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I'll Get You

From Robert Fontenot,
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The history of this classic Beatles song

I'll Get You

Written by: John Lennon (80%) and Paul McCartney (20%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Working Title: Get You In The End
Recorded: July 1st, 1963 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: July 4, 1963
Length: 2:04
Takes: unknown
Musicians: John Lennon: co-lead vocal, rhythm guitar (1958 Rickenbacker 325), Hohner harmonica
Paul McCartney: co-lead vocal, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead guitar (Gretsch 6122 "Country Gentleman")
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig)
First released: August 23, 1963 (b-side of "She Loves You") (UK: Parlophone R5055), September 16, 1963 (b-side of "She Loves You") (US: Swan 4152)
also May 21, 1964 (as b-side of "Sie Liebt Dich") (US: Swan 4182)
Available on: (CDs in bold)
  • Past Masters Volume 1, (UK: Parlophone CDP 7 90043 2, US: Capitol CDP 7 90043 2)
  • The Beatles' Second Album, (US: Capitol (S)T 2080, Capitol CDP 7243 8 66877 2 2}
History:
  • Written as the intended follow-up to "From Me To You" but scrapped for the a-side when "She Loves You" was written at the last minute. Composed mostly by John, with some help from Paul on the bridge.
  • A rare recording that features a double-lead vocal by John and Paul in which they aren't, for the most part, singing in harmony.
  • Also rare for an early Beatles recording in that there is no lead guitar line to speak of.
  • The chord change from G to E9 in the bridge was brought in by Paul, inspired by Joan Baez' version of "All My Trials."
Live versions: October 13, 1963 (for the BBC program Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
BBC versions: 5 (for the BBC radio programs Pop Goes The Beatles and Saturday Club
Trivia:
  • The original stereo master of this song has, somehow, been lost to history. Therefore, it has never been released in stereo, one of only four Beatles songs to have this distinction (the others being "Love Me Do," "She Loves You," and "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)."
Covered by: R. Stevie Moore
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