some kind of defence, or whatever it is." Recording Lennon's working title for the composition was "Come on, Come on". An Esher Demo of the song, recorded at Harrison's Esher home in May 1968, features a backing of acoustic guitars and percussion, and is performed in a more relaxed style compared to the White Album version. In author Ian MacDonald's view, the Beatles' recording of "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" serves as a "further stage in the post-psychedelic re-emergence of Lennon the rock-and-roller, signalled in 'Hey Bulldog'". The band began working on the basic track at EMI Studios on 26 June, although those takes were subsequently discarded and they taped a new basic track the following day. The dates were the Beatles' first full group sessions since early June, as Harrison had travelled to California to film his segments in the Ravi Shankar documentary Raga and Ringo Starr, eager to escape the acrimony within the band, chose to accompany him. During his time away, Harrison resolved to recommit to the guitar as his main instrument, having studied sitar under Shankar's tutelage since 1966; in author Jonathan Gould's description, "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" thereby provides the first example of Harrison's "vigorous return to form" on the White Album, as he contributes an "angry droning jabber on lead guitar". Lennon's lead vocals and other overdubs were added to this performance on 1 July and 23 July. Among the overdubs were handclaps, background shouting, an additional snare drum (in the segments following the song title), and a second bass part by McCartney over the build-up before the fadeout. The recording was sped up by mixing the tape running at 43 hertz instead of the usual 50, a process that raised the song's key from D major to E major. Stereo mixing was completed on 12 October. Release and reception Apple Records released The Beatles on 22 November 1968. "Everybody's Got Something to Hide" was sequenced as the fourth track on side three of the double LP, between "Mother Nature's Son" and Lennon's rebuke of the Maharishi, "Sexy Sadie". Among contemporary reviews, Record Mirror commented on the "strange vibrations" provided by Lennon on the album and described the song as worthy of "the oddest title of the year award". The writer added: "Full of take-it-easies and woven with a strong vintage Beatles backing,