The cover from the I'll Cry Instead/I'm Happy Just to Dance With You single.
"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" is mainly a John Lennon composition (credited to Lennon/McCartney) recorded by The Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day's Night, and first released on March 1, 1964.
Composition[]
It was written specifically for George Harrison to sing at a time when he lacked the confidence to compose his own material. Years later, McCartney described it as a "formula song",[1] and Lennon said, "I would never have sung it myself."[2]
Structurally, it features hectic Bo Diddley rhythm and busy banjo style guitar playing in juxtaposition with Harrison's vocal. Its composers give it an unpredictable choice of chord (augmenting the B7th on "I'm happy just to dance with you") right at the crux of its title, jarring the chorus.[3]
Recording[]
The Beatles recorded "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" on a Sunday, the first time they had used Abbey Road Studios on other than a normal work day.
The group also recorded a version for the BBC's From Us to You radio show. The session took place on 17 July 1964 at the BBC Paris Studio in London, and was first broadcast on 3 August that year.
Personnel[]
- George Harrison – lead guitar (1962 Gretsch Country Gentlemen), lead vocals
- John Lennon – rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325), backing vocals
- Paul McCartney - bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1), backing vocals
- Ringo Starr - drums (1963 Ludwig Downbeat Black Oyster Pearl)
- George Martin - producer
- Norman Smith - engineer
References[]
- ↑ Miles, Barry (1997). Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now . New York: Henry Holt & Company. p. 163. ISBN 0-8050-5249-6.
- ↑ Harry, Bill (2000). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Revised and Updated . London: Virgin Publishing. p. 546. ISBN 0-7535-0481-2.
- ↑ Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (1993). The Beatles - Complete Scores . Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. p. 492. ISBN 0-7935-1832-6.