Act Naturally

Written by: Morrison-Russell
Recorded: 17 June 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 6 August 1965 (UK), 13 September 1965 (US)

Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, sticks
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
John Lennon: acoustic rhythm guitar
George Harrison: lead guitar

Available on:
Help!

The last cover version recorded by The Beatles until the Get Back sessions in 1969, Act Naturally was sung by Ringo Starr and appeared in the second half of the Help! album.

Help! (Remastered)

The Beatles. EMI 2009, Audio CD, $8.75

The country and western song, written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, was first released by Buck Owens in 1963. It topped the US Billboard country singles chart that year. It was recorded by The Beatles as a replacement for If You've Got Trouble.

I sang Act Naturally in Help! I found it on a Buck Owens record and I said, 'This is the one I am going to be doing,' and they said 'OK'. We were listening to all kinds of things.

In America the song was first released on 13 September 1965 as the b-side of the Yesterday single. On 20 June 1966 it appeared on the Yesterday... And Today album.

Although Act Naturally was never a part of The Beatles repertoire before they recorded it, they did perform it during an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, taped on 14 August 1965 and broadcast on 12 September.

In the studio

The Beatles recorded Act Naturally on 17 June 1965. They recorded it in 13 takes - the first 12 were essentially rehearsals, with Starr's vocals making their first and only appearance on the final attempt.

The arrangement was simple, and varied only slightly from the original. McCartney sang backing vocals, and Harrison performed some suitable country and western lead guitar licks.