On This Day in Beatles History: Editing and Mixing She Loves You and I'll Get You – 4 July 1963
On 4 July 1963, the editing and mono mixing of The Beatles' fourth single took place at EMI Studios in Abbey Road, London. The session prepared 'She Loves You' and its B-side 'I'll Get You' for release — and that evening, The Beatles themselves were in London watching The Rolling Stones perform live for only the second time.
What Happened on 4 July 1963?
The editing and mixing session took place between 10am and 1pm in the control room of Studio Two at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced the session, with Norman Smith engineering. The work followed the original recording session for both songs, which had taken place on 1 July 1963.
'She Loves You' was worked on first, edited and then mixed for mono. 'I'll Get You', the intended B-side, was mixed afterwards. It is unlikely that The Beatles themselves attended the session, as mixing and editing work of this kind was typically handled by Martin and Smith in the control room without the group present.
She Loves You: The Recording
'She Loves You' had been written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, largely during a tour bus journey, and recorded at Abbey Road on 1 July 1963. The song was notable for several reasons: its use of the second person — addressing a third party rather than a direct love interest — gave it an unusual narrative perspective for a pop song of the era, and its closing chord, an added sixth, raised eyebrows at the time. George Martin initially questioned the choice, considering it old-fashioned, but The Beatles insisted on keeping it.
The song's opening 'yeah, yeah, yeah' hook became one of the most recognisable phrases in pop music history, and the song itself would go on to become one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history.
I'll Get You: The B-Side
'I'll Get You' was also written by Lennon and McCartney and recorded at the same 1 July session. A confident, upbeat track, it featured a harmonica introduction and showcased the group's tight vocal harmonies. Though overshadowed by its A-side, it remains a well-regarded example of the group's early songwriting craft.
The song opens with the line 'Imagine I'm in love with you' — a use of the word 'imagine' that John Lennon would return to, far more famously, eight years later.
George Martin and Norman Smith at Abbey Road
George Martin had been The Beatles' producer since their first EMI session in June 1962. By the summer of 1963, the working relationship between Martin and the group had developed considerably, and Martin's role in shaping their sound — both in the studio and in post-production sessions such as this one — was central to their success.
Norman Smith, who engineered the session, worked closely with The Beatles throughout their early Abbey Road years. He would later pursue a recording career of his own under the name Hurricane Smith, scoring a UK number one in 1972 with 'Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?'.
The Release of She Loves You
'She Loves You' was released in the United Kingdom on 23 August 1963, backed with 'I'll Get You'. It entered the UK charts at number one and remained there for four weeks, before returning to the top spot for a further two weeks later in the year — a total of six weeks at number one.
The single sold over 750,000 copies in its first month of release, breaking all previous UK sales records. It went on to become the best-selling single in the United Kingdom up to that point in history, a record it held until it was surpassed by another Beatles single, 'I Want to Hold Your Hand', later that year.
In the United States, 'She Loves You' was released on the Swan label in September 1963, initially with little success. It was re-released in January 1964 following the explosion of Beatlemania in America, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Beatles See The Rolling Stones
While the mixing session was taking place at Abbey Road without them, The Beatles were in London for other engagements. That evening, they attended a performance by The Rolling Stones at the Scene Club in Soho — the second time they had seen the group perform live.
The relationship between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in 1963 was one of mutual admiration and friendly rivalry. The Beatles had already played a role in the Stones' early career: John Lennon and Paul McCartney had given the group their first top ten hit, 'I Wanna Be Your Man', which The Beatles had written and offered to the Stones in October 1963.
Why 4 July 1963 Matters
The mixing session on 4 July 1963 was a quiet but essential step in the creation of one of the most important singles in pop music history. 'She Loves You' would go on to define the sound of Beatlemania in Britain, and its recording and release in the summer of 1963 marked the moment when The Beatles' popularity moved from remarkable to unprecedented.
On This Day in Beatles History
- Date: 4 July 1963
- Event: Editing and mono mixing of 'She Loves You' and 'I'll Get You' at EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session time: 10am – 1pm, Studio Two control room
- Producer: George Martin | Engineer: Norman Smith
- Release: 'She Loves You' / 'I'll Get You' released 23 August 1963
- Also on this day: The Beatles saw The Rolling Stones perform at the Scene Club, Soho
Explore More Beatles History
- The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios
- The Beatles Timeline 1956–1970
- George Martin: The Fifth Beatle
- The Beatles' Singles Discography
Frequently Asked Questions
When was She Loves You recorded?
'She Loves You' was recorded at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, on 1 July 1963. The editing and mono mixing took place on 4 July 1963, with George Martin producing and Norman Smith engineering.
When was She Loves You released?
'She Loves You' was released in the United Kingdom on 23 August 1963, backed with 'I'll Get You'. It reached number one in the UK charts and became the best-selling UK single up to that point in history.
Who wrote She Loves You?
'She Loves You' was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, largely composed during a tour bus journey. It was credited to Lennon–McCartney and released as The Beatles' fourth UK single.
What is unusual about the chord at the end of She Loves You?
The song ends on an added sixth chord, which George Martin initially considered old-fashioned. The Beatles insisted on keeping it, and the chord became one of the song's most distinctive features.
Did The Beatles see The Rolling Stones in 1963?
Yes. On the evening of 4 July 1963, The Beatles attended a Rolling Stones performance at the Scene Club in Soho, London — the second time they had seen the group perform live.
What is the connection between She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand?
'She Loves You' was the best-selling UK single in history at the time of its release, a record it held until it was surpassed by The Beatles' own 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' later in 1963.
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