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The Beatles – If I Needed Someone (2:22)

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About This Track

The song was heavily influenced by the music of The Byrds. In a 2004 radio interview with the BBC in London, Roger McGuinn confirmed that Harrison had sent a tape recording of the song to him in Los Angeles before it was released on record. Harrison did this to show McGuinn that the guitar riff he had used in “If I Needed Someone” was based on McGuinn’s own riff in “The Bells of Rhymney.”[1] The song’s introduction and coda are also very similar to those of The Byrds’ song. Appropriately, The Byrds’ own use of electric 12-string guitar was influenced by George Harrison’s use of the instrument in the film A Hard Day’s Night.

The song as recorded by the Beatles is in the key of A mixolydian, switching to B minor during the breaks. The verses are heavily harmonised, with George Harrison taking the lead line on the first two lines, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney singing above him throughout on each subsequent verse. Harrison sings the break solo, but double tracked in the studio with himself as was customary during the period the Beatles recorded “Rubber Soul”.

“If I Needed Someone” was the only Harrison composition played during any of the Beatles’ tours; The Quiet Beatle otherwise only sang covers onstage. “If I Needed Someone” is included in the Beatles’ Tokyo concerts in July 1966; the documentary The Compleat Beatles used a clip from the Beatles’ haggard performance of the song on stage in Tokyo as illustration of how the band was growing tired of touring. The song was also performed on the Beatles’ very last concert in Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966. It is suspected, but not confirmed, that “If I Needed Someone” was performed at every Beatles concert in 1966.
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  • boehj

    technically great too.

    21 days ago

  • secret_nick

    George <3

    29 days ago

  • echo725

    I don't know if McCartney is considered a technically great bass player, but he is definitely far and away my favorite to listen to.

    last month

  • oldiesfanjohn

    the bass cooks on this!

    last month

  • andyisdead

    jingly jangly perfection

    last month

  • xtwntraphq

    One of my favorite George tunes ! Wish I still had my "Butcher" album. ( somebody stole the damn thing) :(

    January 2012

  • obscurecendo

    duet between george and john sounds so beautiful

    November 2011

  • Bastard1

    LOVE that ascending bassline.

    October 2011

  • moissonneuse

    eargasm

    October 2011

  • tcbp

    "Carve your number on my wall", That line is amazing

    August 2011

  • sage80_wanker

    Wow! I know their oeuvre as well as anyone... but never REALLY appreciated how great this song was until today. what an overlooked gem! amazing feel.

    August 2011

  • RoomForSymmetry

    New goal in life: find people to harmonize with on this song

    July 2011

  • lesliedahlink

    This is my jam.

    July 2011

  • Beanoboo

    Sounds like the player's anthem. Great lyrics/great song.

    July 2011

  • Lilloneto

    George fuckin' rocks!

    June 2011

  • Tarkus10

    George wrote the best songs imo [6]

    May 2011

  • khareen17

    awwww! love this!

    May 2011

  • promisedeyes

    GEORGE FTW

    May 2011

  • RafaelDivoz

    George wrote the best songs imo [5]

    March 2011

  • freiitag

    I love this song so, so, so, so much.

    March 2011
See all 73 shouts

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