1 1 2 Playlist February 16th 2014 9AM The Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John with Paul The Beatles’ seventh single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. The title is a Ringoism, coined by the drummer sometime in 1963 and used by John in his book “In His Own Write.” With the film nearly completed the last bit of business was to give the film a name. The project was being filmed with the working title “Beatlemania.” On April 13, 1964 The Beatles met with key personnel from the studio and bounced title ideas. It was felt they’d find no better suggestion than Ringo’s off- hand remark “it’s been a hard day’s night” and John volunteered to write the title song that evening. The next morning he brought the song in and taught it to Paul. Paul cleaned up the middle section and the two played it for producer Walter Shenson. Two days later The Beatles would formally record the song. It was a rarity for an outsider to be allowed in the studio or control booth while The Beatles rehearsed and recorded. An exception was made for the director of the “A Hard Day’s Night” film, Richard Lester. Lester was in the control booth and offered many suggestions during the morning while this key song was worked out, much to the dismay of producer George Martin. It was Lester’s suggestion that the song open dramatically (as it would open the film), and fade out at the end in a cinematic way. He got his wish. George’s striking a G suspended 4th chord on his 12-string Rickenbacker make this record instantly recognizable in its 2 3 opening two seconds. Released as a single in the UK on July 10, 1964, it went straight to #1. On U.S. album: A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP Wings – Venus and Mars – Venus and Mars ‘75 Spacey, melodic, hypnotic – Venus and Mars was crafted as a “suite” that would segue to the next song with very careful editing. /> Wings – Rock Show – Venus and Mars ‘75 This is the second track of the “suite,” written for the forthcoming world tour. This became a staple beginning to many of the Wings live shows 9.12 BREAK 3 4 There will be a quiz later… Everybody have a nice Valentines day? The Beatles - It’s Only Love- Help! (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Recorded in six takes on June 15, 1965. The first Beatles song to include a reference to getting “high” (“I get high when I see you go by”). The working title prior to lyrics being written was “That’s a Nice Hat.” George Martin and his Orchestra recorded the instrumental version of “It’s Only Love” using the original title. In 1972 Lennon called “It’s Only Love” “the one song I really hate of mine.” On U.S. album: Rubber Soul - Capitol LP The Beatles - For No One - Revolver (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Written entirely by Paul in March 1966 while on vacation with then-girlfriend Jane Asher at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters. The backing track was recorded in 10 takes on May 9, 4 5 1966 with only Paul (piano) and Ringo (drums) present. John and George do not perform on this song. Overdubs included Paul on clavichord, and Ringo on cymbals and maracas. Paul’s lead vocal was recorded on May 16. The baroque-style French horn solo was credited to Alan Civil and recorded on May 19. Ringo’s original drum part was removed from the track in the reduction mixdown. The song was originally called “Why Did It Die?” Paul: “I was in Switzerland on my first skiing holiday. I'd done a bit of skiing in ‘Help!’ and quite liked it, so I went back and ended up in a little bathroom in a Swiss chalet writing ‘For No One.’ I remember the descending bass line trick that it's based on, and I remember the character in the song - the girl putting on her make-up.” George Martin wrote down the understated melody that Paul sang to him, and created a French horn solo arrangement. Always pushing boundaries, Martin and McCartney decided to insert a top note into the score outside the instrument's normal range, in this case a high F. The song was admired by John Lennon, who, in 1980, described it as "one of my favorites of his - a nice piece of work." The distinctive chords were played by McCartney on George Martin's clavichord, brought in to Abbey Road from his house. Paul recorded this song again in 1984 for his “Give My Regards To Broad Street” film and soundtrack album. On U.S. album: Revolver - Capitol LP George Harrison – You – Extra Texture `75 Originally written for Ronnie Spector, and recorded during the sessions for her sole Apple single, “Try Some, Buy Some,” in February 1971. According to George, they “recorded four or five tracks before Phil fell over,” (something Phil Spector had a tendency to do often. George dug this tape out during the Extra Texture sessions, but didn’t bother redoing the backing track, which is why you can hear Ronnie Spector singing one of her trademark “Be My Baby” oh-oh-oh’s in the background. 5 6 The Beatles - Yes It Is - Single (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocals: John, Paul and George Recorded over five hours on February 16, 1965, the rhythm track of “Yes It Is” was completed in 14 takes. John, Paul and George then spent three hours recording the vocals live, the best version being laid on top of Take 14 as an overdub. Starting in 1965 this was the new way they would record. Previously, every edit piece or overdub would have been numbered. Now they just recorded until they got it right and placed that on top of a numbered take, the ”best” rhythm track. Written primarily by John Lennon. John: “That's me trying a rewrite of ‘This Boy,’ but it didn't work.” “Yes It Is” is notable for its lush harmonies and George Harrison’s 12-string Rickenbacker played through a foot-controlled volume pedal, what is now known as a “wah-wah pedal.” The B-side of the “Ticket To Ride” single, issued April 9, 1965 in the UK and April 19, 1965 in the U.S. Capitol Records printed “From the United Artists release ‘Eight Arms To Hold You’ ” on both sides of the single. The wrong film title and this song was not included in the film. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP UK: Non-album single (B-side) The Beatles - I’m Looking Through You - Rubber Soul (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Written by Paul after an argument with then-girlfriend, actress Jane Asher. Initially recorded on October 24, 1965, the song was re-recorded from scratch on November 6, but McCartney was still not satisfied. Four days later, on November 10, the group took another stab at it. Paul’s lead vocal was superimposed the next day. The version issued by Capitol Records has two false starts. 6 7 On U.S. album: Rubber Soul - Capitol LP The Beatles - Can’t Buy Me Love - A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul The Beatles’ sixth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. During their 19-day engagement at Paris’s Olympia Theatre The Beatles took time out to record German-language versions for two of their biggest hits. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” were chosen to get new vocals to increase sales in the German market. This was at the insistence of EMI’s German branch, Odeon, which felt they couldn’t sell large quantities of records unless they were sung in German. With less than an hour left on their booked recording time, The Beatles recorded four takes of a new song by Paul, “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Issued in the U.S. on March 16, 1964, it sold 940,225 copies in the U.S. the day it was released, earning a gold record award that day and shattering all previous sales records. Within two weeks sales had totaled 2 million copies. The single went on to sell over 3 million by the end of the year. The UK single was released four days later, on March 20, 1964. Recorded Jan. 29, 1964 at Pathe’ Marconi Studio in Paris. It’s inclusion in “A Hard Day’s Night” was a decision by director Richard Lester, who opted for Paul’s fast paced million seller over John’s slower new song “I’ll Cry Instead.” The decision to cut “I’ll Cry Instead” from the film was so last minute that the American soundtrack LP, which had been rush-released on United Artists Records, included “I’ll Cry Instead” in its song line-up. On U.S. album: A Hard Day’s Night - United Artists LP Hey Jude - Apple LP (1970) Ringo – Choose Love – Choose Love The Beatles - All You Need Is Love – Yellow Submarine /Non-LP track (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John The Beatles’ fifteenth single release for EMI’s Parlophone label. 7 8 Written by John Lennon especially for the first-ever worldwide television transmission. The epic event, a 6-hour program entitled “Our World,” featured segments linking 24 countries in five continents via satellite, with a potential of 400 million viewers. The Beatles were honored to be invited to represent Great Britain in the program.