The Beatles Wiki
No edit summary
(rm duplicate category)
(16 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
"'''Got to Get You into My Life'''" is a [[song]] by [[The Beatles]], first released in 1966 on the album ''[[Revolver (album)|Revolver]]''. Written by [[Paul McCartney]] (though officially credited to [[Lennon–McCartney]]),{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=190}}{{sfn|Sheff|2000|p=181}} it made prominent use of a [[brass section]]. A cover version by [[Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers]] peaked at number six in 1966.{{sfn|Chart Stats|2009}}
+
{{Wikipedia}}"'''Got to Get You into My Life'''" is a song by [[The Beatles]], first released in 1966 on the album ''[[Revolver]]''. Written by [[Paul McCartney]] (though officially credited to Lennon–McCartney), it made prominent use of a brass section. A cover version by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers peaked at number six in 1966.
   
The Beatles' version was released in the United States as a [[Single (music)|single]] from the ''[[Rock 'n' Roll Music (The Beatles album)|Rock 'n' Roll Music]]'' [[compilation album]] in 1976, a decade after its initial release and six years after The Beatles split up. It reached number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] [[record chart|chart]],{{sfn|Wallgren|1982|p=106}} The Beatles' last top ten hit there until their 1995 release "[[Free as a Bird]]".
+
The Beatles' version was released in the United States as a single from the ''Rock 'n' Roll Music'' compilation album in 1976, a decade after its initial release and six years after The Beatles split up. It reached number seven on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, The Beatles' last top ten hit there until their 1995 release "[[Free as a Bird]]".
   
  +
==Composition and recording==
==Composition and recording==<br />Though officially credited to [[Lennon–McCartney]], McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of the song,{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=190}}{{sfn|Sheff|2000|p=181}} to which he also contributed lead vocals.{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=193}} It was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]] between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=72-83}} The song seems to have been hard to arrange until the soul-style horns, strongly reminiscent of the [[Stax Records|Stax]]' [[Memphis soul]] and [[Motown]] sound, were introduced. The brass was close-miked in the bells of the instruments then put through a limiter.{{sfn|Morin|1998}} The percussion instrument most predominant is the overdubbed [[tambourine]].
 
   
 
Though officially credited to Lennon–McCartney, McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of the song, to which he also contributed lead vocals. It was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]] between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album. The song seems to have been hard to arrange until the soul-style horns, strongly reminiscent of the Stax Records' Memphis soul and Motown sound, were introduced. The brass was close-miked in the bells of the instruments then put through a limiter. The percussion instrument most predominant is the overdubbed tambourine.
The song starts with a blaring brass [[fanfare]], McCartney's vocals entering at 0:07. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song's title sung. The song then switches between a [[Verse (popular music)|verse]] and the [[refrain]]. A short electric guitar [[solo (music)|solo]] that is nearly identical to the riff from [[Paperback Writer]] appears at 1:53 and at 2:10 the horn fanfare re-enters. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney, much akin to the soul records of the time. The [[monaural|mono]] and [[stereo]] mixes of the recording feature completely different ad libs in the [[fade-out]] - the presence of a second vocal track is also far more subtle for most of the mono version. Backing vocals were recorded early but later eliminated.
 
   
 
The song starts with a blaring brass fanfare, McCartney's vocals entering at 0:07. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song's title sung. The song then switches between a verse and the refrain. A short electric guitar solo that is nearly identical to the riff from [[Paperback Writer]] appears at 1:53 and at 2:10 the horn fanfare re-enters. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney, much akin to the soul records of the time. The mono and stereo mixes of the recording feature completely different ad libs in the fade-out - the presence of a second vocal track is also far more subtle for most of the mono version. Backing vocals were recorded early but later eliminated.
In [[Barry Miles]]' 1997 book ''[[Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now]]'', McCartney disclosed that the song was about [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]].{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=190}} "'Got to Get You into My Life' was one I wrote when I had first been introduced to pot... So [it's] really a song about that, it's not to a person."{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=190}} Many [[lyrics]] from the song suggest this: "I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there.",'"What can I do? What can I be? When I'm with you, I want to stay there / If I am true, I will never leave and if I do, I'll know the way there." "It's actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained, "like someone else might write an ode to chocolate or a good claret."<ref>{{cite web|title=50 - 'Got to Get You Into My Life'|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-beatles-songs-20110919/got-to-get-you-into-my-life-19691231|work=100 Greatest Beatles Song|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=20 June 2012}}</ref>
 
