A Hard Day's Night (1964) — Full UK Tracklist in Order

A Hard Day's Night is unique in the Beatles catalogue: it is the only album consisting entirely of original Lennon–McCartney songs, with not a single cover version. Released on 10 July 1964, it also served as the soundtrack to the band's first feature film, directed by Richard Lester. Produced by George Martin and recorded at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, and Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris, it captured the band at the absolute peak of global Beatlemania. Explore the Beatlemania Era | The Beatles Films

Full UK Tracklist

Side One — Songs from the film

1. A Hard Day's Night
2. I Should Have Known Better
3. If I Fell
4. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
5. And I Love Her
6. Tell Me Why
7. Can't Buy Me Love

Side Two

8. Any Time At All
9. I'll Cry Instead
10. Things We Said Today
11. When I Get Home
12. You Can't Do That
13. I'll Be Back

Songwriting Breakdown

Lennon–McCartney compositions: all 13 tracks — the only Beatles album with no cover versions and no Harrison or Starr compositions.

Lead vocal distribution:

• John Lennon: A Hard Day's Night, I Should Have Known Better, Tell Me Why, Any Time At All, I'll Cry Instead, When I Get Home, You Can't Do That, I'll Be Back (plus shared vocals on If I Fell)
• Paul McCartney: And I Love Her, Can't Buy Me Love, Things We Said Today
• George Harrison: I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (written for him by Lennon and McCartney)

Key Songs: The Story Behind the Tracks

A Hard Day's Night

The title came from a remark by Ringo Starr, who described a long working day that had stretched into night as "a hard day's night." Lennon wrote the song overnight after the film's director Richard Lester told the band the film needed a title track. The opening chord — a Fadd9 played on George Harrison's 12-string Rickenbacker, with McCartney on bass and George Martin on piano — is one of the most recognisable sounds in rock history. Musicologists have debated its exact composition for decades.

And I Love Her

Written primarily by McCartney, And I Love Her is one of the earliest examples of his gift for melodic ballads. The arrangement — acoustic guitars, bongos, and no drums — was unusual for a Beatles recording of the period. George Martin suggested transposing the song up a semitone for the final take, which gave it the brightness of the released version.

Things We Said Today

Written by McCartney while on holiday in the Bahamas, Things We Said Today is one of the most underrated songs on the album — a minor-key, brooding track that anticipates the more introspective writing of Rubber Soul. Its chord structure and mood are more sophisticated than almost anything else the band had recorded to that point.

If I Fell

A delicate, harmonically complex ballad written by Lennon and sung as a duet with McCartney. The song's opening bars move through an unusual chord sequence that Lennon later said was one of his most carefully constructed. It is one of the earliest Beatles songs to deal openly with emotional vulnerability.

Can't Buy Me Love

Recorded at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris on 29 January 1964 — the only Beatles album track recorded outside the UK. It was released as a single before the album and became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching number one on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously.

Historical Notes

• The opening chord of A Hard Day's Night — played on George Harrison's 12-string Rickenbacker with George Martin on piano — is one of the most analysed sounds in rock history.
• Can't Buy Me Love was recorded at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris — the only Beatles album track recorded outside the UK.
• The album reached No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and stayed there for 21 weeks.
• The title came from a remark by Ringo Starr — Lennon used it overnight after the film needed a title song.
• A Hard Day's Night is the only Beatles album with no cover versions and no compositions by Harrison or Starr.
• George Martin suggested transposing And I Love Her up a semitone for the final take, giving it the brightness of the released version.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was A Hard Day's Night released?

The album was released in the United Kingdom on 10 July 1964 by Parlophone Records, produced by George Martin.

Was A Hard Day's Night a soundtrack album?

Yes — it served as the soundtrack to The Beatles' first feature film, directed by Richard Lester. Side One contains songs featured in the film; Side Two contains additional original material from the same sessions. Read more about the A Hard Day's Night film

Did the album include any cover songs?

No. A Hard Day's Night is the only Beatles album where every song was written by the Lennon–McCartney partnership — 13 originals, no covers.

What is the famous opening chord?

The opening chord is generally identified as a Fadd9, played simultaneously by George Harrison on 12-string Rickenbacker, McCartney on bass, and George Martin on piano. It has been the subject of musicological debate for decades and remains one of the most recognisable sounds in rock history.

Where was Can't Buy Me Love recorded?

Can't Buy Me Love was recorded at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris on 29 January 1964 — making it the only Beatles album track recorded outside the United Kingdom.

Explore More Beatles Albums

Previous Album: ← With The Beatles (1963)

Next Album: Beatles For Sale (1964) →

View All Beatles Albums in Order

Return to The Beatles Knowledge Hub

Explore the Beatlemania Era (1964–1966) | George Martin: The Beatles Producer | The Beatles Films

Shop: Beatlemania Collection | 1964 US Tour & Ed Sullivan Collection