TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 34

"Eight Days a Week” (McCartney – May 30, 1966)

Beatles for Sale – Side 2, Track 1 (2:44)
YouTube (McCartney live in Tokyo, 2013)

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

"Eight Days a Week" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, based on Paul's original idea, recorded by The Beatles and released on their December 1964 album Beatles for Sale.

History –

Written mostly by Paul, with some help from John, this was another song based on one of Ringo's odd sayings: "I've been working eight days a week!" It was written at least in part as a working title song for the group's next film: when the title Help! was legally spoken for, the Beatles toyed with the idea of naming their second feature Eight Arms To Hold You; when the group circumvented the problem by adding an exclamation point to the original title, the "eight arms" idea was scrapped.

The most notable feature of this song is its faded-in intro, a first in pop music. Originally conceived by John and Paul as an a capella opening, it (and its accompanying outro) are edits, recorded and spliced into the song during a second session (10/8/64) reserved especially for figuring out an opening!

Although John and Paul sing in harmony throughout much of the song, the lead vocal mostly belongs to John, odd since Paul was the primary songwriter.

Inspiration –

The inspiration of the song has been attributed to at least two different sources by Paul McCartney. In a 1984 interview with Playboy, he credited the title to Ringo Starr, who was noted for his malapropisms, which are credited as the source of other song titles (such as "A Hard Day's Night" and "Tomorrow Never Knows").

LINDA: Ringo also said, 'Eight days a week.'
PAUL: Yeah, he said it as though he were an overworked chauffeur. (in heavy accent) 'Eight days a week.' (laughter) When we heard it, we said, 'Really? Bing! Got it!'

However, he has also credited the title to an actual chauffeur who once drove him to Lennon's house in Weybridge.

I usually drove myself there, but the chauffeur drove me out that day and I said, 'How've you been?' – 'Oh working hard,' he said, 'working eight days a week.'

Recording –

"Eight Days a Week" is the first song which The Beatles took into the studio unfinished to work on the arrangement during the session, which would later become common. The song was mainly recorded in two recording sessions on 6 October devoted exclusively to this song, which lasted nearly seven hours with a fifteen-minute break in between. Lennon and McCartney tried several ideas for the intro and outro of the song. The first take featured a simple acoustic guitar introduction. The second take introduced an "oo"-ing vocal that was experimented with until the sixth take, when it was abandoned in favour of the final guitar intro. The final outro (along with unused intro takes) was recorded separately on 18 October. The final version of the song incorporated another Beatles' first and pop music rarity: the song begins with a fade-in, as opposed to the common fade-out ending. The instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, bass and overdubbed handclaps. The fade-in and coda both include more guitar overdubs.

Takes: 15

Personnel

John Lennon – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar (Gibson J160E)

Paul McCartney – Harmony vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), piano
George Harrison – Lead guitar, rhythm guitars (Gretsch 6122 "Country Gentleman," Rickenbacker 360-12 "Fire-glo")
Ringo Starr – Drums (Ludwig)

Release and Acclaim –

The song, along with two others from the album ("Baby's in Black" and "No Reply") was planned as a single release. In the end, it was released as a single only in the United States on 15 February 1965 becoming a number-one hit (their seventh). Its B-side was "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party". The single release in the US was the result of DJs playing the song from imported copies of the Beatles for Sale album as an exclusive since it was not included on the album's US counterpart Beatles '65. Later, it made a US album appearance on Beatles VI.

Although it was a huge American hit, the group did not think highly of the song (Lennon called it "lousy") and they never performed it live.

Trivia –

Neither John nor Paul thought much of this song, but it paradoxically is quite beloved among Beatles fans, becoming the group's eighth Number One in the United States.

This song was featured prominently in the "My Best Friend's Wedding" episode of the hit TV series Scrubs.

Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) March 7 –

1962 – The Playhouse Theatre, Hulme, Manchester. 

8.00-8.45pm. Recording for BBC's "Teenager's Turn (Here We Go)": "Hello Little Girl"; "Memphis Tennessee"; "Dream Baby"; "Please Mister Postman". 

– First BBC session. In front of a live audience. 1st public performance in the Beno Dorn worsted stage suits.
Pete Best on drums. 

– First live show preserved on tape, only recording of "Dream Baby", and only live performances of "Memphis Tennessee" and "Please Mister Postman".

1963 – Brian organizes the 1st of the new concert series, Mersey Beat Showcase, with The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, and the Big Three.

1964 – With The Beatles number 1, 14th week (UK Record Retailer chart). 

– "I Want To Hold Your Hand" number 1, 6th week, 8th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
– "She Loves You", 7th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
– "Please Please Me", 6th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
– "I Saw Her Standing There", 5th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
– "From Me To You", first week in the Top 100 (Billboard).
– Recording of an extensive interview to Brian for Frankly Speaking, program of the BBC North-East Home Service.
– First issue of Gerry and the Pacemakers, edited by Sean O'Mahoney, is published.

1966 – Mike Millward, founder and member of the Fourmost, dies in the Bromborough Hospital, Cheshire.

1967 – Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.30am. Recording: "Lovely Rita" (overdub onto take 11). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. 

– Miscellaneous overdubs for the end.

1970 – Live Peace In Toronto, 9th week in the ranking (Billboard). 

– "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)", 3rd week in the ranking (Billboard).

1972 – The process of expulsion of John from the USA begins. Federal authorities indicate John Lindsay, New York prefect, how to proceed in the case.

1982 – BBC broadcasts a 2-hour radio program, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Beatles first BBC session.

– Startling Studios. first session, recording basic tracks for LP Old Wave. Producer: Jim Nipar.

1994 – UK single release: "Money (That's What I Want)", with the Backbeat band.