If I Needed Someone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “If I Needed Someone” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by The Beatles | ||
| Album | Rubber Soul | |
| Released | 3 December 1965 | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road Studios 16 October 1965 |
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| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:23 | |
| Label | EMI, Parlophone, Capitol | |
| Writer | George Harrison | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| Rubber Soul track listing | ||
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| “If I Needed Someone” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Hollies | |||||
| B-side | "I've Got a Way of My Own" (Ransford) | ||||
| Released | December 1965 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Genre | Pop music, Beat music | ||||
| Label | Parlophone R5392 | ||||
| The Hollies singles chronology | |||||
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"If I Needed Someone" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared in the UK on the 1965 album Rubber Soul (see 1965 in music) and was later included in the 1966 U.S. release Yesterday...and Today (see 1966 in music). It was written by George Harrison and recorded on October 16 and October 18, 1965, the basic track being recorded right after sessions for Day Tripper.
The song was heavily influenced by the music of The Byrds. Reportedly, Harrison sent an acetate of the song to Roger McGuinn — on which he had written, "This is for Jim" — because the riff in "If I Needed Someone" was based on McGuinn's riff in "The Bells of Rhymney."[citation needed] The song's introduction and coda are also very similar to those of The Byrds' song. Coincidentally, The Byrds' own use of electric 12-string guitar was influenced by George Harrison's use of the instrument in the film A Hard Day's Night.
The song as recorded by the Beatles is in the key of A mixolydian, switching to B minor during the breaks. The verses are heavily harmonized, with George Harrison taking the lead line on the first two lines, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney singing above him throughout on each subsequent verse. Harrison sings the break solo, but double tracked in the studio with himself as was customary during the period the Beatles recorded "Rubber Soul".
"If I Needed Someone" was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles' tours; The Quiet Beatle otherwise only sang covers onstage. "If I Needed Someone" is included in the Beatles' Tokyo concerts in July 1966; the documentary The Compleat Beatles used a clip from the Beatles' haggard performance of the song on stage in Tokyo as illustration of how the band was growing tired of touring. The song was also performed on the Beatles' very last concert in Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966. It is suspected, but not confirmed, that "If I Needed Someone" was performed at every Beatles concert in 1966.
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[edit] Credits
- John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass
- George Harrison – double-tracked lead vocal, 12-string lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
- George Martin – harmonium
[edit] Other versions
Harrison included the song on his Live In Japan album in 1992. Harrison and Eric Clapton play considerably longer guitar interludes between verses. Harrison's voice is also much more prominent than on The Beatles' original.
Clapton played a succinct version of the song at the Concert for George in 2002.
It was the first George Harrison song to be a hit for another act, when The Hollies covered it. Their version reached No. 20 in January 1966, but by their standards it was one of their least successful singles. Dismissive comments in the press led to angry exchanges between both groups.
It was covered by Type O Negative, as part of a medley also containing "Day Tripper" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". It appears on their 1999 album World Coming Down.
Roots duo Show of Hands included a cover of the song on their studio album 'Witness'.
The Bacon Brothers covered it on their album White Knuckles.
[edit] References
- MacDonald, Ian (1995). Revolution In the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties. Vintage. ISBN 0-7126-6697-4.
- Harrison, George (1980). I Me Mine. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-42787-3.
- Hammond, Ian. "The Harrisong, Part IV". Retrieved October 19, 2005.
[edit] External links
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