The Night Before
Written by: Paul McCartney (100%)(credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: February 17, 1965 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: February 18 and 23, 1965
Length: 2:33
Takes: 2
Musicians:
John Lennon: backing vocal, electric piano (1964 Hohner Pianet)
Paul McCartney: lead vocal (double-tracked), bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), lead guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster)
George Harrison: backing vocal, rhythm guitar (1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster)
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig)
Available on: (CDs in bold)
Help!, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1255; PCS 3071; Parlophone CDP 7 46439 2)
Help!, (US: Capitol (S)MAS 2386)
History:
- Written at Paul's Wimpole Street home in late 1964 and recorded in a six-day series of sessions which produced nine new songs, Paul's "The Night Before" -- almost certainly another document of his disillusionment with girlfriend Jane Asher -- is one of the more underrated deep Beatles cuts, splitting the difference between a traditional pop song and a 12-bar blues. It's notable mainly for being the first Beatles song featuring an electric piano, which John plays, forsaking (for perhaps the first time) guitar duties.
- This was recorded at the third session for Help! just before work work began on "You Like Me Too Much," on which John also plays electric piano.
Trivia:
-
[li}In the film Help!, this is performed during a rather silly chase scene filmed on Salisbury Plain, a famous stretch of land near Stonehenge.
- There appears to be some disagreement as to whether Paul or George or both plays the tasty solo; it's actually two Pauls, overdubbed one octave above the other!
