TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 50

"Got to Get You Into My Life" (McCartney – August 8, 1966)  

Revolver – Side 2, Track 6 (2:31)
YouTube (McCartney live, White House)

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

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles, first released in 1966 on the album Revolver. Written by Paul McCartney, it made prominent use of a brass section. A cover version by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers peaked at number six in 1966.

Composition and Recording –

Though officially credited to Lennon/McCartney, McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of the song, to which he also contributed lead vocals. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album. The song seems to have been hard to arrange until the soul-style horns, strongly reminiscent of the Stax' Memphis soul and Motown sound, were introduced. The brass was close-miked in the bells of the instruments then put through a limiter. The percussion instrument most predominant is the overdubbed tambourine.

The song starts with a blaring brass fanfare, McCartney's vocals entering at 0:07. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song's title sung. The song then switches between a verse and the refrain. A short electric guitar solo that is nearly identical to the riff from Paperback Writer appears at 1:53 and at 2:10 the horn fanfare re-enters. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney, much akin to the soul records of the time. The mono and stereo mixes of the recording feature completely different ad libs in the fade-out - the presence of a second vocal track is also far more subtle for most of the mono version. Backing vocals were recorded early but later eliminated.

In Barry Miles' 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now, McCartney disclosed that the song was about marijuana. "'Got to Get You into My Life' was one I wrote when I had first been introduced to pot... So [it's] really a song about that, it's not to a person." Many lyrics from the song suggest this: "I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there", '"What can I do? What can I be? When I'm with you, I want to stay there / If I am true, I will never leave and if I do, I'll know the way there."

Personnel

Paul McCartney – Double-tracked lead vocal, bass

John Lennon – Rhythm guitar, organ

George Harrison – Lead guitar

Ringo Starr – Drums, tambourine

Eddie Thornton – Trumpet

Ian Hamer – Trumpet

Les Condon – Trumpet

Alan Branscombe – Tenor saxophone

Peter Coe – Tenor saxophone 

Reception –

Thomas Ward of Allmusic said, "McCartney’s always been a great vocalist, and this is perhaps the best example of his singing on Revolver. One of the overlooked gems on the album." When asked about the song in his 1980 Playboy interview, John Lennon said, "Paul's again. I think that was one of his best songs, too."

Trivia –

As you might imagine, this was one of John's favorite Paul songs.

Most of John's and George's guitars, except for the aforementioned breakdown, were edited out of the final mix, especially in stereo. If you listen, however, you can hear George playing the same notes, along with the brass section, after every line Paul sings in the verse.

The mono mix features a different McCartney vocal ad lib during the song's fade, a result of using a different vocal track for mixing; the fade is also a good bit longer in mono, and features an even wilder-sounding horn section.

In May 1976, this song was included on a new compilation called Rock N' Roll Music, and issued as a single in the US in order to promote the album (Capitol 4274, b/w "Helter Skelter"). Earth, Wind & Fire took their excellent jazzy version to the US Top 10 in 1978, as part of the otherwise infamous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band movie and soundtrack. (In the film, EWF can be seen performing the song at a concert.)

Paul first played this song live on stage in 1979, during the Concert for the People of Kampuchea benefit; he also performed it live on his 1989 and 2009 tours.

Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) February 19 –

1963 – Evening. Performance at the Cavern. 

1964 – Brian flies from New York to England.

– Please Please Me LP, 48th week in the Top 10 (UK New Musical Express chart).– 'With The Beatles' number 1, 13th week (UK New Musical Express chart). 

1965 – Studio 2. 3.30-6.20pm. Recording: "You're Going To Lose That Girl" (takes 2-3). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott.

– The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place. Party in honor of the Beatles hosted by Sir Joseph Lockwood.
– UK LP release: A Hard Day's Night, orchestral LP by George Martin.

1967 – Chuck Berry performance at the Saville Theater. Support acts: Del Shannon, the Canadians, and Hamilton and the Movement. Brian, John and Ringo attend. There's a big trouble at the concert, following Brian's dismissal of the house manager, Michael Bullock.

1968 – Ringo, Paul, Maureen and Jane go to India.

1969 – Yellow Submarine LP, 5th week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart).

1971 – Royal Courts of Justice (Court 16), London. Beginning of Paul's trial against John, George and Ringo to seek the appointment of an official receiver to take over the Beatles' financial affairs and wrest control from Allen Klein. 

1987 – Taj Majal's concert at the Palimino Club, Hollywood. George, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty and Jesse Ed Davis join them on stage. 

1996 – Recording of "Souvenir" begins in Sussex, England.