You Can't Do That
| "You Can't Do That" | ||||||||||||
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| Song by The Beatles from the album A Hard Day's Night | ||||||||||||
| Released | 10 July 1964 | |||||||||||
| Recorded | 25 February 1964, EMI Studios, London |
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| Genre | Beat | |||||||||||
| Length | 2:37 | |||||||||||
| Label | Parlophone | |||||||||||
| Writer | Lennon–McCartney | |||||||||||
| Producer | George Martin | |||||||||||
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| "You Can't Do That" | ||||||||||||
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| Single by The Beatles | ||||||||||||
| from the album A Hard Day's Night | ||||||||||||
| A-side | "Can't Buy Me Love" | |||||||||||
| Released | 16 March 1964 (US) 20 March 1964 (UK) |
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| Recorded | 25 February 1964, EMI Studios, London |
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| Genre | Beat | |||||||||||
| Length | 2:37 | |||||||||||
| Label | Capitol | |||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||||||||||
| Producer | George Martin | |||||||||||
| The Beatles singles chronology | ||||||||||||
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"You Can't Do That" is a song written by John Lennon[1][2][3] (credited to Lennon–McCartney) and released by The Beatles as the B-side of their sixth British single "Can't Buy Me Love".[4]
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[edit] Composition
One of Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs[3] You Can't Do That "contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove" ... so wrote Robert Sandall.[5] The song's jealousy theme was re-visited in other Lennon compositions, such as "Run for Your Life" and "Jealous Guy". Lennon played the guitar solo, which he also conceived.[1] Influenced by the then relatively unknown Wilson Pickett[1] the song is rooted in twelve-bar, with Lennon introducing a discordant Sharp 9th (F) on the D7th chord, pointedly emphasising "…I told you before…" and then pushing this note for the exasperated "Oh!" before resolving to the song's key of G.[6]
With filming due to begin on A Hard Day's Night film director Dick Lester needed the Beatles to provide him with original material ahead of production and "You Can't Do That" was selected as part of the Scala Theatre "live performance" scene in the film, but was dropped for the final cut along with I'll Cry Instead and I Call Your Name. The recording took nine takes to complete, and was considered for the A-side of their next single until McCartney wrote Can't Buy Me Love.
[edit] Recording and release
"You Can't Do That" was recorded on Tuesday, 25 February 1964, in Abbey Road Studios in London.[7] An early take with a guide vocal is included on Anthology 1.[8] It was the first song completed in the week before the Beatles began filming A Hard Day's Night, though "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" were also started on the same day.
While in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show guitarist George Harrison was presented with a Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe electric 12-string guitar worth (in 1964) $900[2][9]. Only the second one produced, it was heard for the first time on "You Can't Do That" (although actually used for the first time on "Can't Buy Me Love" but lost in the mix) and gave the song its distinctive chiming sound.[2] It would be played extensively on the A Hard Day's Night LP, greatly influencing Roger McGuinn, who later went on to form The Byrds.[10]
The song was first released as the B-side of the "Can't Buy Me Love" single on 16 March 1964 in the United States by Capitol Records and on 20 March 1964 in the United Kingdom by Parlophone. it was the seventh US single and sixth UK single.[4] It was later included in the A Hard Day's Night album in the UK, and The Beatles' Second Album in the US.[4]
The Beatles were filmed miming to "You Can't Do That" as part of the final concert sequence in the A Hard Day's Night film. The filming took place on 31 March 1964 at the Scala Theatre, London, but was not used. It was, however, broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show on 24 May.[11] The performance is included in the documentary The Making of "A Hard Day's Night".
The Beatles recorded "You Can't Do That" four times for BBC radio in 1964. It also became a part of the group's live repertoire that year, and was the second song in their set—after "Twist And Shout"—during their Australian and North American tours.[11]
According to Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Recording Sessions book, George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on 22 May 1964 ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used.
[edit] Personnel
- John Lennon – lead vocal, lead guitar
- Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar, cowbell
- George Harrison – backing vocal, 12 string rhythm guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums, conga
- Personnel per Ian MacDonald[1]
[edit] Nilsson version
"You Can't Do That" was covered by Harry Nilsson for his debut album Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967). Nilsson re-arranged the song making it somewhat slower. He also worked references to 20 other Beatles tunes in the mix, usually by quoting snippets of Beatles lyrics in the multi-layered backing vocals.
The track was Nilsson's first hit as a performer; though it stalled at #122 on the US charts, it hit top 10 in Canada. It also (along with the rest of the album) established Nilsson as a favourite performer of the Beatles. Famously, Lennon listened to Pandemonium Shadow Show for 36 hours straight after being given a copy by Derek Taylor; he then called Nilsson to congratulate him, which started a friendship that would last for the rest of Lennon's life. Later, in a 1968 press conference to announce the formation of Apple Corps, Lennon was asked to name his favourite American artist. He replied, "Nilsson". McCartney was then asked to name his favourite American group. He replied, "Nilsson".
[edit] Other covers
- Vanilla Fudge covered it on their second album, The Beat Goes On.
- Andy Ellison recorded a version.
- Amanda Overmyer sang a faster rendition of the song on the Top 12 show of American Idol (season 7) and likewise recorded a studio version of the song.
- The Punkles did a cover of this song on their 1998-2003 album.
- The Supremes covered the song on their 1964 album A Bit of Liverpool.
- The Head Cat covered on their latest album Walk the Walk...Talk the Talk.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d MacDonald 2005, p. 106–107.
- ^ a b c Harry 1992, p. 715.
- ^ a b Miles 1997, p. 164.
- ^ a b c Lewisohn 1988, p. 200.
- ^ Sandall 2000, p. 114.
- ^ Complete Scores 1993, p. 1077.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 39.
- ^ Lewisohn 1995, p. 34.
- ^ The Beatles 2000, p. 81.
- ^ Palmer 1977, p. 243.
- ^ a b The Beatles Bible 2008.
[edit] References
- Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, ed. (1993). The Beatles - Complete Scores. Milwaukee: Hal Leanord. ISBN 0-7935-1832-6.
- The Beatles (2000). The Beatles Anthology. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-2684-8.
- Harry, Bill (1992). The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-681-3.
- Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- Lewisohn, Mark (1995). Album notes for Anthology 1 by The Beatles [booklet]. London: Apple Records (34445).
- MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-844-13828-3.
- Miles, Barry (1997). Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. New York: Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 0-8050-5249-6.
- Palmer, Tony (1977). All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music. London: Book Club Associates. ISBN 0670114480.
- Sandall, Robert (2000). Mojo Special Limited Edition # M-04951.
- "You Can't Do That". The Beatles Bible. 2008. http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/you-cant-do-that/. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
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