Savoy Truffle

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"Savoy Truffle" is a song written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles on their album The Beatles, also known as The White Album.

Composition

Harrison wrote the song as a tribute to his friend Eric Clapton's chocolate addiction, and indeed he derived the title and many of the lyrics from a box of Mackintosh's Good News chocolates. Supposedly all of the confectionery names used in the song are authentic, except cherry cream and coconut fudge. The chorus ("But you'll have to have them all pulled out after the savoy truffle") is a reference to the deterioration of one's teeth after eating too many sweets. The line "We all know Ob-la-di-bla-da" refers to the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" which appears earlier on the album, but with the "sinister" overtone (as Everett put it) that "life may not go on" as the latter song insists. It is one of four songs by the Beatles which makes specific reference to other songs recorded by the group (the others being "All You Need Is Love" which refers to "She Loves You"; "I Am the Walrus" which refers to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"; and "Glass Onion" which refers to multiple songs).

Musical Structure

Everett notes that the harmonies of the bridge (E-A-G-B) (as was the case in McCartney's "Yesterday") recast those of the verse with some condensation. Early versions of the song notably utilised Harrison's pentatonic electric piano and Telecaster, as well as the boogying saxophones.

Recording

The Beatles recorded the first take on 3 October 1968 and the final mixes were finished by 14 October. Six saxophonists (three baritone, three tenor) were brought in and were reportedly displeased when Harrison decided to distort their appearance on the recording.

Personnel

George Harrison – double-tracked vocal, lead guitarPaul McCartney – bass guitarRingo Starr – drums, tambourineChris Thomas – organ, Fender RhodesArt Ellefson – tenor saxophoneDanny Moss – tenor saxophoneDerek Collins – tenor saxophoneRonnie Ross – baritone saxophoneHarry Klein – baritone saxophoneBernard George – baritone saxophonePersonnel per Ian MacDonald

Cover versions

Terry Manning released a ten minute long psychedelic cover featuring Robert Moog playing synthesizer on his Home Sweet Home album in 1970.They Might Be Giants covered "Savoy Truffle" on the 2003 compilation Songs From the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison.Phish covered the song as part of their cover of the entire The Beatles on Halloween 1994, which was released as Live Phish Volume 13.Ella Fitzgerald covered the song on her 1969 single "I'll Never Fall in Love Again/Savoy Truffle".Along with a sample of "Glass Onion", the song was mashed with Jay-Z's "Encore". The resulting track was featured on Danger Mouse's The Grey Album.