Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11, 12 September, 3 October 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 22 November 1963 (UK), 20 January 1964 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, piano
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
With The Beatles
Little Child was another of Lennon and McCartney's original songs on their second album. Although written with Ringo Starr in mind, it was recorded with the writers sharing vocal duties.
Little Child was another effort of Paul and I to write a song for somebody. It was probably Ringo.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
The song, never part of The Beatles' live set, took some time to get right in the studio. They recorded it over three sessions at Abbey Road, initially laying down two takes on 11 September 1963, then returning to it the following day for a further 16 takes, including overdubs of harmonica and piano.
They had to be fairly simple. [Ringo] didn't have a large vocal range but he could handle things with good con brio and spirito if they were nice and simple. It had to be something he could get behind. If he couldn't picture it, you were in trouble. This one was co-written with John.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
They were still dissatisfied with their progress, however, and recorded three more takes on 3 October. Despite spending a considerable amount of time on the song by 1963 standards, the performance sounds spontaneous and, at times, fairly slapdash.
Little Child was a work job. Certain songs were inspirational and you just followed that. Certain other songs were, 'Right, come on, two hours, song for Ringo for the album'.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
According to McCartney, Little Child was inspired in part by 1950s folk singer Elton Hayes. He acknowledged the melody's debt to Whistle My Love, which featured in the 1952 Walt Disney song The Story Of Robin Hood.
'I'm so sad and lonely', that little bit came from a line: 'Whistle, my love, and I will come to thee, I'll always find you'. It's actually not the same tune, but in my mind it was a quote from Elton Hayes.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Related articles:
- Recording: I Wanna Be Your Man, Little Child
- I Don't Want To Spoil The Party
- I Will
- I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
- Here, There And Everywhere
Since it's the first song to show audio panning, I think the harmonica is panning to the right during the instrumental break and pans back to the left afterwards.
Forgettable fluff though it is, I always enjoy this one. Paul's piano chugs along nicely and John blows harmonica "con brio" to borrow Paul's phrase describing Ringo's singing.
It's not Ringo singing, it's John and Paul duetting! I wonder if Joe knows when it was switched from being a Ringo song.
This has always been a favourite of mine from With The Beatles - it's full of raw energy. To this day (I was 7 in 1963), I remember reading Tony Barrow's sleeve notes, saying something like, "While Paul was adding the piano part, John was standing by another mike playing the harmonica," and feeling privileged to have been given some information about how this wonderful music was created. And it's a feeling I still get today, partly thanks to this brilliant website!