"Girl" (Lennon – December 6, 1965)
Rubber Soul – Side 2, Track 2 (2:30)
YouTube (Girl cover)
From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone and About.com –
"Girl" was included on the Beatles 1977 compilation Love Songs in a new stereo mix, one that moved John's lead vocal to center. The song was also prepared for release as a single to promote the new comp (with "You're Gonna Lose That Girl" as the b-side), but was pulled from production at the last minute.
1969 – George's stay at the London University College Hospital begins. His tonsils are removed.
Rubber Soul – Side 2, Track 2 (2:30)
YouTube (Girl cover)
From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone and About.com –
"Girl" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an original idea by Lennon and performed by the Beatles on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. "Girl" was the last complete song recorded for that album.
History –
"Girl" was probably one of the most melancholy and complex of their earlier love songs. The songs instrumental has specific comparisons to Greek music; similar to "And I Love Her" and "Michelle".
According to McCartney, he contributed the lines "Was she told when she was young that pain would lead to pleasure" and "That a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure." However, in a 1970 interview with Rolling Stone, Lennon claimed that he came up with these lines as a comment on Christianity which he was "opposed to at the time". He explained: "I was just talking about Christianity in that - a thing like you have to be tortured to attain heaven. [...] - be tortured and then it'll be alright, which seems to be a bit true but not in their concept of it. But I didn't believe in that, that you have to be tortured to attain anything, it just so happens that you were."
McCartney also stated that the song's backing vocals were influenced by the Beach Boys, he said: "The Beach Boys had a song out where they'd done 'la la la' and we loved the innocence of that and wanted to copy it, but not use the same phrase".”
Lennon said that the fantasy girl in the song's lyric was an archetype he had been searching for his entire life ("There is no such thing as the girl — she was a dream") and finally found in Yoko Ono. In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on 5 December 1980, Lennon said his 1980 song "Woman": "Reminds me of a Beatles track, but I wasn't trying to make it sound like that. I did it as I did 'Girl' many years ago. So this is the grown-up version of 'Girl.'"
In November 1977, Capitol Records scheduled the United States release of "Girl" backed with "You're Going to Lose That Girl" as a single (Capitol 4506) to accompany the release of Love Songs, a Beatles' compilation album that contains both of these songs. However, the single was cancelled before it was issued.
McCartney also stated that the song's backing vocals were influenced by the Beach Boys, he said: "The Beach Boys had a song out where they'd done 'la la la' and we loved the innocence of that and wanted to copy it, but not use the same phrase".”
Lennon said that the fantasy girl in the song's lyric was an archetype he had been searching for his entire life ("There is no such thing as the girl — she was a dream") and finally found in Yoko Ono. In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on 5 December 1980, Lennon said his 1980 song "Woman": "Reminds me of a Beatles track, but I wasn't trying to make it sound like that. I did it as I did 'Girl' many years ago. So this is the grown-up version of 'Girl.'"
In November 1977, Capitol Records scheduled the United States release of "Girl" backed with "You're Going to Lose That Girl" as a single (Capitol 4506) to accompany the release of Love Songs, a Beatles' compilation album that contains both of these songs. However, the single was cancelled before it was issued.
The very last song written and recorded for Rubber Soul, "Girl" was inspired by a short instrumental piece Paul McCartney crafted in September 1963 after a vacation in Greece. Possibly also due to the recent resurgence of interest in Greek culture spurred by the hit 1965 Anthony Quinn film Zorba The Greek, "Girl" was put together by John in the studio on the spot, with Paul's original riff inserted in the right channel during verse 3 (1:31) and louder near the end as an instrumental break (2:01).
The lyrics to "Girl" largely stay in familiar pop music territory -- the feckless lover who tortures her boyfriend with her prima donna attitude. (John's wife Cynthia was convinced the song was a swipe at her.) Lennon, however, typically added a twist in the third verse, one inspired by his own upbringing: "Was she told when she was young that pain would lead to pleasure?" John later claimed this as a rejection of "the Catholic/Christian concept - be tortured and then it'll be alright." Paul also later claimed authorship of this line, though it seems rather atypical for him.
