The Beatles have released an alternate recording titled “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version – Take 2)” ahead of the upcoming expanded special edition of Rubber Soul. The newly released track offers an early look at the arrangement and George Harrison’s use of the sitar.
Originally recorded during the 1965 sessions for Rubber Soul, the song was reworked after the band was dissatisfied with their initial attempt on the first day of recording. Nine days later, the group recorded three additional performances, with take two featuring an arrangement that opens with double-tracked sitar playing the melody of the bridge section.
Harrison acquired a sitar from a London shop after being exposed to the instrument during the filming of Help! and learning about the music of Ravi Shankar. His performance on the track marked a key moment in the band’s incorporation of Indian instruments into their pop arrangements.
The track will be included in the Rubber Soul special edition set, which releases on October 2 across multiple LP, CD, and Blu-ray formats. The collection was newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell.
The expanded set includes 24 early session recordings, 20 previously unreleased takes, and three unreleased home demos alongside the original stereo, mono, and Capitol U.S. album mixes. It also features the contemporary “Day Tripper” and “We Can Work It Out” single releases.
First released on December 3, 1965, Rubber Soul represented a transition in the group’s recording style toward more adventurous studio techniques. The new special edition release follows previous preview tracks “Michelle (Take 1)” and “Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape).”
Additional projects related to the band include a planned fan experience at 3 Savile Row set to open in 2027. A four-part cinematic project directed by Sam Mendes and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment is scheduled for release in April 2028.
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