PAUL McCARTNEY, MONDAY JUNE 14, 1965: Just another day

 |   |  1 min read

PAUL McCARTNEY, MONDAY JUNE 14, 1965: Just another day

The more you think about it, the more impressive the Beatles' work ethic becomes.

In the three years after the release of their first UK single Love Me Do in October 1962 they recorded five albums of mostly original songs (A Hard Day's Night had 14 originals), made two films – A Hard Day's Night and Help! – and toured constantly.

They did BBC radio sessions (a whopping 275 recordings of 88 songs), released non-album singles, were interviewed for television, print and radio repeatedly, had photo sessions . . .

If you wonder how they did it, they were running on sheer enthusiasm, adrenalin, their competitive nature and latterly the creative input of marijuana (which slowed Lennon but not so much McCartney).

McCartney was keen to flog off songs to others (Cilla Black, various Liverpool groups) but was somewhat unstoppable himself.

On the afternoon of Monday June 14, 1965 he and the band convened as usual at Abbey Road to polish off songs for the Help! Soundtrack.

First up was his I've Just Seen a Face, an enthusiastic love song in a country music manner.

It took six takes.

I've Just Seen A Face
 

Then they moved on to McCartney's Little Richard homage, the throat straining screamer I'm Down. Seven takes – that is some punishment on the throat – and it's done.

I'm Down, take 1
 

I'm Down, released version
 

Later that evening McCartney went back to the studio by himself to record a solo piece he'd been fiddling about with hesitantly, not quite sure if he'd ripped off a familiar melody from someone else. Over the weeks beforehand he's run the tune past others, none of whom recognised it.

He finally got the words down and on this particular night – after knocking off a country song and a rock'n'roll screamer – he does two takes and nails Yesterday, a song which is much more difficult to sing as many have found.

Yesterday, take 1

Yesterday, released version
 

Three completely different styles, all accomplished Paul McCartney songs and delivery.

Tomorrow would be another day, then a couple of days after that he'd turn 23.


Share It

Your Comments

Geoff Peterson - May 26, 2025

Thanks for compiling this Graham,

It is an amazing task McCartney completed,
and likely he was writing, planning other work as well.

I have watched videos of him explaining the situation on writing, recording many other songs, quite a force to be reckoned with, and I don't think he ever accepts 2nd best in his work.

Terry Toner - May 26, 2025

An interesting read with extras - what more could one ask ??

post a comment

More from this section   Absolute Elsewhere articles index

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III INTERVIEWED (2008): The family that sings together . . .

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III INTERVIEWED (2008): The family that sings together . . .

These days American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III -- touted as a “new Dylan” at the dawn of the 70s and whose critically acclaimed 20 or so albums since have skirted the edges... > Read more

MARC RIBOT CONSIDERED (2015): Cosmopolitan guitarist without portfolio

MARC RIBOT CONSIDERED (2015): Cosmopolitan guitarist without portfolio

If there is a distinguishing feature of American guitarist Marc Ribot's style it is that you'd be unwise to attempt to attribute a distinguishing feature or style to it. In the words of... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Defne Şahin: Hope (digital outlets)

Defne Şahin: Hope (digital outlets)

To some small extent local listeners might have been down this narrow path previously with Matthew Bannister (as One Man Bannister) setting of some Emily Dickinson poems to music on his album The... > Read more

Beef stir-fry with peppers by Womad 2014 guest Abundance Mutori of Mokoomba

Beef stir-fry with peppers by Womad 2014 guest Abundance Mutori of Mokoomba

Bassist Abundance Mutori of the Zimbabwean band Mokoomba is bound to brew up a musical stew when the band play at Womad in March (dates below), but he's also happy to offer this, the recipe for a... > Read more