A Hard Day’s Night (Song): Introduction
To begin with, “A Hard Day’s Night” is a Beatles’ song that appears on their 1964 album of the same name. It was also a very successful single. Not only that, but it is also the title of their debut film. We discuss that movie here.
In Detail
- Release Date: July 10, 1964 (UK) and July 13, 1964 (US)
- Format: 7″ single (A-side) (B-side is “Things We Said Today” (UK) and “I Should Have Known Better” (US)) also album track
- Recorded: April 16, 1964
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Rock
- Track Duration: 2:32
- Record Label: Parlophone (UK) and Capitol (US)
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: double-tracked vocals (verses), electric and acoustic rhythm guitars
- Paul McCartney: double-tracked vocals (middle-eight), harmony vocal, bass
- George Harrison: twelve-string lead guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums, bongos, cowbell
- George Martin: piano
Where To Find The “A Hard Day’s Night” (Song)
If you need to buy this song, you can still find it on the following releases:
A Hard Day’s Night (Song)
Obviously, apart from the song being brilliant, the opening chord played by George Harrison is instantly recognisable. The song is about devotion to a lover despite working so hard that it wears the singer out. However, in return, the singer gets just as much back and feels it’s worth the effort.
Although John Lennon wrote the song, Ringo Starr thought up the title by pointing out that the band had been working all day and night. The band went with that, and it was also the inspiration for their first film.
“We went to do a job, and we’d worked all day and we happened to work all night. I came up still thinking it was day I suppose, and I said, ‘It’s been a hard day…’ and I looked around and saw it was dark, so I said, ‘…night!’ So we came to A Hard Day’s Night.”
Ringo Starr Interview with disc jockey Dave Hull in 1964
Of course, Starr’s statement was correct. This is because in those heady days of Beatlemania, their work rate was phenomenal.
Lennon Chips In
“I was going home in the car, and Dick Lester suggested the title Hard Day’s Night from something Ringo’d said.
I had used it in In His Own Write, but it was an off-the-cuff remark by Ringo. You know, one of those malapropisms.
A Ringoism, where he said it not to be funny, just said it. So Dick Lester said we are going to use that title, and the next morning I brought in the song. ‘Cause there was a little competition between Paul and I as to who got the A side, who got the hit singles.”
John Lennon, 1980
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
A Hard Day’s Night (Song): The Phenomenal Opening Chord
If you are about to make an entrance, make sure people notice you! The opening chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” does just that; it instantly grabs the attention of the listener. This was intentional because it was going to be the opening chord for the single, the album, and the film.
George Harrison plays the “mighty opening chord” on his Rickenbacker 360/12 12-string guitar. Much debate about its composition has always raged, with some going for G7add9sus4, while others go for G7sus4 or G11sus4. But many more combinations come to us from all sources, so we may never know.
- Online Question (15 February 2001): “Mr. Harrison, what is the opening chord you used for ‘A Hard Day’s Night’?”
- Harrison’s reply: “It is F with a G on top, but you’ll have to ask Paul about the bass note to get the proper story.”
Whatever the exact combination is, it certainly is effective. While this opening chord is extra special, there is an equally impressive closing chord on their 1967 song, “A Day In The Life.” That closing piano/harmonium chord lasts for an amazing 40 seconds.
Indeed, you could say that those two chords actually bookend a remarkable period during Beatlemania. This was when The Beatles were happy being around each other during the peak of their creativity.
McCartney Hits The High Notes
Usually the writer sings the song, but because there are quite a few high notes, Paul McCartney needs to join in.
“The only reason he [McCartney] sang on Hard Day’s Night was because I couldn’t reach the notes. ‘When I’m home, everything seems to be right. When I’m home…’ – which is what we’d do sometimes. One of us couldn’t reach a note, but he wanted a different sound, so he’d get the other to do the harmony.”
John Lennon, 1980
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
A Hard Day’s Night (Song): Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording the “A Hard Day’s Night” song on April 16, 1964, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 10.00 a.m.–1.00 p.m. session. This extra special song had to be right, so with a lot of care and attention, they recorded 9 takes. Take 9 became the master track, and after mixing, it became the song that we are all familiar with.
Take 1 is available on their 1995 album, “Anthology 1,” where it sits on side 2 as track 12, after “And I Love Her” and before “I Wanna Be Your Man.”
The Beatles were a busy group in the early 1960s, but they still found time to record programmes for BBC Radio. Indeed, they recorded the “A Hard Day’s Night” song for the “Top Gear” radio show airing on July 16, 1964. Because of this, that version is now available on their 1994 album, “Live at the BBC.”
Since the single reached number one in the charts, it is also on their 2000 album, “1.” On this album, it is track 6 and comes after “Can’t Buy Me Love” and before “I Feel Fine.”
A Hard Day’s Night (Song): Chart Success
The album was at number one in the UK for 21 weeks, while the single stayed at the top for only 3 weeks. It also topped the charts in most countries, including America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The B-side was “Things We Said Today” in the UK but “I Should Have Known Better” in the US.
Beatlemania sent both the single and album to number one in both the UK and US simultaneously. This set a record, of course, and the song “A Hard Day’s Night” has gone down in Beatles lore.
Take A Listen
Finally, you need that opening chord fix. So, listen to the song, then give us your opinions below.