Friday 14 August 1964 | Anthology, Beatles For Sale, Studio
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer | Norman Smith |
| Album | Beatles For Sale (1964) |
The second day of recording for what would become the Beatles For Sale LP took place at Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road on 14 August 1964. Three scheduled and unscheduled sessions produced work on four songs across the course of the evening and night.
Session one: recording (7pm–9pm)
The evening began at 7pm. The Beatles recorded eight takes of ‘I’m A Loser’, four of which were complete. The group then taped a version of Dr Feelgood and the Interns’ 1962 song ‘Mr Moonlight’ in four takes. The Beatles were unhappy with the results, however, and re-recorded the song on 18 October 1964.
Session two: mixing (9pm–10pm)
An hour-long mono mixing session took place in the control room of Studio Two, during which rough mixes of ‘I’m A Loser’ and ‘Baby’s In Black’ were made for John Lennon’s personal use.
Session three: recording (after 10pm, unscheduled)
The day’s work should have finished at 10pm, but The Beatles took up their instruments once more to record a version of Johnny Preston’s ‘Leave My Kitten Alone’ in five takes.
Despite a great performance — including fine vocals from John Lennon — The Beatles were presumably unsatisfied with the results. The track remained unreleased until 1995, when it featured on Anthology 1. Most fans consider it a superior song to ‘Mr Moonlight’, which did make the final album.
The Beatles — officially licensed merch
The Beatles: Beatles For Sale Album Cover Unisex T-Shirt (Black) — the album these sessions helped create.
Songs recorded
| Song | Takes | Outcome |
| ‘I’m A Loser’ | 8 (4 complete) | Released on Beatles For Sale (1964) |
| ‘Mr Moonlight’ | 4 | Re-recorded 18 October 1964; released on Beatles For Sale |
| ‘Baby’s In Black’ | — | Rough mono mix only; released on Beatles For Sale |
| ‘Leave My Kitten Alone’ | 5 | Unreleased until Anthology 1 (1995) |
Key Facts
| Date | Friday 14 August 1964 |
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer | Norman Smith |
| Sessions | 3 (recording, mixing, unscheduled recording) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Leave My Kitten Alone not released on Beatles For Sale?
The Beatles were presumably unsatisfied with the recording, despite a strong performance including fine vocals from John Lennon. The track remained unreleased until 1995, when it appeared on Anthology 1. Many fans consider it superior to 'Mr Moonlight', which did make the final album.
Who originally recorded Mr Moonlight?
'Mr Moonlight' was originally recorded by Dr Feelgood and the Interns in 1962. The Beatles recorded it on 14 August 1964 but were unhappy with the results and re-recorded it on 18 October 1964.
What was the rough mix of Baby’s In Black made for?
The rough mono mix of 'Baby's In Black' made during the 14 August 1964 session was for John Lennon's personal use.
→ The Beatles’ fourth and final Ed Sullivan Show – 14 August 1965
→ Television: Scene At 6.30 – 14 August 1963
→ August in Beatles History
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ On This Day in Beatles History
Shop The Beatles merch: Beatles For Sale T-Shirt | Beatles For Sale Patch | For Sale Steel Wall Sign
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