"Day Tripper" (Lennon – December 6, 1965)
Single, B-Side of "We Can Work It out"
"Day Tripper" is a song by The Beatles, released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out". Both songs were recorded during the sessions for the Rubber Soul album. The single topped the UK Singles Chart and the song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's riff is one of the most recognizable in the history of popular music.
In Many Years From Now, McCartney said that "Day Tripper" was about drugs, and "a tongue-in-cheek song about someone who was ... committed only in part to the idea." The line recorded as "she's a big teaser" was originally written as "she's a prick teaser."
Day Tripper (McCartney live in Tokyo, 2013)
"Day Tripper" is a song by The Beatles, released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out". Both songs were recorded during the sessions for the Rubber Soul album. The single topped the UK Singles Chart and the song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's riff is one of the most recognizable in the history of popular music.
History –
Based on a John guitar riff and vocal pattern and completed by both John and Paul quickly in an attempt to create a matching b-side to the band's latest single. The rushed nature of its completion led John to pronounce himself somewhat dissatisfied with the song in later interviews, but it has stood the test of time with both fans and critics—indeed, it's the song that, in most minds, marks the beginning of the group's fabled "middle period."
The song was historically important in other ways, as well: along with "We Can Work It Out," it was the first song released (through not the first recorded) from the historic Rubber Soul sessions.Based on a John guitar riff and vocal pattern and completed by both John and Paul quickly in an attempt to create a matching b-side to the band's latest single. The rushed nature of its completion led John to pronounce himself somewhat dissatisfied with the song in later interviews, but it has stood the test of time with both fans and critics—indeed, it's the song that, in most minds, marks the beginning of the group's fabled "middle period."
The meaning of the song's title has been debated endlessly by fans. Although the Beatles had tried LSD (or tripped) by the time this song was written, the song is not so much about drugs than dilletantism or being a poser. A "day trip," in British parlance, is a short holiday, so the pun "day tripper," in the LSD context, would refer to someone who works only part-time at being cool or hip.
This single also claims the distinction of being the first "double a-side" single in rock history. 45 rpm records usually featured the potential hit on the a-side, but John argued that "Day Tripper" was the song with the most potential. The compromise reached with Paul's "We Can Work It Out" meant that there would be no designated "b" side, and both songs were eventually counted as Number One singles. (When listing Beatles singles, most discographies designate "We Can Work It Out" as the a-side, but only because it's billed first on the 45 sleeve.)
This song was completed in one day—with enough time left over to begin work on "If I Needed Someone."
It's been confirmed that the phrase "She's a big teaser" was a sound-alike stand-in for "She's a prick teaser," a line Lennon knew he couldn't get on the radio.
Under the pressure of needing a new single for the Christmas market, John Lennon wrote most of the lyrics and the famous guitar hook, while Paul McCartney helped with the verses. "Day Tripper" was a typical play on words by Lennon: "Day trippers are people who go on a day trip, right? Usually on a ferryboat or something. But [the song] was kind of . . . you're just a weekend hippie. Get it?" In the same interview Lennon said, "That's mine. Including the lick, the guitar break and the whole bit." In his 1970 interview with Rolling Stone, however, he used "Day Tripper" as one example of their collaboration, where one partner had the main idea but the other took up the cause and completed it. For his part, McCartney claimed it was very much a collaboration based on Lennon's original idea.
In Many Years From Now, McCartney said that "Day Tripper" was about drugs, and "a tongue-in-cheek song about someone who was ... committed only in part to the idea." The line recorded as "she's a big teaser" was originally written as "she's a prick teaser."
According to music critic Ian MacDonald, the song "starts as a twelve-bar blues in E, which makes a feint at turning into a twelve-bar in the relative minor (i.e. the chorus) before doubling back to the expected B—another joke from a group which had clearly decided that wit was to be their new gimmick." Indeed, in 1966 McCartney said in Melody Maker that "Day Tripper" and "Drive My Car" (recorded three days prior) were "funny songs, songs with jokes in." McCartney provides the lead vocal for the verses and Lennon the harmony, in contrast to the Beatles' usual practice of a song's principal composer singing lead, although Lennon sings lead in the chorus, with McCartney on harmony.
The song was recorded on 16 October 1965. The Beatles recorded the basic rhythm track for "If I Needed Someone" after completing "Day Tripper".
George Harrison – Harmony vocals, lead guitar (Gibson ES-345)
Ringo Starr – Drums (Ludwig), tambourine
The song was recorded on 16 October 1965. The Beatles recorded the basic rhythm track for "If I Needed Someone" after completing "Day Tripper".
Recording –
This song was completed in one day -- with enough time left over to begin work on "If I Needed Someone."
It's been confirmed that the phrase "She's a big teaser" was a sound alike stand-in for "She's a prick teaser," a line Lennon knew he couldn't get on the radio.
