking tear through The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and rousing "Pleasant Valley Sunday." 

The second half of the concert featured outstanding versions of "Different Drum" (a Nesmith original that marked the first hit for Linda Ronstadt), sumptuous "Porpoise Song" (the theme from "Head"), the infectious power pop-styled Paul Westerberg-penned "Terri" off Dolenz' new commercial release Timeless, gorgeous "Me & Magdalena," bona fide sing-along "Daydream Believer," high-octane rocker "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and night-ending "I'm a Believer." 

This was a wonderful concert featuring timeless songs delivered with love and perfection. 

'Global Beatles Day' celebrated via enhanced "All You Need Is Love" video

Check out the newly-colorized video of The Beatles performing 59 years ago today. Wow, this video brought me chills watching this morning - amazing...Robert Kinsler

GLOBAL BEATLES DAY CELEBRATED TODAY, JUNE 25 THE BEATLES AND APPLE CORPS LTD. OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE FAN INITIATIVE TO SHARE THE BEATLES' MESSAGE: "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE" GLOBAL BEATLES DAY CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON JUNE 25TH MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES' BBC "OUR WORLD" PERFORMANCE OF "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE"  COLORIZED VIDEO OF THE ICONIC PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE NOW FOR FIRST TIME

On June, 25, 1967, The Beatles walked into Studio One at Abbey Road Studios in London and sent a message to the world. Broadcast live as part of the BBC’s "Our World," the first international satellite television broadcast of their song, “All You Need Is Love” reached an estimated 400 million people around the globe. For a few extraordinary minutes, the world was watching together.  Decades later in 2009 lifelong fan Faith Cohen decided this day deserved to be commemorated. From that belief, Global Beatles Day was born. A fan-made, fan-run celebration dedicated to the band, their music, and a message that continues to resonate across generations and around the world: love is all you need.  From tribute concerts in Tokyo to Beatles-themed exhibitions in New York City, singalongs in Buenos Aires, and fan gatherings in Liverpool, Global Beatles Day has continued to grow organically. Its growth has been built on an enduring love for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr and their message, and evolved into an annual event embraced by fans spanning generations and continents.  Now, in a major milestone for the celebration, Apple Corps Ltd, the company founded by The Beatles to manage their creative and business ventures, has formally acknowledged Global Beatles Day.  Today, June 25th, alongside online and in-person events around the world that celebrate the band, The Beatles have released a colorized version of their BBC "Our World" performance of “All You Need Is Love” for free on YouTube. The first time the iconic performance has been made available online celebrates the iconic performance’s anniversary, marks Global Beatles Day, and gives fans around the world the chance to relive that spectacular, global moment from 1967 and share their reaction in the live chat.

Writing to Faith Cohen earlier this month, Apple Corps CEO Tom Greene praised the fan-led initiative, writing: “More than ever, the message of The Beatles, and of ‘All You Need Is Love’ speaks to something vital for community, connection, and the power of bringing people together. That is what makes Global Beatles Day so special. It asks nothing more than for people, wherever they are, to stop, listen, and share a little joy.”  The recognition feels fitting for a band whose enduring impact remains unparalleled.  The Beatles remain one of the most successful and influential acts in history. More than five decades after their split, their music continues to resonate across generations, from fans who lived through Beatlemania in the 1960s to new audiences discovering "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" through streaming and social media or "Two of Us" currently used in the hit film "Project Hail Mary." Beyond record sales, they reshaped fashion, youth culture, songwriting and album production, sparked the “British Invasion” in America, and redefined popular music with groundbreaking albums like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Their legacy continues to draw millions of visitors to landmarks such as Abbey Road Studios, where fans still flock to recreate the iconic Abbey Road crossing photo. In an announcement made earlier this month 3 Savile Row, the location of their iconic rooftop concert, is to be made into the first official fan experience, opening in 2027. Looking ahead, an eagerly anticipated four-film Beatles cinematic event is set for release in April 2028 through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions. The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film. Directed by Sam Mendes, it will star Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison).  Global Beatles Day started as a simple idea that has become a global movement built on joy, togetherness and connection, values that feel increasingly relevant today. And on June 25th, millions of fans worldwide are expected to do exactly what Global Beatles Day encourages: celebrating The Beatles, their music, and a message that continues to resonate across generations and around the world: love is all you need.  Read more about Global Beatles Day on Faith Cohen’s website HERE  All You Need Is Love.  Global Beatles Day.  June 25th