A Hard Day's Night (song)

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"A Hard Day's Night"
"A Hard Day's Night" cover
Single by The Beatles
from the album A Hard Day's Night
A-side(s) A Hard Day's Night
B-side(s) Things We Said Today (UK)

I Should Have Known Better (US)

Released July 10, 1964 (UK)

July 13, 1964 (US)

Format 7" single
Recorded April 16, 1964
Genre Rock
Label Parlophone (UK)

Capitol (US)

Writer(s) John Lennon/Paul McCartney
Producer(s) George Martin
Peak chart positions

1 on UK Record Retailer charts
1 on US Billboard charts

The Beatles singles chronology
Ain't She Sweet/Nobody's Child
1964 		A Hard Day's Night/Things We Said Today (UK)

A Hard Day's Night/I Should Have Known Better (US)
(1964)

I'll Cry Instead/I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
(1964)

A Hard Day's Night is the title track off The Beatles' album and film A Hard Day's Night.

Contents

[edit] Title and Writing

The song was written primarily by John Lennon and attributed to Lennon and McCartney. The title was said to be coined by Ringo after a day of filming on March 19, 1964. Ringo once said, "We went to do a job, and we'd worked all day and we happened to work all night. I came up still thinking it was day I suppose, and I said, 'It's been a hard day...' and I looked around and saw it was dark so I said, '...night!' So we came to A Hard Day's Night." This phrase was not coined by Ringo, as many believe. It was actually mentioned in John's first book, In His Own Write. From "In His Own Write": "There was no reason for Michael to be sad that morning, (the little wretch); everyone liked him, (the scab). He'd had a hard day's night that day, for Michael was a Cocky Watchtower." The book was released on March 23, just four days after Ringo said the title. By which time, all the writing had been completed. It is believed, however, that Ringo saying "A Hard Day's Night" was the inspiration for the song and film title. As John said, "I was going home in the car and Dick Lester suggested the title from something Ringo had said. I had used it in In His Own Write but it was an off-the-cuff remark by Ringo, one of those malapropisms - a Ringoism - said not to be funny, just said. So Dick Lester said, 'We are going to use that title,' and the next morning I brought in the song." The song was indeed written on April 13, the day that the title was selected, at John's house on Cromwell Road. It was written on the back of a birthday card. Paul has suggested that John might not have had all the words when he brought it in, and he might have written the middle eight. The song was previewed to the film's producer, Walter Shenson, the day after it was written. Shenson recalled in 1996, "There were John and Paul with guitars at the ready and all the lyrics scribbled on matchbook covers. They played it and the next night recorded it. It had the right beat and the arrangement was brilliant. These guys were geniuses." Also one of the first to hear this song was journalist Maureen Cleave, who had been associated with the Beatles for more than a year. Apparently, the original lines were "And When I Get Home To You/I Find My Tiredness Is Through," and it was Cleave who suggested changing it to "And When I Get Home To You/I Find The Things That You Do."

[edit] Recording

The song was recorded on April 16 in nine takes at Abbey Road Studios. After the backing track was completed, John recorded double tracked vocals, as well as McCartney's vocals. Also added were bongos, more drums, and acoustic rhythm guitar. John said, "The only reason Paul sang on A Hard Day's Night was because I couldn't reach the notes - 'When I'm home, everything seems to be right. When I'm home...' - which is what we'd do sometimes: one of us couldn't reach a note but he wanted a different sound, so he'd get the other to do the harmony." George's solo and outro were also recorded along with George Martin's piano. It was taped at half speed in order to sound faster.

[edit] Trivia

  • A Hard Day's Night was the last song written for the film.

[edit] The Beatles LOVE

Although not designated it's own mix, the opening chord was featured on a mix of Get Back.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] The Beatles

[edit] Guest Musicians

[edit] Production

[edit] Available Versions

[edit] Available On

[edit] Cover Versions

  • Alvin and The Chipmunks
  • Goldie Hawn
  • Indexi
  • Billy Joel
  • Peggy Lee
  • Rita Lee
  • Ramsey Lewis
  • Little Richard
  • Mrs. Miller
  • Peter Sellers
  • The Smithereens (Live Only)
  • Sonderbar
  • The Supremes, from their 1964 album, A Bit Of Liverpool
  • Sugarcult
  • Swinging Blue Jeans
  • Take That

[edit] Sources

Retrieved from "http://www.beatleswiki.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day%27s_Night_%28song%29"
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