   
 
In [[Barry Miles]]' 1997 book ''Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now'', McCartney disclosed that the song was about marijuana."'Got to Get You into My Life' was one I wrote when I had first been introduced to pot... So it's really a song about that, it's not to a person." Many lyrics from the song suggest this: "I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there.",'"What can I do? What can I be? When I'm with you, I want to stay there / If I am true, I will never leave and if I do, I'll know the way there." "It's actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained, "like someone else might write an ode to chocolate or a good claret."
==Reception==<br />Thomas Ward of [[Allmusic]] said, "McCartney’s always been a great vocalist, and this is perhaps the best example of his singing on Revolver. One of the overlooked gems on the album."{{sfn|Ward|2009}} When asked about the song in his 1980 ''[[Playboy]]'' interview, [[John Lennon]] said, "Paul's again. I think that was one of his best songs, too."{{sfn|Sheff|2000|p=181}}
 
   
  +
==Reception==
==Chart performance==<br />{|class="wikitable"<br />|-<br />!style="width:19em"|Chart (1976)<br />!Peak<br />position<br />|-<br />|US ''Billboard'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]{{sfn|Wallgren|1982|p=106}}<br />| style="text-align:center;"|7<br />|}
 
 
Thomas Ward of Allmusic said, "McCartney’s always been a great vocalist, and this is perhaps the best example of his singing on Revolver. One of the overlooked gems on the album." When asked about the song in his 1980 ''Playboy'' interview, [[John Lennon]] said, "Paul's again. I think that was one of his best songs, too."
   
  +
==Personnel==
==Personnel==<br />*[[Paul McCartney]] – [[double-tracked]] [[Lead vocalist|lead vocal]], [[bass guitar|bass]]<br />*[[John Lennon]] – [[rhythm guitar]]<br />*[[George Harrison]] – [[lead guitar]]<br />*[[Ringo Starr]] – [[drum kit|drums]], [[tambourine]]<br />*[[George Martin]] – [[organ (music)|organ]]<br />*[[Eddie Thornton]] – [[trumpet]]<br />*[[Ian Hamer (musician)|Ian Hamer]] – trumpet<br />*Les Condon – trumpet<br />*[[Alan Branscombe]] – [[tenor saxophone]]<br />*Peter Coe – tenor saxophone<br />:Personnel per [[Ian MacDonald]]; MacDonald was unsure if Lennon played the rhythm guitar part.{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=193}}
 
  +
*[[Paul McCartney]] – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar ([[Epiphone 230TD Casino]]), Bass Guitar ([[Rickenbacker 4001S]])
  +
*[[John Lennon]] – Rhythm Guitar ([[Epiphone 230TD Casino]]), Hammond Organ
  +
*[[George Harrison]] – Lead Guitar (1961 Fender Stratocaster)
  +
*[[Ringo Starr]] – Drums, Tambourine
  +
*Eddie Thornton – Trumpet
  +
*Ian Hamer – Trumpet
  +
*Les Condon – Trumpet
  +
*Alan Branscombe – Tenor Saxophone
  +
*Peter Coe – Tenor Saxophone
  +
:Personnel per [[Ian MacDonald]]; MacDonald was unsure if Lennon played the rhythm guitar part.
   
 
==Earth, Wind & Fire version==
==Earth, Wind & Fire version==<br />{{Infobox single<br />| Name = Got to Get You into My Life<br />| Cover = Earth_Wind_Fire - Got to Get You into My Life.jpg<br />| Artist = [[Earth, Wind & Fire]]<br />| from Album = [[The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1]]<br />| B-side = "I'll Write a Song for You"<br />| Released = 14 July 1978<br />| Recorded = 1977<br />| Format = [[Gramophone record|7"]], [[12-inch single|12"]]<br />| Genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]<br />| Label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]<br />| Length = 4:03<br />| Writer = [[Lennon–McCartney]]<br />| Last single = "Magic Mind"<br />(1978)<br />| This single = "'''Got to Get You into My Life'''"<br />(1978)<br />| Next single = "[[September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)|September]]"<br />(1978)<br />}}
 
 
Earth, Wind & Fire remade the song for the 1978 ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' soundtrack. They released it as a single and included it on their album ''The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1''. Their version reached number 1 on the Soul singles chart and number nine on the Hot 100 singles chart. It has since been included on ''[[Come Together (album)|Come Together]]''.
   
