MAY 26

The Night Before

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 17 February 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 6 August 1965 (UK), 13 August 1965 (US)

Available on:
Help!

Personnel

Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, lead guitar
John Lennon: harmony vocals, electric piano
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, percussion

Written mainly by Paul McCartney, ‘The Night Before’ was featured in the Help! film during a scene filmed on Salisbury Plain, England.

McCartney most likely composed the song at the flat in Wimpole Street, London, owned by Jane Asher’s parents.

That’s Paul again. I’ll just say it’s Paul, meaning I don’t remember anything about it except it was in the movie Help!

John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff

One of the most notable features in ‘The Night Before’ was the guitar solo, double tracked an octave apart and played by McCartney and George Harrison. John Lennon, meanwhile, played a Hohner Pianet electric piano, which gave the song much of its drive.

In the studio

The Beatles recorded ‘The Night Before’ in just two takes, on the afternoon of 17 February 1965 at Studio Two in EMI Studios in Abbey Road, London.

The session began at 2pm and ended at 7pm. Paul McCartney’s lead vocals were double tracked. The song completed, from 7pm they turned their attention to George Harrison’s ‘You Like Me Too Much’.

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