I Feel Fine: Introduction
“I Feel Fine” is a Beatles’ single from 1964 that got to number one in the charts worldwide. Of course, the B-side is “She’s A Woman.” Indeed, both of these tracks appear on many of The Beatles’ albums.
In Detail
- Release Date: November 23, 1964 (US), November 27, 1964 (UK)
- Format: 7-inch single (A-side) (B-side is “She’s A Woman.”)
- Recorded: October 18, 1964
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Rock, rhythm and blues
- Track Duration: 2:25
- Record Label: Parlophone R5200 (UK), Capitol 5327 (US)
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: double-tracked lead vocal, as well as the lead/rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney: harmony vocal, as well as the bass guitar
- George Harrison: harmony vocal, also the lead/rhythm guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums
Where To Find “I Feel Fine”
You can still buy this track on the following releases:
The original version of this song is on the 1964 single, Past Masters album and the 1 album.
I Feel Fine: Background
Written and sung by John Lennon but credited to Lennon-McCartney, this was The Beatles’ eighth British single. Although they recorded the song during the sessions for the “Beatles For Sale” album, the decision was to release it as a single.
The band were becoming maestros in the recording studio by now, of course, and were always keen on experimentation with different sounds. Previously, electronic glitches and tape abnormalities gave the band some ideas, which they would incorporate in their recordings. In this case, we get another first from the Fab Four.
The record has one of the first uses of feedback deliberately incorporated into popular music. Although groups such as The Kinks and The Who would sometimes use guitar feedback as part of their live act, The Beatles were possibly the first band to use it in recordings.
Opening Feedback
There are many song which have a distinctive opening note, of course. Not only did The Beatles make good use of the feedback, but it became the opening single, percussive note of the actual track. This came about by pure accident yet again.
At the time, John Lennon’s guitar was leaning against Paul McCartney’s bass amp while he plucked his bass guitar’s A string. Lennon’s guitar then picked up the feedback.
Lennon’s guitar was a semi-acoustic electric guitar (a Gibson J-160E model) with an onboard pickup, which allowed for extra amplification.
“We were just about the walk away to listen to a take when John leaned his guitar against the amp. I can still see him doing it. He really should have turned the electric off. It was only on a tiny bit, and John just leaned it against the amp when it went, ‘Nnnnnnwahhhhh!’ And we went, ‘What’s that? Voodoo!’ ‘No, it’s feedback.’ ‘Wow, it’s a great sound!’ George Martin was there so we said, ‘Can we have that on the record?’ ‘Well, I suppose we could; we could edit it on the front.’ It was a found object, an accident caused by leaning the guitar against the amp.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
John Lennon’s Claims It!
“That’s me completely. Including the electric guitar lick and the record with the first feedback anywhere. I defy anybody to find a record—unless it’s some old blues record in 1922—that uses feedback that way. I mean, everybody played with feedback on stage, and the Jimi Hendrix stuff was going on long before. In fact, the punk stuff now is only what people were doing in the clubs. So I claim it for The Beatles. Before Hendrix, before The Who, before anybody. The first feedback on any record.”
John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Recording Studio
“I Feel Fine” became part of The Beatles’ live performances and they sang it on their last concert. This was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29, 1966, of course.
They began recording the song on October 18, 1964, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios in London during the 2.30pm–11.30pm session. They also recorded “I’ll Follow The Sun,” “Rock And Roll Music,” “Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!,” “Mr Moonlight,” and “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby.” Obviously, this was a very productive nine-hour session.
There were eight takes of the rhythm track and overdubbing of the vocals was on the same day so this became the ninth take. In essence, this became the first time in the recording studios that The Beatles recorded the rhythm track before the vocals. And so begins a new chapter in their recording career.
Their Anthology 2 album has the version from the TV show “Blackpool Night Out,” recorded on August 1, 1965, at the ABC Theatre, Blackpool, UK
They also recorded it a few times for BBC Radio programmes. On their 1994 album, “Live At The BBC,” is their recording for the “Top Gear” radio show airing on November 26, 1964. Meanwhile, on their 2013 album, “On Air: Live At The BBC Volume 2,” is a “Top Gear” radio show outtake.
I Feel Fine: Chart Success
“I Feel Fine” stayed at number one in the British charts for 5 weeks, while in America it stayed at the top for 3 weeks. Their sixth number-one record in the US in 1964 was a record in itself. The other number one records that year were “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Love Me Do,” “A Hard Day’s Night.”
The record also went to number one in many other countries, such as Canada and New Zealand.
Take A Listen
Finally, share your thoughts about this song below.