Beatles album of the week: A Hard Day's Night

[AKA]

By the time The Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, opened in the summer of 1964, Beatlemania was in full swing: their first U.S. #1 single, "I Want To Hold Your Hand," took America by storm in January of that year, and in February, they visited the U.S. for the first time. Their three-week stay included a gig in Washington, D.C. and three historic appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

The film's tie-in album was released on July 10, 1964. It included thirteen songs:

Side One:
A Hard Day's Night (Lennon/McCartney)
I Should Have Known Better (Lennon/McCartney)
If I Fell (Lennon/McCartney)
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (Lennon/McCartney)
And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney)
Tell Me Why (Lennon/McCartney)
Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney)

Side Two:
Any Time At All (Lennon/McCartney)
I'll Cry Instead (Lennon/McCartney)
Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney)
When I Get Home (Lennon/McCartney)
You Can't Do That (Lennon/McCartney)
I'll Be Back (Lennon/McCartney)

This is the first Beatles album to not include any cover tunes and the sole Beatles album with all Lennon/McCartney compositions.

Here's Stephen Thomas Erlewine's review from the All Music Guide:

A Hard Day's Night not only was the de facto soundtrack for their movie, not only was it filled with nothing but Lennon-McCartney originals, but it found the Beatles truly coming into their own as a band. All of the disparate influences on their first two albums had coalesced into a bright, joyous, original sound, filled with ringing guitars and irresistible melodies. A Hard Day's Night is where the Beatles became mythical, but this is the sound of Beatlemania in all of its giddy glory. Decades after its original release, its punchy blend of propulsive rhythms, jangly guitars, and infectious, singalong melodies is remarkably fresh. There's something intrinsically exciting in the sound of the album itself, something to keep the record vital years after it was recorded. Even more impressive are the songs themselves. Not only are the melodies forceful and memorable, but Lennon and McCartney have found a number of variations to their basic Merseybeat style, from the brash "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Any Time at All" through the gentle "If I Fell" to the tough folk-rock of "I'll Cry Instead." It's possible to hear both songwriters develop their own distinctive voices on the album, but, overall, A Hard Day's Night stands as a testament to their collaborative powers — never again did they write together so well or so easily, choosing to pursue their own routes. John and Paul must have known how strong the material is — they threw the pleasant trifle "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" to George and didn't give anything to Ringo to sing. That may have been a little selfish, but it hardly hurts the album, since everything on the record is performed with genuine glee and excitement. It's the pinnacle of their early years.

See also:
Please Please Me (1963)
With The Beatles (1963)
Beatles For Sale (1964)
Help! (1965)
Past Masters Volume One (1988)
Rubber Soul (1965)
Revolver (1966)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Yellow Submarine (1969)
The Beatles (1968)
Let It Be (1970)
Past Masters Volume Two (1988)
Abbey Road (1969)

Beatle Facts

[phoebe7165]

This was difficult but I'll have to pick "If I Fell". I also think I play it pretty well on the piano, too!!

[Jrnygrl]

I agree with you phoebe7165, this was a difficult album to choose a favorite song from, but by far the one that always stands out for me is "And I Love Her." This one of the most beautiful songs with the spanish guitar, and to see it being sung in the movie is just wonderful. This song truly shows Paul's sensitive side when it comes to love songs.

[Brian]

A Hard Day's Night and Can't Buy Me Love. I'm voting for Can't Buy Me Love because it is a song that, when I listen to it, it makes me feel good. I also like singing to it (although I'm not really that good a singer, so I do it privately). A Hard Day's Night is just a good song to me and nothing else.

[dlemond]

I love the whole album - one of my top 3 Beatles, I think.

I guess I pick "I'll Be Back"

I wish I could pinpoint what is so great about that song- I know the harmonies are excellent and the chord changes are appealing and mood evoking. I don't know- it's always been a favorite.

[Kristina]

This is my favorite Beatles album. I picked "And I Love Her", it's such a nice song. "If I fell" coming in a close second.

[Steve M.]

I voted for "Can't Buy Me Love." It's the hardest-rocking song.

[Steve M.]

A Hard Day's Night has one fewer song than the standard fourteen songs of British rock albums of the time. The Beatles were to tape a fourteenth song for the LP on June 3, 1964, but Ringo came down with tonsilitis. The other three spent that day in the studio rehearsing with replacement drummer Jimmy Nicol for a world tour, and recorded a couple of demos after Nicol went home. I have no idea of what the fourteenth song was to be, although George's "You Know What To Do," one of the demo songs recorded that night, is a likely candidate.

[Steve M.]

Various A Hard Day's Night covers:

"A Hard Day's Night" - Goldie Hawn (!)

"I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" - Anne Murray

"Can't Buy Me Love" - the Supremes

"You Can't Do That" - Harry Nilsson

[AKA]

Originally posted by Steve M.
I have no idea of what the fourteenth song was to be, although George's "You Know What To Do," one of the demo songs recorded that night, is a likely candidate.

That's a great song.

[Steve M.]

I love "You Know What To Do." I wish someone would cover it!

[crystals]

I like Can't Buy me Love the best, but
I also like A Hard Day's Night.

[Penny Lane]

1. Things We Said Today
2. Happy Just To Dance With You
3. Tell Me Why
4. I'll Be Back
5. And I Love Her

[musicradio77]

I voted for "A Hard Day's Night" becuase I have Diana Ross & the Supremes did a Beatles remake of that same song from the 1973 "Anthology" LP. I have the US soundtrack that it was not from Capitol, it was from United Artists Records. It features instrumental versions of "This Boy", "A Hard Day's Night", "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" all arranged and conducted by George Martin.

[AKA]

Alternate versions of songs from A Hard Day's Night:

Beatles:
"A Hard Day's Night"
-Live; The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, 1965 - At The Hollywood Bowl (never issued on CD)
-Live; The Broadcasting House in London, 1964 - Live At The BBC
-Take 1, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1

"And I Love Her"
-Take 2, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1

"Can't Buy Me Love"
-Live; The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, 1965 - At The Hollywood Bowl (never issued on CD)
-Live; the Piccadilly Theatre in London, 1964 - Live At The BBC
-Edit of takes 1 and 2, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1

"Things We Said Today"
-Live; The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, 1964 - At The Hollywood Bowl (never issued on CD)
-Live; The Broadcasting House in London, 1964 - Live At The BBC

"You Can't Do That"
-Take 6, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1

"I'll Be Back"
-Take 2, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1
-Take 3, 1964 - The Beatles Anthology 1

Solo:
"And I Love Her"
-Live; Limehouse Studios in London, 1991 - Paul McCartney - Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)

"Can't Buy Me Love"
-Live; Munich, Germany, 1989 - Paul McCartney - Tripping The Live Fantastic
-Live; venue unknown, 2002 - Paul McCartney - Back In The U.S., Back In The World

"Things We Said Today"
-Live; Madrid, Spain, 1989 - Paul McCartney - Tripping The Live Fantastic