"Across the Universe" with Ravi Shankar - Just a Joke?

I found a track on the internet that claims to be a recording of "Across the Universe" by the Beatles and Ravi Shankar, but I'm pretty sure it's a fake. It sounds like someone took the original recording we all know and then added effects to it that are supposed to (but don't really) sound like a sitar. I'm pretty sure it's a fake, but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone knows for certain.

 

i had downloaded that a long while ago [so much that its gone off my computer, but on a cd somewhere]...im pretty sure its just a mis-labeling

 

Here's the file, drumminmama:

Across the Universe

The recording (minus the odd noises coming from the background and some strange female vocals) sounds exactly like the one from Let it Be. That's the main reason I think it's a fake.

 

The strange female vocals could be three Apple Scruffs they took from the gates of the studio when they were recording. If that's them, John later commented that he hated the fan-vocals, because they were out of tune...or something like that.

 

It sounds more like a Moog to me... and, honestly, it just sounds to me like someone took the original recording and added effects to it. I guess it's still a mystery, though.

 

If you listen carefully, you can hear some of the noise is actually going backwards.
I'd downloaded this song a long time again and remember it well.
I'm pretty certain it's not not The Beatles w/ Ravi.

 

It's definitely not the Beatles with Ravi Shankar. My guess is that it's just some kind of alternate take, remix or version of the song. The female backing vocalists are Lizzie Bravo and Gayleen Pease, as mentioned before two (not three) Apple Scruffs they just took from outside the Abbey Road studios to sing the backing vocals. They can also be heard in the 'World Wildlife' Version on the compilation Past Masters Vol2.
The noise is just a sitar played backwards I think, and it's defnitely not Ravi Shankar playing. George always played the sitar. Plus, 'Across the Universe' was recorded in one day (Feb 4 1968), and I don't think Ravi Shankar was in London that day to play sitar on a beatlesong.

 

Thank you for that detailed explanation.