Record #0810: A Hard Day’s Night / I Should Have Known Better – THE BEATLES

Capitol 5222 (original, 1^st pressing) USA, 13. July 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (double-tracked vocals and rhythm guitar on both sides; harmonica on side B), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocals on side A; bass on both sides ), George Harrison (lead 12-string guitar) Ringo Starr (drums; bongos & cowbell on side A), George Martin (piano on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 16. April 1964; Side B – 25.-26. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, Canada #1, UK #1, Netherlands #1, Norway #1, Australia #1, New Zealand #1, Finland #2; Side B – US #53, Australia #1, Chile #1, Germany #6, Netherlands #1, Norway #1, Finland #1

Both songs featured in the Beatles’ first movie, “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964. The title song is famous for its opening chord, which has been analyzed and debated quite a bit. Harrison’s guitar chord played with a 12-string Rickenbacker is an Fadd9.

The UK release (and most European releases) had “Things We Said Today” as the B-side (Parlophone R 5160).

The title song (Parlophone 45-DPY 668) hit #2 in Finland in October 1964, and the B-side (Parlophone 45-DPY 672) topped the chart in November.

The first pressing published by Unart Music and Maclen Music. Later pressings were by Maclen only.

List price:  First pressing Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30 (same prices for subsequent pressings); Picture sleeve VG+ $50, NM $100.

 

Record #0809: And I Love Her / If I Fell – THE BEATLES

Capitol 5235 (original, 1^st pressing) USA, 20. July 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (rhythm guitar, double lead vocals on side B), Paul McCartney (lead vocals on side A, double lead vocals on side B , bass), George Harrison (classical lead guitar on side A, 12-string guitar on side B), Ringo Starr (bongos and claves on side A, drums on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 25.-27. February 1964; Side B - 27. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #12, Canada #15; Side B – US #53, Canada #15, Australia #1, Germany #25, Norway #1, Finland #32

This release has two very fine ballads for the US market. As such it is unique as the Beatles' singles tended to have an up- or mid-tempo song on at least one side.
“And I Love Her” is a delicate, acoustic ballad driven by George’s classical nylon-string guitar riffs and Ringo’s subtle bongos. “If I Fell” is a tender, quite complex, and emotionally vulnerable acoustic ballad with great harmonies by John and Paul.

Side A was never released as a single in the UK. Side B was released there for export only (hence it didn’t chart there) and it had “Tell Me Why” as the flipside (Parlophone DP 562).

In Finland “If I Fell” was released as an A-side with “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You” on the flip (Parlophone 45-DPY 671). “And I Love Her” was the flipside of “I Should Have Known Better” (Parlophone 45-DPY 672).

The first pressing published by Unart Music and Maclen Music. Later pressings were by Maclen only.

List price:  First pressing Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30 (same prices for subsequent pressings); Picture sleeve VG+ $60, NM $120.

 

Record #0808: Can’t Buy Me Love / You Can’t Do That – THE BEATLES

 

Capitol 5150 (original, 1^st pressing) USA, 16. March 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (lead vocals on side B, lead guitar on side B, rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (double lead vocals on side A, backing vocals on side B , bass, cowbell on side B), George Harrison (lead guitar on side A, 12-string guitar, backing vocals on side B), Ringo Starr (drums, bongos on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 29. January (at Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris, France) and 25. Febryary 1964; Side B - 25. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, Canada #1, UK #1, Ireland #2, Australia #1, New Zealand #1, Netherlands #1, Denmark #1, Sweden #1, Norway #3, Finland #3; Side B – US #122, Canada #10

This Beatles single was released with same songs both in the US and the UK. The latter (Parlophone  R 5114) was out four days later, on 20. March. This record was a major commercial success as it sold 2,1 million copies in the States, over 1,5 million copies in the UK and 6 million worldwide.

Side A was written by McCartney, and the flip was penned by Lennon, though both are credited for “Lennon – McCartney”, as usual.

This was #3 in the Finnish charts in June 1964, when “All My Loving” was #1.

List price:  First pressing Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30; 2^nd pressings have publisher “Northern Music Limited” on the label. Same prices.