The Beatles' Final Year

Helter Skelter
Another tension arose from John's insistence that his future wife Yoko Ono, second from right, be allowed to join the group in the studio. Since the beginning of their career, the Fab Four had always observed an implicit understanding that guests were not to be allowed in the recording sessions and that no one, with the possible exception of producer George Martin, was to offer critiques about a work in progress. But starting in 1968, when the group began work on the album known as The White Album, Lennon not only permitted Ono to be present in the studio but also listened to her thoughts about what was going on and thought the rest of the band should listen as well.

• A Brief History of Abbey Road Studios