With The Beatles (1963)

"It Won't Be Long"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
July 30, 1963: Ten takes were recorded in a morning session. Seven more takes were recorded in the afternoon, as well as six edit pieces. Take 17 and Edit Piece 21 were cut together.
August 21, 1963: Editing and mono mixing.
October 29, 1963: Stereo mixing.

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: backing vocal, bass
George: backing vocal, lead guitar
Ringo: drums

John: "'It Won't Be Long' was mine. It was my attempt at writing another single. It never quite made it."

Interesting Facts
- John and Paul were happy with the word play they'd fit into the song: "It won't be long till I belong to you."
- During the recording of "It Won't Be Long," the Beatles discovered double-tracking. John said, "When I discovered it, I double-tracked everything. I wouldn't let [George Martin] have anything single-tracked from then on. He would say, 'Please. Just this one,' and I would say, 'No'."

"All I've Got to Do"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: September 11, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: harmony vocal, bass
George: lead guitar
Ringo: drums

John: "That's me trying to do Smokey Robinson."

"All My Loving"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
July 30, 1963: Fourteen takes were recorded. Takes 12 through 14 were overdubs. The master version was an overdub, comprised of Take 14 onto Take 11.
August 21, 1963: Mono mixing.
October 29, 1963: Stereo mixing.

Musicians and Instruments
Paul: lead vocal, bass
John: backing vocal, rhythm guitar
George: backing vocal, lead guitar
Ringo: drums

Paul: "I always liked it. I think it was the first song where I wrote the words on the tour bus during our tour with Roy Orbison. We did a lot of writing then. Then, when we got to the gig, I found a piano and worked out the music."

Interesting Facts
- It's been reported that John got his rapid guitar rhythm part in this song from the Crystals' 1963 hit "Da-Doo Ron Ron."
- Some critics argued that the melody for "All My Loving" was lifted from a work by Tchaikovsky.

"Don't Bother Me"
(Harrison)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: September 11 and 12, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
George: lead vocal, lead guitar
John: rhythm guitar, tambourine
Paul: bass, claves
Ringo: drums, bongos

George: "'Don't Bother Me' I wrote in a hotel in Bournemouth, where we were playing a summer season in 1963, as an exercise to see if I could write a song. I was sick in bed. I don't think it's a particularly good song; it mightn't be a song at all. But at least it showed me that all I needed to do was keep on writing and maybe eventually I would write something good."

"Little Child"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios
Dates: September 11, 12, and October 3, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Paul: lead vocal, bass, piano
George: lead guitar
Ringo: drums

John: "'Little Child' was another effort of Paul and I to write a song for somebody else. It was probably Ringo."

"Till There Was You"
(Willson)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 18 and 30, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
Paul: lead vocal, bass
John: rhythm guitar
George: lead guitar
Ringo: bongos

"Please Mister Postman"
(Holland/Bateman/Garrett/Dobbins/Gorman)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 30, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: backing vocal, bass
George: backing vocal, lead guitar
Ringo: drums

"Roll Over Beethoven"
(Berry)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 30, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
George: lead vocal, lead guitar
John: rhythm guitar
Paul: bass
Ringo: drums

"Hold Me Tight"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: February 11 and September 12, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
Paul: lead vocal, bass
John: backing vocal, rhythm guitar
George: backing vocal, lead guitar
Ringo: drums

Paul: "'Hold Me Tight' was a failed attempt at a single which then became an acceptable album filler."

"You Really Got a Hold On Me"
(Robinson)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 18 and October 17, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar
George: lead vocal, lead guitar
Paul: backing vocal, bass
Ringo: drums
George Martin: piano

"I Wanna Be Your Man"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: September 11, 12, 30, October 3, and 23, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
Ringo: lead vocal, drums, maracas
John: backing vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: backing vocal, bass
George: lead guitar
George Martin: hammond organ

John: "[Paul and I] wrote it, but mainly Paul."

"Devil in Her Heart"
(Drapkin)

First Released: April 10, 1963, on the US LP The Beatles' Second Album

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 18, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
George: lead vocal, lead guitar
John: harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: harmony vocal, bass
Ringo: drums, maracas

"Not a Second Time"
(Lennon/McCartney)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: September 11, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, acoustic guitar
Paul: bass
George: acoustic guitar
Ringo: drums
George Martin: piano

Paul: "Influenced by Smokey Robison and the Miracles."

"Money (That's What I Want)"
(Bradford/Gordy)

First Released: November 22, 1963, on the UK LP With The Beatles

Recording Information
Location: Abbey Road Studios, London
Dates: July 18, 30, and September 30, 1963

Musicians and Instruments
John: lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Paul: backing vocal, bass
George: backing vocal, lead guitar
Ringo: drums
George Martin: piano