Tell Me What You See
Written by: Paul McCartney(100%)(credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: February 18, 1965 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: February 20 and 23, 1965
Length: 2:35
Takes: 4
Musicians:
John Lennon: harmony vocal, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney: lead vocal, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), electric piano (1964 Hohner Pianet), guiro
George Harrison: lead guitar (1962 Gretsch 6119 "Tennessean")
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig), tambourine, claves
Available on: (CDs in bold)
Help! (UK: Parlophone PMC 1255; PCS 3071; Parlophone CDP 7 46439 2)
Beatles VI, (US: Capitol (S)T 2358, Capitol CDP 0946 3 57499 2 2) History:
- Written largely if not completely by Paul specifically for the Help! sessions, "Tell Me What You See" is a fairly nondescript and therefore often overlooked part of the Beatles legacy. But its prominent use of Latin instrumentation, gentle folky nature, and odd hook -- specifically, the electric piano breakdown that flags every chorus -- mark this as a transitional work, one which clearly points the way to the group's middle period. Indeed, many see the seeds of Paul's far superior "I'm Looking Through You," melodically and lyrically, in this song.
- The instrument being played by Paul is a guiro, an Afro-Cuban rhythm instrument that's essentially a grooved gourd rhythmically rubbed with a stick. Ringo, for his part, plays claves, not seen since "And I Love Her." This is also the third and final Help! track to feature electric piano. John, for his part, strums his Rickenbacker as if it were an acoustic, with lots of upstrokes.
- This song was recorded at the fourth session for Help!, just after work was completed on "If You've Got Trouble," an original intended to be Ringo's vocal spotlight but shelved because he didn't care for it.
- This song was intended for the film itself, but rejected by director Richard Lester and so relegated to the b-side of the LP.
- The mix of this song is unusual for a Beatles song from this period, with the mix heavily and almost entirely leaning center-right.
