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A Hard Days Night
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Track List History
- A Hard Days Night: This was the last song written for the movie and became the title of the movie and the album.
It was written without ever seeing the script, written by Dick Lester. Ringo invented the phrase after working all day and all night. The lyrics were written by John and the song was recorded 3 hours later. It was to be featured at the begining and the end of the movie. This song quickly rose to
number one in England and America.
- I Should Have Known Better: Released on side 2 in America, this song was featured first in the film and was performed in sequence where the Beatles and Paul's "grandfather" are on a train banished in the mail car. It was filmed on a set at Twickenham Film Studios. John wrote this song with a optomistic point of view.
First he loves her, she loves him and everything is fine.
- If I Fell: Because the script was already written, the decision had been made that none of the Beatles would be given a love interest in the film. Due to this being a love song, that meant
that Jon had to sing it to Ringo. It is one of John's most beautiful and revealing songs. It is the story of asking a woman in question for assurance that if he leaves hi wife for her that she will love him more than he has ever been loved before.
- And I Love Her: The initial idea for this song was to compose something with a title that began mid sentence. Paul wrote the versus and only went to John for the middle 8. It was used in the movie during a scene where they were recording for a tv show. The actual recording of this song began in Feb 1964 and it was the first
Beatles track to feature accoustic instruments, with Ringo on the bongos.
- I'm Happy Just to Dance With You: This song was written by John for George to sing on the film. It was filmed on a stage at the Scala Theatre in Charlotte Street, London. George, as the youngest Beatle, felt that he was constantly living in the shadows of John and Paul. He began writing his own songs but became resentful that more of them weren't considered for the albums.
John was equally hurt in 1980 when George published "I Me Mine" without mention of his influence on George's song writing.
- Tell Me Why: This song was written to provide an upbeat number for the concert sequence in a Hard Days Night. Written by John it was a typical song for him. The plot told the story of someone who had been lied to and deserted. He cries and appeals to his girl to let him know what he has done wrong so he can put it right.
- Can't Buy Me Love: In January of 1964 the Beatles went to Paris for 18 days of concerts at the Olympia theatre. They stated at a 5 star George V Hotel and had a grand piano moved into their suites so they could continue to compose. Paul wrote this song and it was used in the film replacing "I'll Cry Instead", as the group ran down a fire escape at the back of the theatre and fooled around on some open ground.
- Any Time At All: John wrote this song, which was a recording of an early song titled "It won't belong." This song was just one of the five he wrote for the movie.
- I'll Cry Instead: This was the original song, composed by John, which would have been used over the fire escape sequence but was dropped. However in video release of 1986, it was put back in over the collage sequence before the credits.
- Things We Said Today: In May of 1964 they completed the filming of A Hard Days Night and the Beatles took off for a holiday break. John and George made round the word trips while Paul and Ringo went to France, Portugual, and the Virgin Islands. While in the Carribean Paul hired a Yacht called Happy Days. He wrote this song while on vacation using a accoustic guitar. The song reflected a relationship with Jane
Asher in light of the fact that he knew that they wouldn't be together much.
- When I Get Home: Described by John as a "four in the bar, cowbell song" it actually was a more optomistic song written by John. The lyrics revelead his thoughts about what he was going to do and say to his "girl" when he got home. He thought of home as where the true love would be waiting.
- You Can't Do That: Written by John, this song suggests instead of weeping, to try threatening. He tells a girl that if he catches her talking to another boy he is going to leave her immediately.
It's musical influence was from Wilson Pickett, a former gospel singer from Alabama, who at the time had only released 3 singles under his own name in America. John played lead on his new Rickenbacker, while George played a 12 string guitar for the first time on Beatles record.
- I'll Be Back: John found the chords while playing a Del Shannon song. Shannon played London's Royal Hall with the Beatles. He suggested he could help expose their work in America by covering one of their songs. The Beatles agreed and Shannon recorded "From Me To You." It reached 77 in America and it was the first Lennon/McCartney composition to hit american charts.
*** The following songs mentioned were written by the Beatles. Other songs may be included on the album and not mentioned.***
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