 
The song won a Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist and also garnered a Grammy nomination for Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
[[Earth, Wind & Fire]] remade the song for the 1978 ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (soundtrack)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' soundtrack. They released it as a single and included it on their album ''[[The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1]]''. Their version reached number 1 on the Soul singles chart and number nine on the Hot 100 singles chart.{{sfn|Allmusic|2009}}
 
   
  +
===Reception===
The song won a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)]] and also garnered a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]].{{sfn|The Official Earth, Wind & Fire Website|2009}}
 
 
"Got to Get You into My Life" sold over one million copies, enough for the Recording Industry Association of America to certify it gold.
   
  +
==Cover versions==
===Reception===<br />"Got to Get You into My Life" sold over one million copies, enough for the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] to certify it [[Music recording sales certification|gold]].
 
  +
*The Earth, Wind & Fire version mentioned above.
  +
*Chicago performed this song live on tour in the 1970s as an encore with Peter Cetera on vocals.
  +
*Ali Campbell covered the song on his 2010 album ''Great British Songs''.
  +
*Australian rock band Koritni covered the song on their debut album ''Lady Luck'', released in 2007.
   
  +
==Other versions==
===Chart performance===<br />{|class="wikitable"<br />|-<br />!style="width:19em"|Chart (1978)<br />!Peak<br />position<br />|-<br />|US ''Billboard'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]{{sfn|Allmusic|2009}}<br />| style="text-align:center;"|9<br />|-<br />|US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Soul Singles]]{{sfn|Allmusic|2009}}<br />| style="text-align:center;"|1<br />|}<br />{{s-start|noclear=yes}}<br />{{succession box<br />| before = "[[Holding On (When Love Is Gone)]]" by [[L.T.D.]]<br />| title = ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Soul Singles]] [[List of number-one R&B hits (United States)|number-one single]]<br />| years = 23 September 1978<br />| after = "[[One Nation Under a Groove (song)|One Nation Under a Groove (Part 1)]]" by [[Funkadelic]]<br />}}<br />{{s-end}}
 
  +
*Johnny Hallyday with a stunning French version "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" (1966).
 
  +
*Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
==Cover versions==<br />*[[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] performed this song live on tour in the 1970s as an encore with [[Peter Cetera]] on vocals.<br />*[[Ali Campbell]] covered the song on his 2010 album ''Great British Songs''.<br />*Australian rock band [[Koritni]] covered the song on their debut album ''Lady Luck'', released in 2007.
 
  +
*The Four Tops on the album "Soul Spin"
 
  +
*Blood, Sweat & Tears
==Other versions==<br />*[[Johnny Hallyday]] with a stunning French version "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" (1966).<br />*[[Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers]]<br />*[[The Four Tops]] on the album "Soul Spin"<br />*[[Blood, Sweat & Tears]]<br />*[[Diana Ross & The Supremes]]<br />*[[Earth, Wind & Fire]]<br />*[[Thelma Houston]] with Pressure Cooker<br />*[[Syesha Mercado]] of [[American Idol]]<br />*[[Courtney Murphy]] of [[Australian Idol]]<br />*[[Matt Corby]] of [[Australian Idol]]<br />*[[Daniel Johnston]]<br />*[[BUCK Enterprises]]<br />*[[Matthew Sweet]] and [[Susanna Hoffs]] from the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Imagine That (film)|Imagine That]]''<br />*[[Ella Fitzgerald]]<br />*Jazz Detectives<br />*[[Joe Pesci]] on the album "Vegas Goodfellas"<br />*[[The Baby Dolls]] (Hollywood Records 1111) US 7" single<br />*[[Chris Clark (singer)|Chris Clark]] (Motown Records)
 
