Beatles for Sale

Sessions began on 11 August 1964 and most of the work came in a three-week stretch from 29 September. Recording finished on 26 October and mixing on 4 November. Partly because of the group's hectic schedule, only eight tracks are originals, and covers of Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard complete the album. McCartney said it was basically the stage show with some new songs. Martin said the band was "rather war weary".

The Beatles met Bob Dylan in New York in August 1964, and Lennon's "I'm a Loser" was the first of their songs to directly reflect his influence. Lennon said you could call it a Beatles country and western LP. The sessions produced the first fade-in on a pop song, at the start of "Eight Days a Week", and the first guitar feedback on a pop recording, on "I Feel Fine", a non-album single released alongside the LP. The percussion included timpani, African hand drums and chocalho, all new to the band.

The album was number one in Britain for 11 of its 46 weeks in the top 20. It was not widely available in the United States until 1987, because Capitol spread its songs across Beatles '65 and Beatles VI. "Eight Days a Week" became the band's seventh American number one when issued as a single in February 1965.