Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 18 February 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 6 August 1965 (UK), 14 June 1965 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, electric piano
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, tambourine
George Harrison: güiro
Ringo Starr: drums, claves
Available on:
Help!
Written mainly by Paul McCartney, Tell Me What You See was first released in the UK on the Help! album, and in the US on the Beatles VI collection.
Tell Me What You See was offered to Richard Lester for the soundtrack of the Help! film, but was rejected. McCartney later described the song as a filler track, co-written with John Lennon as a 'work song'.
I seem to remember it as mine. I would claim it as a 60-40 but it might have been totally me. Not awfully memorable. Not one of the better songs but they did a job, they were very handy for albums or b-sides. You need those kind of sides.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Certain lines in Tell Me What You See are reminiscent of McCartney's And I Love Her, although the moods of the two songs are very different. It is possible that Lennon and McCartney were looking for inspiration in their older songs while writing.
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
Big and black the clouds may be
Time will pass away
If you put your trust in me
I'll make bright your day
In the studio
The song was recorded in four takes on 18 February 1965, the same day the group also recorded You've Got To Hide Your Love Away and the rejected If You've Got Trouble. Tell Me What You See was the last song to be completed.
The song introduced the sound of the güiro, a Latin-American instrument played by striking a wooden stick across a series of notches, to The Beatles' sound. Ringo Starr also played the claves.
Tell Me What You See also features a Hohner Pianet electric piano, which can also be heard on the Help! songs The Night Before and You Like Me Too Much.
Related articles:
- And I Love Her
- Glyn Johns compiles the second Get Back LP
- Recording, mixing: Ticket To Ride, Another Girl, I Need You, Yes It Is, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, The Night Before, You Like Me Too Much, If You've Got Trouble, Tell Me What You See
- Mixing, editing: Get Back LP
- Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
Contents of the four-track tape:
Backing Track:
1.) drums (Ringo), bass (Paul), electric guitar (John), guiro (George)
Overdubs:
2.) Lennon-McCartney vocals (shared lead)
3.) tambourine (John) and claves (Ringo)
4.) electric piano (Paul) and additional harmony vocal part by Paul for the chorus
The session is also well documented by Ray Coleman:
"The group tapes the instrumental backing with George forsaking his guitar and getting a comb and paper effect with a drumstick and a piece of wood... They record the vocal by Lennon and McCartney, and later, they overrecord on to the original with Lennon, cigarette between his lips, shaking a tambourine and Ringo playing maracas*... At 10 pm, with Paul playing electric piano." (Coleman in 'Melody Maker' Feb 27 1965)
* Mistake by Coleman, Ringo played claves as you hear them on the record.
A pretty weak song, yeah, but one I like just because it sounds 'nice', with the claves, electric piano, and especially the way John and Paul alternate bettween high harmony and midrange unison singing.
Listen to the different insturments and electric piano parts. They were already expanding in 1965, which was going to lead the way for Revolver and Sgt Pepper year and half later.
I've put together some of the choice tracks from the Beatles VI, Help and Rubber Soul period. Great to listen to in the car. Kind of like a 65-66 version of Love Songs.