  +
*Diana Ross & The Supremes
 
  +
*Thelma Houston with Pressure Cooker
==Notes==<br />{{reflist}}
 
  +
*Syesha Mercado of American Idol
 
  +
*Courtney Murphy of Australian Idol
==References==<br />{{Refbegin|2}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|work=[[Allmusic]]<br />|year=2009<br />|title=Got to Get You into My Life<br />|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r6511/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}}<br />|accessdate=20 November 2009<br />|ref={{SfnRef|Allmusic|2009}}}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|work=Chart Stats<br />|year=2009<br />|title=Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers - Got To Get You Into My Life<br />|url=http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=4377<br />|accessdate=20 November 2009<br />|ref={{SfnRef|Chart Stats|2009}}}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=Lewisohn<br />|first=Mark<br />|year=1988<br />|authorlink=Mark Lewisohn<br />|title=The Beatles Recording Sessions<br />|publisher=[[Harmony Books]]<br />|location=New York<br />|isbn=0-517-57066-1<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=MacDonald<br />|first=Ian<br />|year=2005<br />|authorlink=Ian MacDonald<br />|title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties<br />|publisher=Pimlico (Rand)<br />|edition=Second Revised<br />|location=London<br />|isbn=1-84413-828-3<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=Miles<br />|first=Barry<br />|year=1997<br />|authorlink=Barry Miles<br />|title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now<br />|publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company]]<br />|location=New York<br />|isbn=0-8050-5249-6<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=Morin<br />|first=Cari<br />|year=1998<br />|title=The Evolution of Beatles' Recording Technology<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|work=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]<br />|year=2009a<br />|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - The Beatles Gold Singles<br />|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=6&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=The+Beatles&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25<br />|accessdate=20 July 2009<br />|ref={{SfnRef|RIAA|2009a}}}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|work=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]<br />|year=2009b<br />|title=RIAA Certification for Got to Get You into My Life<br />|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Earth%20Wind&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50<br />|accessdate=20 November 2009<br />|ref={{SfnRef|RIAA|2009b}}}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=Sheff<br />|first=David<br />|year=2000<br />|authorlink=David Sheff<br />|title=All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono<br />|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]<br />|location=New York<br />|isbn=0-312-25464-4<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite book<br />|last=Wallgren<br />|first=Mark<br />|year=1982<br />|title=The Beatles on Record<br />|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]<br />|location=New York<br />|isbn=0-671-45682-2<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|last=Ward<br />|first=Thomas<br />|year=2009<br />|title=Review of "Got to Get You into My Life"<br />|work=[[Allmusic]]<br />|url={{Allmusic|class=song|id=t819428|pure_url=yes}}<br />|accessdate=20 November 2009<br />|ref=harv}}<br />* {{cite web<br />|work=The Official Earth, Wind & Fire Website<br />|title=Earth, Wind & Fire - Awards<br />|year=2009<br />|url=http://www.earthwindandfire.com/bio_awards.html<br />|accessdate=20 November 2009<br />|ref={{SfnRef|The Official Earth, Wind & Fire Website|2009}}}}<br />* {{cite web<br />| last=Pollack<br />| first=Alan W<br />| authorlink=Alan W. Pollack<br />| title=Notes on "Got to Get You into My Life"<br />| date=29 August 1999<br />| url=http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/gtgyiml.shtml<br />| ref=harv}}<br />{{Refend}}
 
  +
*Matt Corby of Australian Idol
 
  +
*Daniel Johnston
{{Revolver}}<br />{{The Beatles}}<br />{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}
 
  +
*BUCK Enterprises
 
  +
*Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs from the soundtrack of the movie ''Imagine That''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Got To Get You Into My Life}}<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
 
  +
*Ella Fitzgerald
[[es:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[fr:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[it:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[nl:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[ja:ゴット・トゥ・ゲット・ユー・イントゥ・マイ・ライフ]]<br />[[no:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[pt:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[ru:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[fi:Got to Get You into My Life]]<br />[[sv:Got to Get You into My Life]]
 
  +
*Jazz Detectives
  +
*Joe Pesci on the album "Vegas Goodfellas"
  +
*The Baby Dolls (Hollywood Records 1111) US 7" single
  +
*Chris Clark (Motown Records)
 
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
 
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:1966 songs]]
+
[[Category:Songs credited to Lennon/McCartney]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
 
[[Category:1978 singles]]
 
[[Category:Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles]]
 
[[Category:Earth, Wind & Fire songs]]
 
 
[[Category:Songs produced by George Martin]]
 
[[Category:Songs produced by George Martin]]
[[Category:Songs written by Lennon–McCartney]]
+
[[Category:Songs on Revolver]]
[[Category:Songs about drugs]]
 
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
 
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
 
[[Category:English-language songs]]
 
[[Category:Songs published by Northern Songs]]
 
