"For No One" (McCartney – August 8, 1966)
"For No One" is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles' seventh album, Revolver. A baroque pop song about the end of a relationship, it was one of McCartney's most mature and poignant works upon its release. Mostly performed by the composer, the track is distinguished by its French horn solo, performed by Alan Civil and used as an obbligato in the final verse.
History –
This sad yet stately McCartney ballad, yet another high point of Revolver, was written sometime in March of 1966, while he was enjoying a ski vacation with his girlfriend, actress Jane Asher, in Klosters, Switzerland. Paul himself says this portrait of a breakup is semi-autobiographical, and so it's been suggested that an argument with Asher while in the Swiss Alps led to its creation. Later statements, however, seemed to clarify that it had something to do with a couple that got very serious at a young age -- which suggests the real subject is his first real Beatle-era girlfriend, Dot Rhone, his steady girlfriend from age 16 and the subject of "P.S. I Love You." Rhone claimed Paul had broken up with her because the band was on the verge of being famous, yet the recollections of Paul's own brother Mike, as well as a surviving letter from earlier band member Stuart Sutcliffe, suggests that Dot broke the relationship off, which would be more in keeping with the tone of the song.
"For No One" was recorded very simply, with Paul (on piano) and Ringo laying down the basic track on May 9, 1966; Ringo then went back and added hi-hat emphasis in the verses, and maracas and tambourine to liven up the chorus. Paul then added the sound of a clavichord, a sort of harpsichord in which the keys are struck like a piano rather than plucked, which added to the delicate chamber-music feel of the track. (George Martin has claimed the instrument came from his home; others present insist it was rented.) On the 16th, McCartney laid down bass and his vocal track, and Ringo contributed a second tambourine.
The track needed just one more finishing touch, and Paul suggested a French Horn, having always liked its distinctive sound. On the 19th, Martin called up Alan Civil, whom he'd known as an Abbey Road session player since the early '50s. Here the memories differ: McCartney and George Martin both claim that Paul himself came up with the melody for the solo, but Alan has insisted he came up with it completely from scratch. All agree that it was Paul and John's idea to have Alan incorporate a note at "high F," one note higher than the range of the actual instrument. Civil complied, but when Paul, not realizing how well the horn player had done, asked him politely if he couldn't come up with something better, Alan became rather angry. The solo stayed as you hear it.
John Lennon said of the song, "One of my favorites of his—a nice piece of work."
Writing and recording –
Originally entitled "Why Did It Die?," the song's surviving handwritten lyrics, penned in the chalet, contain some more hopeful lines that were eventually excised: "Why did it die? I'd like to know, try to save it," and "You believe it may work out one day, you need each other." The original chorus of "No sign of love behind the tears / cried for no one" was "Why did it die? You'd like to know / Cry and blame her" and "Why did it die? I'd like to know / Try and save it."
"For No One" was recorded very simply, with Paul (on piano) and Ringo laying down the basic track on May 9, 1966; Ringo then went back and added hi-hat emphasis in the verses, and maracas and tambourine to liven up the chorus. Paul then added the sound of a clavichord, a sort of harpsichord in which the keys are struck like a piano rather than plucked, which added to the delicate chamber-music feel of the track. (George Martin has claimed the instrument came from his home; others present insist it was rented.) On the 16th, McCartney laid down bass and his vocal track, and Ringo contributed a second tambourine.
The track needed just one more finishing touch, and Paul suggested a French Horn, having always liked its distinctive sound. On the 19th, Martin called up Alan Civil, whom he'd known as an Abbey Road session player since the early '50s. Here the memories differ: McCartney and George Martin both claim that Paul himself came up with the melody for the solo, but Alan has insisted he came up with it completely from scratch. All agree that it was Paul and John's idea to have Alan incorporate a note at "high F," one note higher than the range of the actual instrument. Civil complied, but when Paul, not realizing how well the horn player had done, asked him politely if he couldn't come up with something better, Alan became rather angry. The solo stayed as you hear it.
John Lennon said of the song, "One of my favorites of his—a nice piece of work."
Writing and recording –
McCartney recalls writing "For No One" in the bathroom of a ski resort in the Swiss Alps while on holiday with his then girlfriend Jane Asher.He said, "I suspect it was about another argument." The song's working title was "Why Did It Die?". It is built upon a descending scale progression with a refrain that modulates to the supertonic minor.
The song was recorded on 9, 16 and 19 May 1966. McCartney sang and played clavichord (rented from George Martin's AIR company), piano and bass guitar, while Ringo Starr played drums and tambourine. Lennon and George Harrison did not contribute to the recording.
