All I've Got to Do
"All I've Got to Do" | |
---|---|
Song by the Beatles | |
from the album With the Beatles | |
Released | 22 November 1963 |
Recorded | 11 September 1963 |
Studio | EMI, London |
Genre | |
Length | 2:04 |
Label | Parlophone (UK) Capitol (US) |
Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney |
Producer(s) | George Martin |
"All I've Got to Do" is a song written by John Lennon[1][2] (credited to Lennon–McCartney) and performed by the English rock band the Beatles on their second British album, With the Beatles (1963).[3][4] In the United States, "All I've Got to Do" originally appeared on Meet the Beatles! (1964).[3][5] According to Dennis Alstrand, the song is the first time in rock and roll or rock music in which the bass player plays chords as a vital part of the song.[6]
Inspiration
Lennon said he was "trying to do
It was one of three songs Lennon was the principal writer for on With the Beatles, with "It Won't Be Long"[11] and "Not a Second Time".[12] Lennon said that it was written specifically for the American market, because the idea of calling a girl on the telephone was unthinkable to a British youth in the early 1960s. For instance, Lennon said in an interview regarding "No Reply": "I had the image of walking down the street and seeing her silhouetted in the window and not answering the 'phone, although I have never called a girl on the 'phone in my life! Because 'phones weren't part of the English child's life."[13]
Recording
The band recorded the song in a single recording session on 11 September 1963 in 14 takes with one overdub, take 15. The master take was take 15.[14] It was mixed for mono on 30 September and for stereo on 29 October.[15]
Although music journalist Steve Turner claims the song was written in 1961,[16] MacDonald said the song was never in the Beatles' live repertoire, which explains why 8 of the 14 takes were incomplete: the band was unfamiliar with the song.[8]
Release
In the UK, "All I've Got to Do" was released on With the Beatles which also includes the Beatles'
Personnel
According to Ian MacDonald:[8]
- John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass
- George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
Cover versions
- In 2007, Meet the Smithereens!.[17]
- Toxic Audio covered it on Come Together: An A Cappella Tribute to The Beatles.[18]
Notes
- ^ Sheff 2000, p. 193.
- ^ Miles 1997, p. 148.
- ^ a b c d Lewisohn 1988, p. 200.
- ^ Cross 2005, p. 492.
- ^ Cross 2005, pp. 547–548.
- ^ Alstrand 2009.
- ^ Dowlding, William. Beatlesongs. New York: Touchstone, 1989, p. 49.
- ^ a b c MacDonald 2005, p. 97.
- ^ Unterberger 2007.
- ^ Spitz 2005, p. 446.
- ^ Sheff 2000, p. 170.
- ^ Sheff 2000, p. 194.
- ^ Badman 2000, p. 135.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 35.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, pp. 36, 37.
- ^ Turner 2005, p. 35.
- ^ Deming 2007.
- ^ Legett 2007.
References
- Alstrand, Dennis. "The Evolution of Rock Bass Playing; McCartney Style: 1963". Archived from the original on 1 January 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- Badman, Keith (2000). The Beatles Off the Record.
- Cross, Craig (2005). The Beatles: Day-by-Day, Song-by-Song, Record-by-Record. Lincoln, NE: ISBN 0-595-34663-4.
- Deming, Mark (2007). "Review of Meet the Smithereens". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
- Legett, Steve (2007). "Review of Come Together: An A Cappella Tribute to the Beatles". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
- ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
- ISBN 0-8050-5249-6.
- Pollack, Alan W (1991). "Notes on "All I've Got to Do"". Notes on ... Series.
- ISBN 0-312-25464-4.
- ISBN 0-316-80352-9.
- ISBN 0-06-084409-4.
- Unterberger, Richie (2007). "Review of "All I've Got to Do"". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 March 2007.