While My Guitar Gently Weeps

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Eric Clapton’s most well-known guest recording session undoubtedly took place on 6 September 1968. On that date, Clapton joined The Beatles at Abbey Road to record lead guitar onto George Harrison’s song, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” The track appeared on the band’s double album, “The Beatles” also known as “The White Album”.

George Harrison later recalled, “…I was with Eric and I was going into the session and I said, ‘We’re going to do this song. Come on and play on it.’ He said, ‘Oh no. I can’t do that. Nobody ever plays on Beatles’ records.’ I said, ‘Look, it’s my song and I want you to play on it.’ So Eric came in and the other guys were as good as gold because he was there. Also, it left me free to do the vocal and play rhythm. Then, we listened to it back and he said, ‘Ah, there’s a problem, though, it’s not Beatley enough.’ So, we put it through the ADT (automatic double tracker) to wobble it a bit.”

It should be noted that John Lennon never made it to the studio that evening, so technically, Eric Clapton never recorded with The Beatles as a complete unit. On the finished track, it’s George Harrison on vocals / guitar, Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Paul McCartney on piano and bass (his bass parts were overdubbed later) and Ringo Starr on drums.

Eric Clapton’s participation has never been mentioned in liner notes on the album. This is because record companies frowned on moonlighting by their artists.