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Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

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Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. Following the album's release, the song was issued as a single in many countries, although not in the United Kingdom or the United States, and topped singles charts in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and West Germany. When belatedly issued as a single in the United States in 1976, it peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. McCartney wrote "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" in a cod Jamaican ska style and appropriated a phrase popularised by Jimmy Scott, a London-based Nigerian musician, for the song's title and chorus. Following its release, Scott attempted, unsuccessfully, to receive a composing credit. The recording sessions for the track were marked by disharmony as McCartney's perfectionism tested his bandmates and their recording staff. A heated argument during one of the sessions led to Geoff Emerick quitting his job as the Beatles' recording engineer. A discarded early version of the track, featuring Scott on congas, was going to be released as a single in the mid-1980s, but was eventually included on the band's 1996 compilation Anthology 3. The Beatles' decision not to release the single in the UK or the US led to several cover recordings by other artists, who sought to achieve a chart hit with the song.

Infobox

B-side
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" "Julia" (US)
Released
22 November 1968
Recorded
8, 9, 11 and 15 July 1968
Studio
EMI, London
Genre
Popska
Length
3:07
Label
Apple
Songwriter
Lennon–McCartney
Producer
George Martin

Tables

· Chart history › The Beatles version
Australian Go-Set National Top 40
Australian Go-Set National Top 40
Chart (1969)
Australian Go-Set National Top 40
Peakposition
1
Australian Kent Music Report
Australian Kent Music Report
Chart (1969)
Australian Kent Music Report
Peakposition
1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1969)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1969)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
5
Belgian Ultratop (Wallonia)
Belgian Ultratop (Wallonia)
Chart (1969)
Belgian Ultratop (Wallonia)
Peakposition
2
French Singles Chart
French Singles Chart
Chart (1969)
French Singles Chart
Peakposition
3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1969)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
15
Italian Musica e Dischi Chart
Italian Musica e Dischi Chart
Chart (1969)
Italian Musica e Dischi Chart
Peakposition
4
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart
Chart (1969)
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart
Peakposition
7
Japanese Oricon International Chart
Japanese Oricon International Chart
Chart (1969)
Japanese Oricon International Chart
Peakposition
1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1969)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
3
New Zealand Listener Chart
New Zealand Listener Chart
Chart (1969)
New Zealand Listener Chart
Peakposition
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1969)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
1
West German Musikmarkt Hit-Parade
West German Musikmarkt Hit-Parade
Chart (1969)
West German Musikmarkt Hit-Parade
Peakposition
1
Chart (1969)
Peakposition
Australian Go-Set National Top 40
1
Australian Kent Music Report
1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
5
Belgian Ultratop (Wallonia)
2
French Singles Chart
3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
15
Italian Musica e Dischi Chart
4
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart
7
Japanese Oricon International Chart
1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
3
New Zealand Listener Chart
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
1
West German Musikmarkt Hit-Parade
1
· Chart history › The Beatles version
Canada RPM Top Singles
Canada RPM Top Singles
Chart (1976–77)
Canada RPM Top Singles
Peakposition
27
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary
Chart (1976–77)
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary
Peakposition
29
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1976–77)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
49
US Billboard Adult Contemporary
US Billboard Adult Contemporary
Chart (1976–77)
US Billboard Adult Contemporary
Peakposition
39
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1976–77)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peakposition
47
Chart (1976–77)
Peakposition
Canada RPM Top Singles
27
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary
29
US Billboard Hot 100
49
US Billboard Adult Contemporary
39
US Cash Box Top 100
47
· Chart history › Marmalade version
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1968–69)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
1
New Zealand (Listener)
New Zealand (Listener)
Chart (1968–69)
New Zealand (Listener)
Peakposition
1
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1968–69)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1968–69)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
2
UK Record Retailer Chart
UK Record Retailer Chart
Chart (1968–69)
UK Record Retailer Chart
Peakposition
1
Chart (1968–69)
Peakposition
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
1
New Zealand (Listener)
1
Norway (VG-lista)
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
2
UK Record Retailer Chart
1
· Chart history › Certifications
New Zealand (RMNZ) The Beatles version
New Zealand (RMNZ) The Beatles version
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ) The Beatles version
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) The Beatles version
United Kingdom (BPI) The Beatles version
Region
United Kingdom (BPI) The Beatles version
Certification
Silver
Certified units/sales
200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) The Beatles version
Gold
15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) The Beatles version
Silver
200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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