What Goes On
Written by: John Lennon (60%), Paul McCartney (30%), Richard Starkey (10%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney-Starkey)Recorded: November 4, 1965 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: November 9, 1965
Length: 2:44
Takes: 1
Musicians: John Lennon: harmony vocals, rhythm guitars (1964 Gibson J160E)
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead guitar (1962 Gretsch 6119 "Tennessean")
Ringo Starr: lead vocals, drums (Ludwig)
First released: February 15, 1966 (US: Capitol 5587, b-side of "Nowhere Man")
Available on: (CDs in bold)
- Yesterday and Today, (US: Capitol (S)T 2553)
- Rubber Soul, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1267, Parlophone CDP 7 46440 2)
History:
- An old John number from the Quarrymen days (specifically, 1957), this Carl Perkins-inspired rockabilly nugget was rescued rom obscurity when a Ringo-sung number was needed for Rubber Soul. (Capitol was always very conscious about giving Ringo, America's favorite Beatle, a vocal spotlight on each album.) Paul's contribution is thought to have been crafting new second and third verses for the existing song, with som help from Ringo -- though the drummer claims he only added "about five words."
- Because of the input from Ringo, this is the only Beatles track credited to "Lennon-McCartney-Starkey," although the drummer made other contributions to songs like "Eleanor Rigby" that were not reflected in the songwriting credits.
- This was completed in one take, having been a song the band already knew well; the only other recording at this session was the jam "12-Bar Original," which only saw the light of day (edited severely) on Anthology 2.
- Early pressings of the 45 do not include the "Starkey" credit, perhaps out of sheer habit.
- After Ringo sings "Tell me why" for the second time, John says "I already told you why" in the background. It's the first of what would be several Beatles ad-libs left into official recordings. Ringo can also be heard humming during the solo, and repeating the phrase "in your mind" during the outro, in order to keep his place!
