TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 70

"You Can't Do That" (Lennon – March 16, 1964)

B-Side of "Can't Buy Me Love" and A Hard Day's Night CD Version – Track 12 (2:31)  
 YouTube

From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, About.com, and Google ― 

One of Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs. "You Can't Do That” ‘contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove’ ...” so wrote Robert Sandall. The song's jealousy theme was re-visited in other Lennon compositions, such as "Run for Your Life" and "Jealous Guy". Lennon played the guitar solo, which he also conceived. Influenced by the then relatively unknown Wilson Pickett the song is rooted in twelve-bar, with Lennon introducing a discordant flattened 3rd (F) on the D7th chord, pointedly emphasizing "…I told you before…" and then pushing this note for the exasperated "Oh!" before resolving to the song's key of G.

With filming due to begin on A Hard Day's Night film director Dick Lester needed the Beatles to provide him with original material ahead of production and "You Can't Do That" was selected as part of the Scala Theatre "live performance" scene in the film, but was dropped for the final cut along with "I'll Cry Instead". The recording took nine takes to complete, and was considered for the A-side of their next single until McCartney wrote Can't Buy Me Love.

"You Can't Do That" was recorded on Tuesday, 25 February 1964, in Abbey Road Studios in London. An early take with a guide vocal is included on Anthology 1. It was the first song completed in the week before the Beatles began filming A Hard Day's Night, though "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" were also started on the same day.

While in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show guitarist George Harrison was presented with a Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe electric 12-string guitar worth (in 1964) $900. Only the second one produced, it was heard for the first time on "You Can't Do That" (although actually used for the first time on "Can't Buy Me Love" but lost in the mix) and gave the song its distinctive chiming sound. It would be played extensively on the A Hard Day's Night LP, greatly influencing Roger McGuinn, who later went on to form The Byrds.

The song was first released as the B-side of the "Can't Buy Me Love" single on 16 March 1964 in the US by Capitol Records and on 20 March 1964 in the UK by Parlophone. it was the seventh US single and sixth US single. It was later included in the A Hard Day's Night album in the UK, and The Beatles' Second Album in the US.

The Beatles were filmed miming to "You Can't Do That" as part of the final concert sequence in the A Hard Day's Night film. The filming took place on 31 March 1964 at the Scala Theatre, London, but was not used. It was, however, broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show on 24 May. The performance is included in the documentary The Making of "A Hard Day's Night".

The Beatles recorded "You Can't Do That" four times for BBC radio in 1964. It also became a part of the group's live repertoire that year, and was the second song in their set—after "Twist and Shout"—during their Australian and North American tours.

According to Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Recording Sessions book, George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on 22 May 1964 ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used. 

Recording –

Takes: 9

Personnel

John Lennon ― Lead vocal, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney ― Backing vocal, bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison ― Backing vocal, lead guitar (1963 Rickenbacker "Fire-glo" 360-12)
Ringo Starr―Drums (1963 Black Oyster Pearl Ludwig kit), cowbell, bongos


Trivia –

George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on May 22, 1964, ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used.
Although John Lennon later characterized this track as being like a Wilson Pickett song, he seems to have been speaking in retrospect, as Pickett had not begun creating singles like this at the time.

Harry Nilsson covered this song (with John's blessing) on his solo debut Pandemonium Shadow Show, but took the opportunity to introduce lines from twenty other Beatles songs into the lyrics.

Covered by: Booker T. and the MGs, Ian Gomm, Harry Nilsson, The Standells, The Supremes, Vanilla Fudge, Bob Welch.

This Day in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) January 30 –

1963 – "Please Please Me" number 17, 1st week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart)

1964 – U.S. single release: "Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why".

– Start of Cilla Black British tour. 1965 

– "Beatles For Sale" number 1, 7th and last week (UK Record Retailer chart). 

1967 – John, Paul and Brian attend a concert by the Who and Jimy Hendrix.
– Studio 3 (control room only). 7.00-8.30pm. Mono mixing: "A Day In The Life" (remix 1, from take 6). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Remix of 'A Day In The Life' only for demostration.

 

– Night shootings for "Strawberry Fields Forever" clip, in Sevenoaks, Kent.
– With Brian's permission, the Jimi Hendrix Experience return to the Saville Theatre to shoot a promotional film for their new single.
– Production commences on "Work Is A Four-Letter Word", Cilla Black's first non-singing film role.

1968 – Abbey Road. George finishes the LP "Wonderwall".

1969 – Apple Studios (Roof). Time unknown. Recording: "Get Back" (2 versions); "Don't Let Me Down"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "The One After 909"; "Dig A Pony"; "God Save The Queen"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "Don't Let Me Down"; "Get Back". Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
– "I've Got A Feeling", "The One After 909", "Dig A Pony", John's and Paul's comments at the end of 3rd version of "Get Back": versions for "Let It Be" LP. Version of "The One After 909" for "Get Back" LP.