I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
Written by: John Lennon (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)Recorded: March 1, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: March 3, 1964; June 22, 1964
Length: 1:58
Takes: 4
Musicians: John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead vocals, lead guitar (Rickenbacker 360-12 "Fire-glo")
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig)
First released: July 20, 1964 (US: Capitol 5234) (b-side of "I'll Cry Instead")
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)
History:
- Although John had already given songs to George in order to give him some time in the spotlight, this is the first Beatles composition written specifically for him -- for his part, John had no interest in singing it, although the vocal melody was in his range.
- This is the first example of an oddly syncopated backbeat in a Beatles song, a trend that would culminate in songs like "Ticket To Ride" and "Tomorrow Never Knows."
- The B7 chord injected into the chorus (on the word "dance") also presaged the kind of restless inventiveness found in the group's storied "middle period."
Trivia:
- This recording date represents the first time the Beatles ever went into a studio on a Sunday -- a significant anomaly for the era.
