Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Work began on The Beatles fifth UK album, Help!, on this day. Three songs were recorded over two sessions lasting from 2.30-5.45 and 7-10.30pm.
The first song to be recorded was Ticket To Ride, which became The Beatles' first single of the year on 9 April 1965.
From this session onwards, The Beatles adopted a new method of recording. Instead of essentially performing their songs live in the studio, they increasingly taped the rhythm tracks first, then overdubbed vocals and extra instruments onto the best takes.
Previously, The Beatles' overdubs had been given individual take numbers. From 1965 onwards, however, these additions were unnumbered. As a result, although a song may appear to have been completed in just a handful of takes, it could have required a great many extra recordings before completion.
The rhythm track of Ticket To Ride was completed in two takes, the first of which was a false start. The second featured no vocals, with the four-track take as follows: bass guitar and drums on track one; George Harrison's Rickenbacker 12-string guitar playing the main riff on two, along with John Lennon's Fender Stratocaster and Paul McCartney's Epiphone Casino guitar parts; track three featured Lennon's lead vocals and tambourine; and four contained handclaps, McCartney's backing vocals, and Harrison's Fender Stratocaster guitar.
Paul McCartney played both bass and lead guitar on the song, and also reportedly suggested Ringo Starr's distinctive drum pattern.
The evening session was devoted to Another Girl and I Need You. The rhythm track for the first of these was captured in one take, after which George Harrison recorded 10 takes of a guitar flourish for the song's ending, to be edited onto the song at a later date. The idea was dropped when the song was mixed for release.
The final song, I Need You, took five takes to record. This was Harrison's first song to be recorded since Don't Bother Me. Vocals and the distinctive tone pedal guitar were added on the following day.
