Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 February, 12 September 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 22 November 1963 (UK), 10 April 1964 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Available on:
With The Beatles
Although released on their second album With The Beatles, Hold Me Tight was originally attempted by The Beatles during the mammoth 11 February 1963 session that yielded the bulk of songs for Please Please Me.
That was Paul's. Maybe I stuck some bits in there - I don't remember. It was a pretty poor song and I was never really interested in it either way.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Hold Me Tight was an early Lennon-McCartney original, written at the latter's home in Forthlin Road, Liverpool, and featured in The Beatles' live set from 1961 to 1963.
When we first started it was all singles and we were always trying to write singles, That's why you get lots of these two minute 30 second songs; they all came out the same length. Hold Me Tight was a failed attempt at a single which then became an acceptable album filler.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
The group recorded 13 takes of the song on 11 February 1963, although when it was deemed surplus to requirements the tape was destroyed. Seven months later they resurrected it for With The Beatles, completing it in nine attempts on 12 September 1963.
The nine takes were numbered 20-29. The album version was an edit of takes 26 and 29; the edit was made by George Martin on 30 September.
I can't remember much about that one. Certain songs were just 'work' songs, you haven't got much memory of them. That's one of them.
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
The Beatles evidently didn't rate the song too highly, and the fluffed lyrics, lack of bass in the mix and McCartney's often out-of-tune vocals suggest they didn't take the recording too seriously either.
That was unfortunate, because the recording - which was varispeeded to raise the key from E to F, adding drive and energy - is generally held to be a solid example of an early '60s Beatles rocker, with some clever songwriting features thrown in.
Related articles:
- Recording, editing, mixing: Little Child, Hold Me Tight, Money, I Wanna Be Your Man, All I've Got To Do, Don't Bother Me, Not A Second Time
- You Really Got A Hold On Me
- Recording: Messages to Australia, Hold Me Tight, Don't Bother Me, Little Child, I Wanna Be Your Man
- Recording: The Beatles' Christmas Record, You Really Got A Hold On Me, I Want To Hold Your Hand, This Boy
- Recording: You Really Got A Hold On Me, Money, Devil In Her Heart, Till There Was You
this song is a pure rocker, cool rhythm and all. a few out-of-tunes just suits this song perfectly well!
Hold me tight is one of my favorite beatles song. Is a rocker and I love the relentless rhythum guitar by john along with the claps of the four beatles. It would be great to see this song re-release again it would be a big hit today. Every time I put the "with the beatles" cd in my car I hear this song over and over again back to back.
I've always wondered if McCartney wrote it himself or shared credit with Lennon. Some books consider it co-written but most likely the lion's share was written by McCartney.
At this period, although probably primarily written by Paul, they were still pretty closely involved in each other's songs adding/changing/elaborating on at least a few bits here and there. Even the little influences on each other's work is part of that chemistry of what makes The Beatles, in my opinion, so great.
I actually like this song, it's a pretty straight-forward rocker.
It's a neat little R&B number that they could have done better. Actually, they should have given the song to a Girl Group while Girl Groups were still relatively popular. A group like the Shirelles might have even scored a hit with it.
I rather like the cover from "Across The Universe," too...
Did the beatles ever played the this tune live back in 1963?Hold me tight!
They did perform it live (61-63), but not once they tried it out for PPM. There are no recorded live versions from it. I guess thirteen failed takes of a song you do loads must be a pretty disillusioning experience.
Rather underrated song from With the Beatles, played loud it really drives and makes a nice change from the more well known songs from this period - could almost be an "unreleased out-take" from the Anthology series as far most people would be concerned (although it seems some, including John, would suggest that is what it should have been in the first place !)
Why do they turn it down....that'a great song...like Chuck berry would say : " it's got a back beat you can't lose it..."
A french version of that song was made in french by " Les Baronets " in Quebec.
Was very popular at the time...though every song was.