I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party: Introduction

“I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” is a song from the Fab Four that is on their 1964 album, “Beatles For Sale.” Then it became part of the EP “Beatles for Sale No. 2” in 1965.

In Detail

Release Date: December 4, 1964
Recorded: September 29, 1964
Studio: EMI Studios, London
Genre: Country rock, pop rock
Track Duration: 2:33
Record Label: Parlophone
Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Performers And Instruments

John Lennon: lead and harmony vocals; also the acoustic rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: bass, as well as the harmony vocal
George Harrison: lead guitar, also the backing vocal
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine

Where To Find “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”

You can still buy this song on the following releases:

I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party: Background

Written by John Lennon but with the credit going to Lennon-McCartney, “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” sits between “Every Little Thing” and “What You’re Doing” on The Beatles’ fourth UK studio album. However, it is also on the “Beatles for Sale No. 2” EP, together with “I’ll Follow the Sun,” “Baby’s in Black,” and “Words of Love.” In America, the song was the B-side to the single “Eight Days a Week.”

Ringo Starr’s Song

Although John Lennon sings the song, the original intention was for Ringo Starr to sing it. The song itself is a country rock arrangement, and Starr was a great fan of this type of music, of course.

“Ringo had a great style and great delivery. He had a lot of fans, so we liked to write something for him on each album. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party is quite a nice little song, co-written by John and I.

It sounds more like John than me, so 80-20 to him, sitting down doing a job. Certain songs were inspirational, and certain songs were work; it didn’t mean they were any less fun to write; it was just a craft, and this was a job to order really, which Ringo did a good job on.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

Just why Starr never sang it is unclear, although there are high notes in places. Be that as it may, the song has a storyline to it. The singer is waiting for his girlfriend at a party, but she doesn’t show up. He thinks he may spoil the party because he is on his own, so he decides to leave.

The song has melancholy lyrics and a melody to match, but it is not the only one like this on the “Beatles For Sale” album. Indeed, a similar theme hits home with “No Reply” and “I’m a Loser.”

Recording Studio

The Beatles began recording “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” on September 29, 1964, in Studio Two at the EMI Studios, London, during their two recording sessions. There were 19 takes that day, but they also recorded “Every Little Thing” (takes 1–4) and “What You’re Doing” (takes 1–7) as well. It was take 19 that they chose to go on the “Beatles For Sale” album.

Take A Listen To “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party.”

So, take a listen to the song and leave a comment or two below.