There are two different stereo mixes for "Day Tripper"; one by Capitol for inclusion on the Yesterday and Today compilation and one by Parlophone in 1966 for the UK-only compilation A Collection of Beatles Oldies.
In addition, the mix found on Beatles 1 "fixes" several mistakes in the original stereo mixes: two lead-guitar dropouts during the lines "tried to please her" in the last verse, a right pan of the lead guitar in the intro, and a stray "yeah" from John which appears just before the fade-out begins.
The released master contains one of the most noticeable mistakes of any Beatles song, a drop out at 1:58 (1:49 in the version on 1962–1966) in which the rhythm guitar part momentarily disappears;. Bootleg releases of an early mix (which present an extended breakdown as opposed to a polished fadeout) feature a technical glitch on the session tape itself, with characteristics of an accidental recording over the original take as the recorder comes up to speed. This was later fixed on the 2000 compilation 1 and on the re-mastered Past Masters. Though not released on any album in the United Kingdom (until A Collection of Beatles Oldies, in 1966, and later on 1962–1966, aka the Red Album, released in 1973), it was released in the US on the album Yesterday and Today.
Takes: 3
Personnel
John Lennon – Harmony vocals, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney – Lead vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)This song was completed in one day -- with enough time left over to begin work on "If I Needed Someone."
It's been confirmed that the phrase "She's a big teaser" was a sound alike stand-in for "She's a prick teaser," a line Lennon knew he couldn't get on the radio.
There are two different stereo mixes for "Day Tripper"; one by Capitol for inclusion on the Yesterday and Today compilation and one by Parlophone in 1966 for the UK-only compilation A Collection of Beatles Oldies.
In addition, the mix found on Beatles 1 "fixes" several mistakes in the original stereo mixes: two lead-guitar dropouts during the lines "tried to please her" in the last verse, a right pan of the lead guitar in the intro, and a stray "yeah" from John which appears just before the fade-out begins.
The released master contains one of the most noticeable mistakes of any Beatles song, a drop out at 1:58 (1:49 in the version on 1962–1966) in which the rhythm guitar part momentarily disappears;. Bootleg releases of an early mix (which present an extended breakdown as opposed to a polished fadeout) feature a technical glitch on the session tape itself, with characteristics of an accidental recording over the original take as the recorder comes up to speed. This was later fixed on the 2000 compilation 1 and on the re-mastered Past Masters. Though not released on any album in the United Kingdom (until A Collection of Beatles Oldies, in 1966, and later on 1962–1966, aka the Red Album, released in 1973), it was released in the US on the album Yesterday and Today.
Takes: 3
Personnel
John Lennon – Harmony vocals, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
George Harrison – Harmony vocals, lead guitar (Gibson ES-345)
Ringo Starr – Drums (Ludwig), tambourine
Trivia –
In America, the "We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper" single was released on the same day as the Rubber Soul album, although neither song was ever present on that album.
A short film of the Beatles lip-synching this song was made for promotional purposes and first broadcast, along with a similar lip-synch clip for "Day Tripper," on the Granada Television special "The Music Of Lennon and McCartney," which first aired December 17, 1965 in the UK. Since these performances were not filmed in front of an audience, they can be considered the world's first music videos as we understand the format today.
Today in Beatles History (From The Beatles Internet Album) March 1 –
1962 – Performance at the Cavern.
1963 –"Please Please Me" single number 1, 1st week (UK Melody Market chart).– Concert at the City Hall, Sheffield (Helen Shapiro tour).
1964 – US single release: "Twist And Shout"/"There's A Place".
– The Daily Mail names Brian among Britain's Most Eligible Bachelors.
– Start of work on A Hard Day's Night film, at Twickenham Studios. Shooting at Paddington Station, on board a train leaving from it.
– 6.43pm. After spending all day filming, the Beatles jump off the train at Acton (Main Line) Station, and speed away in a limousine.
– After a day of filming in the West Country for 'A Hard Day's Night', the Beatles return to Westbourne Park Station, London.
– George and Pattie meet.
1966 – Brian flies to New York to finish plans for the next Beatles tour.
– Rubber Soul, 13th week in the Top 10 (UK New Musical Express chart).
1967 – Studio 2. 7.00pm-3.30am. Recording: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (overdub onto take 8). Mono mixing: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (remixes 1-11, from take 8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.
– The Beatles are awarded two Grammys ("Eleanor Rigby and Revolver).
1969 – John and Yoko perform at the Lady Mitchell Hall, Cambridge, in a Jazz Festival. Recording: "Let's Go On Flying"; "Snow Is Falling All The Time"; "Don't Worry Kyoko"; "Song For John"; "Cambridge 1969".
– First solo performance of a Beatle, and first public performance of John and Yoko.
1973 – Judge Ira Fieldsteel rules that John must leave the US voluntarily within the next 60 days or face deportation. Yoko is granted permanent residency.
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