“What’s The New Mary Jane” – A Unique Collaboration (1968-1969)
- Composition Credits: Lennon-McCartney
- Recording Dates: 14 August 1968, 26 November 1969
- Producers: George Martin, Geoff Emerick, John Lennon
- Engineers: Ken Scott, Mike Sheady
- Release Date: 28 October 1996
- Available on: Album: Anthology 3, The Beatles (White Album) (50th anniversary editions)
- Personnel:
- John Lennon: Vocals, Piano, Effects
- George Harrison: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Effects
- Yoko Ono: Vocals, Effects
- Mal Evans: Handbell, Effects
About The Song
“What’s the New Mary Jane” is an unreleased song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was recorded in 1968 during sessions for the double album The Beatles (also known as “the White Album”), but did not appear on that album.
The song is an experimental and psychedelic piece, with a length of over six minutes. It features a variety of sound effects, including tape loops, backwards instrumentation, and Yoko Ono’s laughter. The lyrics are cryptic and nonsensical, and the overall mood of the song is dark and unsettling.
“What’s the New Mary Jane” was not officially released until 1996, on the compilation album Anthology 3. A shorter version of the song, without the sound effects, was later included on the 50th anniversary reissue of The Beatles in 2018.
The song remains one of the Beatles’ most obscure and enigmatic recordings. It is a fascinating example of their willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles, and it has been praised by some critics for its innovative and avant-garde approach.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- It was recorded in Esher Demo, Kenwood, and EMI Studios.
- The song was produced by George Harrison and John Lennon.
- The instrumentation includes vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, tape loops, and backwards instrumentation.
- The song has been described as psychedelic, experimental, and avant-garde.