I Call Your Name: Introduction

“I Call Your Name” is a Beatles’ song that is also on their “Long Tall Sally” EP from 1964. However, it appears on the 1988 album “Past Masters,” too.

In Detail

Release Date: June 19, 1964
Recorded: March 1, 1964
Genre: Pop rock
Track Duration: 2:09
Songwriter: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Performers And Instruments

John Lennon: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: bass guitar
George Harrison: 12-string lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, cowbell

Where To Find “I Call Your Name”

You can still buy this song on the following releases:

I Call Your Name: Background

This is one of the earliest songs to come from John Lennon, which also outdates The Beatles!

Although it was largely John Lennon’s composition, Paul McCartney did lend a helping hand. Of course, as ever, the credit goes to Lennon-McCartney.

“That was my song. When there was no Beatles and no group, I just had it around. It was my effort as a kind of blues originally, and then I wrote the middle eight just to stick it in the album when it came out years later. The first part had been written before Hamburg even. It was one of my first attempts at a song.”
John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff

“We worked on it together, but it was John’s idea. When I look back at some of these lyrics, I think, Wait a minute. What did he mean? ‘I call your name but you’re not there.’ Is it his mother? His father? I must admit, I didn’t really see that as we wrote it because we were just a couple of young guys writing. You didn’t look behind it at the time; it was only later you started analysing things.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

John Lennon gave the song to Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas in 1963. They released it as the B-side to another Lennon-McCartney song, “Bad To Me” which was their first UK number one single. However, Lennon wasn’t happy with the arrangement or that it was a B-side.

This song also features The Beatles’ first attempt at ska music during the instrumental bridge.

Long Tall Sally EP

“I Call Your Name” is the second track on the 1964 EP, “Long Tall Sally,” which is also the leading song. Then, on side two, there are the songs “Slow Down” and “Matchbox.” Although not part of a studio album, it does appear on the 1988 “Past Masters” release, which was specifically for the non-album tracks.

Recording Studio

The Beatles began recording “I Call Your Name” on March 1, 1964, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios in London during the 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. session. The band recorded 7 takes together with the songs “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You” and “Long Tall Sally.”

Just to point out that the early mixes are significantly different. For example, the mono has the cowbell from the start of the rhythm downbeat, but the stereo one doesn’t. Likewise, the double-tracking of John Lennon’s voice doesn’t appear until the second measure of the opening verse. Also, there are differences between the UK and US stereo mixes in terms of Lennon’s vocals.

Take A Listen

Finally, let us know how this song makes you feel.