Monday 14 June 1965 | Recording Session | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
On Monday 14 June 1965, The Beatles recorded three songs at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road ā the most significant of which was 'Yesterday', Paul McCartney's timeless ballad, recorded by McCartney alone in just two takes. The session was produced by George Martin and engineered by Norman Smith.
Session One: 2.30pm ā 5.30pm
'I've Just Seen a Face'
The day began at 2.30pm. The first song worked on was 'I've Just Seen a Face' ā an acoustic, folk-influenced McCartney composition that would appear on the UK version of Help! (and, in the US, open side two of Rubber Soul). The recording was completed in six takes, with a maraca overdub added to the finished track.
'I'm Down'
The second song of the afternoon session was 'I'm Down' ā McCartney's exuberant Little Richard-inspired rocker, recorded as the B-side of 'Help!' The group taped the rhythm track in seven attempts. The full instrumentation comprised drums, bass, organ, lead and rhythm guitar, bongos, and vocals. The track showcased McCartney's extraordinary range as a rock vocalist ā a deliberate counterpoint to the delicacy of 'Yesterday', which would follow in the evening session.
Session Two: 7pm ā 10pm
'Yesterday'
After a break, the day's second session began at 7pm and lasted three hours. This session was dominated entirely by Paul McCartney, who performed 'Yesterday' alone on an acoustic guitar. He was the only Beatle to appear on the recording, though the other members are believed to have been in the studio at the time ā George Harrison was certainly present, as his voice was captured on the tape of the session.
McCartney recorded 'Yesterday' in just two takes. The string quartet overdub ā arranged by George Martin ā was added in a separate session on 17 June 1965. During that overdub session, McCartney re-recorded his vocals; however, because no headphones were used, some of the original 14 June vocals leaked into the microphone from the studio speakers, creating an unintentional double-tracking effect that appears on the final mixes.
George Martin described the technical circumstances in Mark Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions:
On the day, I recorded Paul singing and playing guitar simultaneously. Then we overdubbed the strings while Paul had another go at the vocal. But because we didn't use headphones there was leakage from the studio speaker into his microphone, giving the impression of two voices or double-tracking.
ā George Martin, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
The session ended at 10pm. Afterwards, McCartney and Jane Asher went to the Cromwellian Bar & Club at 3 Cromwell Road, London ā a venue The Beatles visited on a number of occasions between 1965 and 1967.
'Yesterday': The Song
'Yesterday' is one of the most recorded songs in history, with more than 2,200 cover versions registered with BMI by the early 2000s. McCartney has said the melody came to him in a dream ā he woke with it fully formed and initially feared he had unconsciously reproduced an existing song. He played it to friends and colleagues for weeks before being convinced it was original.
The song was released in the UK on the Help! album (6 August 1965) but was not issued as a UK single during The Beatles' lifetime. In the United States it was released as a single on 13 September 1965, reaching number one and spending four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It remains one of the most played songs in the history of broadcast radio.
The string quartet arrangement ā two violins, viola, and cello ā was George Martin's, and represented a significant moment in The Beatles' development: the first time a classical string ensemble had been used on a Beatles recording, and a harbinger of the orchestral ambitions that would define Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's.
'I'm Down': The Song
'I'm Down' was released as the B-side of 'Help!' on 23 July 1965. McCartney's screaming, Little Richard-influenced vocal performance is one of the most visceral in The Beatles' catalogue, and the song became a regular concert opener during the 1965 touring season. John Lennon's organ playing ā deliberately chaotic and irreverent ā is a highlight of the recording. The song was performed at the Shea Stadium concert on 15 August 1965, one of the most celebrated live performances in rock history.
'I've Just Seen a Face': The Song
'I've Just Seen a Face' appeared on the UK Help! album (6 August 1965). In the United States, Capitol Records placed it as the opening track of side two of Rubber Soul (6 December 1965), giving it a prominence it did not have on the UK release and contributing to the American Rubber Soul's distinctive folk-rock character. The song has been widely covered and remains one of McCartney's most admired acoustic compositions.
Key Facts: 14 June 1965
- Date: Monday 14 June 1965
- Location: Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
- Session one: 2.30pm ā 5.30pm
- Session two: 7pm ā 10pm
- 'I've Just Seen a Face': 6 takes; maraca overdub
- 'I'm Down': 7 takes; drums, bass, organ, lead and rhythm guitar, bongos, vocals
- 'Yesterday': 2 takes; McCartney alone on acoustic guitar; string quartet overdub 17 June 1965
- After session: McCartney and Jane Asher at the Cromwellian Bar & Club, 3 Cromwell Road, London
Frequently Asked Questions
When was 'Yesterday' recorded?
'Yesterday' was recorded on 14 June 1965 at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London. Paul McCartney recorded the song alone on acoustic guitar in just two takes. The string quartet overdub, arranged by George Martin, was added on 17 June 1965.
Who played on 'Yesterday'?
Paul McCartney was the only Beatle to perform on 'Yesterday' ā he recorded it alone on acoustic guitar. George Martin arranged and conducted the string quartet (two violins, viola, and cello) overdubbed on 17 June 1965. George Harrison was present in the studio during the 14 June session, as his voice was captured on the session tape.
How many takes did it take to record 'Yesterday'?
Paul McCartney recorded 'Yesterday' in just two takes on 14 June 1965. His vocals were re-recorded during the string quartet overdub session on 17 June, though leakage from the studio speakers created an unintentional double-tracking effect on the final mix.
What caused the double-tracking effect on 'Yesterday'?
During the 17 June 1965 string overdub session, McCartney re-recorded his vocals without headphones. Some of the original 14 June vocal leaked from the studio speakers into the microphone, creating the impression of double-tracking on the final mix. George Martin described this in Mark Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions.
What other songs were recorded on 14 June 1965?
'I've Just Seen a Face' (completed in six takes with a maraca overdub) and 'I'm Down' (completed in seven takes) were both recorded in the afternoon session of 14 June 1965, before 'Yesterday' was recorded in the evening session.
When was 'Yesterday' released?
'Yesterday' appeared on the UK Help! album on 6 August 1965. It was released as a single in the United States on 13 September 1965, reaching number one and spending four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It was not released as a UK single during The Beatles' lifetime.
ā 14 June in Beatles History
ā Paul McCartney | John Lennon | George Harrison | Ringo Starr
Shop Beatles Merch: The Beatles: Beatlemania Collection | Shop by Era
Ā
0 comments