The French horn solo was by Alan Civil, a British horn player described by Geoff Emerick as the "best horn player in London". During the session, McCartney pushed Civil to play a note that was beyond the usual range of the instrument. According to Emerick, the result was the "performance of his life". Civil said that the song was "recorded in rather bad musical style, in that it was 'in the cracks' neither B-flat nor B-major. This posed a certain difficulty in tuning my instrument."
The song was recorded on 9, 16 and 19 May 1966. McCartney sang and played clavichord (rented from George Martin's AIR company), piano and bass guitar, while Ringo Starr played drums and tambourine. Lennon and George Harrison did not contribute to the recording.
The French horn solo was by Alan Civil, a British horn player described by Geoff Emerick as the "best horn player in London". During the session, McCartney pushed Civil to play a note that was beyond the usual range of the instrument. According to Emerick, the result was the "performance of his life". Civil said that the song was "recorded in rather bad musical style, in that it was 'in the cracks' neither B-flat nor B-major. This posed a certain difficulty in tuning my instrument."
Takes: 14
Personnel –
Personnel –
Paul McCartney – Lead vocals, bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), piano (1905 Steinway Vertegrand "Mrs. Mills"), clavichord
Ringo Starr – Drums (Ludwig), tambourines
Alan Civil – French horn
Trivia –
Alan Civil – French horn
Trivia –
Civil was one of the first outside musicians to get credit on a Beatles track; tabla player Anil Bhagwat is the only other such credit on Revolver, having performed on "Love You To."
The basic track of "For No One" was recorded in C, but for some reason, Paul decided to cut the vocals and bass tracks in Bb and then speed them up to fit. Civil was playing a Bb flat horn and so the engineers brought the track down a whole step for him, too, but when the result sounded strange, they sped the track up a half-step (more or less) and recorded the solo in B.
Along with "Here, There and Everywhere," this was one of John's favorite Paul ballads.
This song was re-recorded by Paul for his 1984 film Give My Regards To Broad Street, and also performed by him during his 2004 world tour. Emmylou Harris sang the song for him at the White House in 2010, when President Barack Obama honored him with the coveted Gershwin Award.
Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) March 1 –
– "Please Please Me" single number 1, 2nd week (UK New Musical Express chart).
The basic track of "For No One" was recorded in C, but for some reason, Paul decided to cut the vocals and bass tracks in Bb and then speed them up to fit. Civil was playing a Bb flat horn and so the engineers brought the track down a whole step for him, too, but when the result sounded strange, they sped the track up a half-step (more or less) and recorded the solo in B.
Along with "Here, There and Everywhere," this was one of John's favorite Paul ballads.
This song was re-recorded by Paul for his 1984 film Give My Regards To Broad Street, and also performed by him during his 2004 world tour. Emmylou Harris sang the song for him at the White House in 2010, when President Barack Obama honored him with the coveted Gershwin Award.
Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) March 1 –
1963 – Concert at the Odeon, Southport (Helen Shapiro Tour).
– UK single release: "How Do You Do It", debut of Gerry and the Pacemakers.
– "Please Please Me" single number 1, 2nd week (UK New Musical Express chart).
1964 – Studio 2. 10.00am-1.30pm. Recording: "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" (takes 1-4); 'Long Tall Sally' (take 1); "I Call Your Name" (takes 1-7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: Richard Langham.
– Start of sessions for "Long Tall Sally" EP.
– First Sunday session.
– First Sunday session.
1966 – BBC-TV transmits The Beatles At The Shea Stadium film.
1967 – Studio 2. 7.00pm-2.15am. Recording: "A Day In The Life" (overdub onto take 6); "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (take 1-7, tape reduction take 7 into take 8). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.
– Day planned for Brian's vacation trip to Mexico.
1968 – Fans occupy the Cavern, protesting against its closing.
– Ringo and Maureen return to London.
1969 – Yellow Submarine LP, 7th week in the Top 30 (Billboard).
1970 – Transmision, on the Ed Sullivan Show, of "Let It Be" and "Two Of Us" clips. It is the last time, in life of the group, they appear in the program.
1972 – Extension is granted to John's visa for temporary residence in the USA.
– Recording of Some Time In New York City begins.
1975 – John and Yoko attend the ceremony of Grammy Awards.
1992 – Moyzes Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic, Bratislavia. End of recording of The Beatles Go Baroque, with Peter Breiner and his chamber orchestra. Producer: Leos Komarek; Engineer: Otto Nopp.
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