A Hard Day's Night
The first Beatles album made entirely of their own songs, written around their first film.
The Beatles, 1964
- Released
- 10 July 1964
- Recorded
- 29 January to 2 June 1964
- Studio
- EMI Studios, London
- Label
- Parlophone
- Producer
- George Martin
- Length
- 30:09
Starr coined the phrase a hard day's night, and Lennon and McCartney then wrote the title song. Recording of the film songs began on 25 February 1964, and the rest of the album was finished in sessions that ended on 2 June. The United States version, issued on United Artists on 26 June, had a different, soundtrack-based list with instrumentals by George Martin. Harrison's twelve-string guitar runs through the record.
It was number one in Britain and held the top of the Billboard chart for 14 weeks. AllMusic's Richie Unterberger called Harrison's twelve-string leads hugely influential, and Pitchfork gives it 9.7 out of 10. It entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
Track listing
- A Hard Day's Night2:34
- I Should Have Known Better2:43
- If I Fell2:19
- I'm Happy Just to Dance with You1:56
- And I Love Her2:30
- Tell Me Why2:09
- Can't Buy Me Love2:12
- Any Time at All2:11
- I'll Cry Instead1:44
- Things We Said Today2:35
- When I Get Home2:17
- You Can't Do That2:35
- I'll Be Back2:24
Personnel
- John Lennon vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Paul McCartney vocals, bass, cowbell
- George Harrison vocals, six- and twelve-string guitar
- Ringo Starr drums
- George Martin producer, piano, orchestration
More from The Beatles
With the Beatles (1963), Please Please Me (1963), Rubber Soul (1965), Help! (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Magical Mystery Tour (1967), The Beatles (The White Album) (1968), Abbey Road (1969), Let It Be (1970)
Sources
- A Hard Day's Night (album), Wikipedia