The Beatles essay #1

B-side “You Can’t Do That”

The studio

A Hard Day’s Night

Dick Lester – director

Alun Owen – script

Idea: to portray the Beatles as “distinct but complementary individuals buoyed and trapped by their success”

Soundtrack album to include songs used in the film and some new material

· Recorded 17 songs

· “I Call Your Name” (Lennon) plus three covers released as EP in June – Long Tall Sally

· 13 originals comprised the new album

“A Hard Day’s Night”

Lennon: In His Own Write (published March 1964)

Sad Michael

There was no reason for Michael to be sad that morning, (the little wretch): everyone liked him, (the scab). He'd had a hard day's night that day, for Michael was a Cocky Watchtower. His wife Bernie, who was well controlled, had wrabbed his norman lunch but he was still sad. It was strange for a man who have everything and a wife to boot. At 4 o'clock when his fire was burking bridelly a Poleaseman had clubbed in to parse the time around. 'Goddeven Michael,' the Poleaseman speeg, but Michael did not answer for he was debb and duff and could not speeg . . .

Analysis

· That chord, that sound – attention-grabbing!

· Melody creates harmonic colour over opening harmony: G – Cadd9 – G – F6

· Note drop to ♭VII (G to F)

· Bridge establishes the relative minor (VI, E minor)

· Instrumental interlude

· Outro: that chord again

A Hard Day's Night (album)

A Hard Day's Night

I Should Have Known Better

If I Fell

I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

And I Love Her

Tell Me Why

Can't Buy Me Love

(and ... songs not featured in the film ...)

Any Time At All

I'll Cry Instead

Things We Said Today

When I Get Home

You Can't Do That

I'll Be Back

The film

· Biographical

· Showcase the band's music

· Plot revolves around rehearsals for live televised concert in front of hundreds of screaming fans. Beatles constantly try to escape their fans and those who would confine them. Ringo feels somewhat unappreciated by the others, and runs off, jeopardizing the concert

Riff song

“I Should Have Known Better”

The album

“If I Fell”

· Intro / Verse

· Material in the 8-bar intro never returns

· Begins in E♭ minor, complex and surprising harmonies

“And I Love Her”

· Structurally simple song in E major, but song rises one semitone (to F) when the guitar solo begins (common device used in ballads)

“I’ll Be Back”

· Harmonies: Am – G6 – Fmaj7 – E7 – A

· Major-minor mixes

Other songs

1964

June – tour of Denmark, Holland, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand

July/Aug – touring Britain

Aug/Sep – US-Canada tour

“I Feel Fine”

· Hook = the opening note is deliberately distorted with feedback

· Riff

· Drumming

“She’s A Woman”

· McCartney’s B-side, an alternative blues

· Lyrics are unexceptional

· “Turn me on when I get lonely”