"Girl" was written quickly and recorded in a single day's session on November 11, 1965, with two takes of John's and George's acoustic rhythm guitars, Paul's bass, and Ringo on drums. (George added a somewhat anachronistic fuzz guitar lead, but this was edited out.) Backing vocals were then added, Paul's Greek riff replicated, and John's lead vocal re-done. With work completed on "Girl," the band spent the rest of the all-night session putting final touches on "I'm Looking Through You" and "Wait." Three weeks later, Rubber Soul was in stores.
Recording –
"Girl" was written quickly and recorded in a single day's session on November 11, 1965, with two takes of John's and George's acoustic rhythm guitars, Paul's bass, and Ringo on drums. (George added a somewhat anachronistic fuzz guitar lead, but this was edited out.) Backing vocals were then added, Paul's Greek riff replicated, and John's lead vocal re-done. With work completed on "Girl," the band spent the rest of the all-night session putting final touches on "I'm Looking Through You" and "Wait." Three weeks later, Rubber Soul was in stores.
Recording –
Takes: 2
Personnel
John Lennon – Lead vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar (1964 Gibson J160E)
Paul McCartney – Harmony vocals, bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison – Harmony vocals, acoustic lead guitar (1962 Gibson J160E), acoustic rhythm guitar (1964 Framus 12-string "Hootenanny")
Ringo Starr – Drums (Ludwig)
Trivia –
The group pulled off one of its naughtiest practical jokes in the studio during the recording of this song, singing "tit" repeatedly in the bridge instead of the usual nonsense syllable "dit." Producer George Martin was reportedly unaware of the switch, which seems probable, since the difference is extremely subtle. In addition, there's a inhalation of breath after every "Girl" in the chorus, done by John, very close to the mic and put through an effect to make it sound wobbly. Some hear this as a audible reference to "toking" marijuana, but it's more likely an attempt to get across the sensual yet painful nature of the narrator's relationship.
"Girl" was included on the Beatles 1977 compilation Love Songs in a new stereo mix, one that moved John's lead vocal to center. The song was also prepared for release as a single to promote the new comp (with "You're Gonna Lose That Girl" as the b-side), but was pulled from production at the last minute.
In his famous 1980 Playboy interview, John called his new song "Woman" a "grown-up version" of "Girl," implying that his romantic relationships had matured as well.
Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) February 7 –
1963 – Concert at the Odeon, Wakefield (Helen Shapiro tour).
1964 – Press conference at the Heathrow Airport.
– 6.30. The Beatles and Brian leave from London to New York (Flight 101, Pan Am).
– 13.35. Arrival at the US for a 10-day tour, at the Kennedy Airport, New York.
– Press conference at the Kennedy Airport. The Beatles are taken to the Plaza Hotel.
– Photographer Dezo Hoffmann is with them at both airports and during the flight.
George gets a flu.
– UK EP release: "All My Loving".
– 'New Musical Express' reveals that Brian has turned down an 8000 pounds offer for the Beatles to play a concert at the Madison Square Garden. It speculates that the Beatles talked Brian out of a "big deal" with Bernard Delfont. And it says that one can "discount rumors linking Alma Cogan's name romantically with Brian Epstein".
– 13.35. Arrival at the US for a 10-day tour, at the Kennedy Airport, New York.
– Press conference at the Kennedy Airport. The Beatles are taken to the Plaza Hotel.
– Photographer Dezo Hoffmann is with them at both airports and during the flight.
George gets a flu.
– UK EP release: "All My Loving".
– 'New Musical Express' reveals that Brian has turned down an 8000 pounds offer for the Beatles to play a concert at the Madison Square Garden. It speculates that the Beatles talked Brian out of a "big deal" with Bernard Delfont. And it says that one can "discount rumors linking Alma Cogan's name romantically with Brian Epstein".
1967 – Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. Shooting for 'Penny Lane' clip. Horse-riding and candelabra scenes.
– BBC's "Not Only... But Also", with John's appearance, is re-transmitted.
1969 – George's stay at the London University College Hospital begins. His tonsils are removed.
– Ringo attends the Candy premiere.
1970 – "Live Peace In Toronto" number 10, 1st week, its highest position; 5th week in the ranking (Billboard).
1978 – Start of London Town LP sessions at Abbey Road Studios (3rd period).
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