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
 
 
[[Category:1966 songs]]
 
[[Category:1966 songs]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
+
[[Category:Singles]]
[[Category:1978 singles]]
 
[[Category:Billboard Hot R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles]]
 
[[Category:Earth, Wind &amp; Fire songs]]
 
[[Category:Songs produced by George Martin]]
 
[[Category:Songs written by Lennon–McCartney]]
 
[[Category:Songs about drugs]]
 
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
 
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
 
[[Category:English-language songs]]
 
[[Category:Songs published by Northern Songs]]
 

Revision as of 00:19, 4 February 2019

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
As there are far too many pages of this type, this page must be edited to be original at the earliest possible moment.
This tag must not be removed until the rewrite is done — doing so is a (possibly criminal) violation of Wikipedia's copyright.

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles, first released in 1966 on the album Revolver. Written by Paul McCartney (though officially credited to Lennon–McCartney), it made prominent use of a brass section. A cover version by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers peaked at number six in 1966.

The Beatles' version was released in the United States as a single from the Rock 'n' Roll Music compilation album in 1976, a decade after its initial release and six years after The Beatles split up. It reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, The Beatles' last top ten hit there until their 1995 release "Free as a Bird".

Composition and recording

Though officially credited to Lennon–McCartney, McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of the song, to which he also contributed lead vocals. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album. The song seems to have been hard to arrange until the soul-style horns, strongly reminiscent of the Stax Records' Memphis soul and Motown sound, were introduced. The brass was close-miked in the bells of the instruments then put through a limiter. The percussion instrument most predominant is the overdubbed tambourine.

The song starts with a blaring brass fanfare, McCartney's vocals entering at 0:07. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song's title sung. The song then switches between a verse and the refrain. A short electric guitar solo that is nearly identical to the riff from Paperback Writer appears at 1:53 and at 2:10 the horn fanfare re-enters. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney, much akin to the soul records of the time. The mono and stereo mixes of the recording feature completely different ad libs in the fade-out - the presence of a second vocal track is also far more subtle for most of the mono version. Backing vocals were recorded early but later eliminated.

In Barry Miles' 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now, McCartney disclosed that the song was about marijuana."'Got to Get You into My Life' was one I wrote when I had first been introduced to pot... So it's really a song about that, it's not to a person." Many lyrics from the song suggest this: "I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there.",'"What can I do? What can I be? When I'm with you, I want to stay there / If I am true, I will never leave and if I do, I'll know the way there." "It's actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained, "like someone else might write an ode to chocolate or a good claret."

Reception

Thomas Ward of Allmusic said, "McCartney’s always been a great vocalist, and this is perhaps the best example of his singing on Revolver. One of the overlooked gems on the album." When asked about the song in his 1980 Playboy interview, John Lennon said, "Paul's again. I think that was one of his best songs, too."

Personnel

Personnel per Ian MacDonald; MacDonald was unsure if Lennon played the rhythm guitar part.

Earth, Wind & Fire version

Earth, Wind & Fire remade the song for the 1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack. They released it as a single and included it on their album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1. Their version reached number 1 on the Soul singles chart and number nine on the Hot 100 singles chart. It has since been included on Come Together.

The song won a Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist and also garnered a Grammy nomination for Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Reception

"Got to Get You into My Life" sold over one million copies, enough for the Recording Industry Association of America to certify it gold.

Cover versions

  • The Earth, Wind & Fire version mentioned above.
  • Chicago performed this song live on tour in the 1970s as an encore with Peter Cetera on vocals.
  • Ali Campbell covered the song on his 2010 album Great British Songs.
  • Australian rock band Koritni covered the song on their debut album Lady Luck, released in 2007.

Other versions

  • Johnny Hallyday with a stunning French version "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" (1966).
  • Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
  • The Four Tops on the album "Soul Spin"
  • Blood, Sweat & Tears
  • Diana Ross & The Supremes
  • Thelma Houston with Pressure Cooker
  • Syesha Mercado of American Idol
  • Courtney Murphy of Australian Idol
  • Matt Corby of Australian Idol
  • Daniel Johnston
  • BUCK Enterprises
  • Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs from the soundtrack of the movie Imagine That
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Jazz Detectives
  • Joe Pesci on the album "Vegas Goodfellas"
  • The Baby Dolls (Hollywood Records 1111) US 7" single
  • Chris Clark (Motown Records)