I read the news today, oh boy...

On this date in 1967, the orchestral overdubs were recorded for the Beatles' "A Day In The Life." John and Paul knew something was needed to lead into the incomplete middle section - they just didn't know what, so that part was left empty on the basic tracks. Their assistant Mal Evans counted off 24 measures and used an alarm clock to signal where Paul would resume with the as yet unfinished lyrics. It led perfectly into what became "Woke up, fell out of bed..." so the alarm clock was left in. They decided to include some psychedelic orchestra passages prior to this middle part and just before the end. Forty classical musicians were brought in who were asked to arrive in evening dress and then were given goofy costumes and headgear. The group was conducted by Paul and led by violinist David McCallum Sr., father of the "NCIS" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." actor. These trained musicians were told what notes to start and finish on, but (totally counter to their training) to get there without paying attention to the others, which created the cacophonous crescendoes. Then, George Martin requested they record it four more times, making it sound like 200 people were playing. Once again, the Beatles didn't just break the rules, they wrote new ones. And we didn't even address that crashing piano chord at the end...more on that later...