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.