If You’ve Got Trouble: Introduction

“If You’ve Got Trouble” is a Beatles recording from 1965. However, there was no commercially available version of the song until 1996, with the release of the Anthology 2 album.

In Detail

Release Date: March 18, 1996 (UK), March 19, 1996 (US)
Recorded: February 18, 1965
Studio: EMI Studios
Genre: Rock
Track Duration: 2:49
Record Label: Apple Records
Songwriter: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Performers And Instruments

Ringo Starr: double-tracked vocal, also the drums
John Lennon: backing vocal, also the rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocal, also the bass guitar
George Harrison: lead guitar

Where To Find “If You’ve Got Trouble”

You can still buy this track on the following album:

Anthology 2 (1996)

If You’ve Got Trouble: Background

This Lennon-McCartney song could have been a track on the 1965 album “Help!” Indeed, it may even have found its way into the “Help!” film too. Not only did the song not make the grade, but they totally forgot about it.

“We’ve just come across that, and it’s the most weird song. I’ve no recollection of ever recording it. It’s got stupid words and is the naffest song. No wonder it didn’t make it onto anything.”
George Harrison
Anthology

Ringo Starr sang “If You’ve Got Trouble,” which was to be his song in the “Help!” project. However, his vocal appearance on the album came by way of the song “Act Naturally” instead. That song didn’t appear in the film, of course.

“I recorded a song for the Help! album that was never released: If You’ve Got Trouble. George Martin found it in the vaults of EMI studios.”
Ringo Starr
Anthology

Although the recording is from 1965, we had to wait over 30 years before we could buy a version of it in the shops.

Recording Studio

The Beatles recorded “If You’ve Got Trouble” on February 18, 1965, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 6.00 p.m.–10.30 p.m. session. They only recorded one take of the rhythm track and then overdubbed the vocals and the guitar tracks on the same day.

Harrison performed a guitar solo on a Fender Stratocaster but nothing could save this song; they just didn’t like it. In fact, just before the guitar solo, take a listen to how Ringo Starr desperately sings, “Ah, rock on, anybody!” The band clearly had no interest in the song, and Starr’s desperate plea just about sums up their feelings.

They shelved the song and then forgot about it. Obviously, the prolific songwriters had much more material available, and so it remained in the vault for a very long time.

Take A Listen

Finally, why not listen to the song and leave your comments below?