I'll Cry Instead

I'll Cry Instead

Written by: John Lennon (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: June 1, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: June 4, 1964; June 22, 1964
Length: 1:49
Takes: 8
Musicians: John Lennon: lead vocal (double-tracked), rhythm guitar (Gibson J160E), acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead guitar (Gretsch 6122 "Country Gentleman")
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig), tambourine
First released: July 20, 1964 (US: Capitol 5234)
Available on: (CDs in bold)

• A Hard Day's Night, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1230, PCS 3058, Parlophone CDP7 46437 2, US: United Artists UAL 3366, UAS 6366, Capitol CLJ 46435)
• Something New, (US: Capitol (S)T 2108, CDP 7243 8 66876 2 3)
• Extracts From The Album A Hard Day's Night (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8924)

Highest chart position: 25 (US: August 20, 1964)
History:

• Written by John specifically for the famous "jumping" scene in A Hard Day's Night but scratched at the last minute by director Richard Lester in favor of "Can't Buy Me Love," recorded before the film's other songs and already a hit single.
• Because the song had to be tailored to fit the length of the scene, it was rumored that the original recording was done in two parts -- verse/chorus and bridge -- in order allow different versions of the song in different lengths. There is no evidence of this, but the song does end abruptly in order to allow for a loop to be made: the version of the song that appears on the US soundtrack album (and the mono US Something New) runs 2:09, due to just such an edit. The first verse is tacked on near the end, creating an artificial third verse.
• This song is the first proper original by the band to be done in a "rockabilly" style, owing primarily Paul's "walking" bass track and to George's Gretsch guitar, made popular by country music icon Chet Atkins.
• Lyrically, this is one of the first recorded Beatles songs to explore the theme of romantic revenge, which John in particular would immediately begin to explore on subsequent recordings.

Trivia:

• When the Hard Day's Night movie was re-released in theaters in 1981, it featured an opening photo montage set to the song.

Covered by: Chet Atkins, Joe Cocker, Billy Joel, Johnny Rivers, Lee Rocker