Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 29, 30 September; 26 October 1964
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 4 December 1964 (UK), 14 June 1965 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: harmony vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: piano
Available on:
Beatles For Sale
Love
Inspired by Paul McCartney's often-stormy relationship with Jane Asher, What You're Doing saw The Beatles experimenting with arrangement and production in a number of ways.
There are several notable aspects to the song. The first is the four-bar solo drum pattern which introduces the song, which returns again before the coda. It is possible that this, as in Ticket To Ride and Tomorrow Never Knows, was suggested by McCartney.
McCartney deploys an unusual internal rhyming scheme in the verses: 'doing' is paired with 'blue and', and 'running' with 'fun in' - an effect also used on She's A Woman. Additionally, the shouted emphasis of certain words in Lennon and Harrison's backing vocals - which recall those from PS I Love You - add a sense of urgency.
Most notable, however, is the distortion on the guitar backing and solo - an unusual sound at the time. The piano/bass break before the ending also showed The Beatles testing out ideas and establishing recording techniques which they would later use to dazzling effect.
What You're Doing was a bit of a filler. I think it was a little more mine than John's, but I don't have a very clear recollection so to be on the safe side I'd put it as 50-50. It doesn't sound like an idea that I remember John offering, so it sounds like a way to get a song started, some of them are just that. 'Hey, what'cha doing?' You sometimes start a song and hope the best bit will arrive by the time you get to the chorus... but sometimes that's all you get, and I suspect this was one of them. Maybe it's a better recording than it is a song, some of them are. Sometimes a good recording would enhance the song.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
What You're Doing was first released in the UK on Beatles For Sale. US audiences had to wait until June 1965 to hear it, when it appeared on the Beatles VI album.
The song became part of a medley, alone with Drive My Car and The Word, on the 2006 album Love.
In the studio
What You're Doing was recorded over three days at Abbey Road. The first session took place on 29 September 1964, at which The Beatles taped seven takes of the rhythm track.
They recorded another five attempts the following day. At this stage the instrumental break was an octave higher, and there was a brief pause before the coda.
The song was eventually completed on 26 October; the final song to be finished on the final day's recording for Beatles For Sale. Seven takes were recorded, only three of which were complete. Take 19, the final attempt, was the one used for the album.
Related articles:
- Recording: Drive My Car
- Recording: Fixing A Hole
- Recording: Come Together
- You're Going To Lose That Girl
- Recording: Something
As far as the Lennon/McCartney collaboration goes, 'What You're Doing' -- despite John's hesitance to take credit for it 16 years after its release(Playboy) -- appears to be more closely co-written than I first expected.
Indeed, when John was asked by Hit Parader[Magazine] in 1972[April edition] -- eight years earlier -- to divide all the Lennon/McCartney songs between him and Paul, he put this song -- along with 'Every Little Thing'** -- in a 3rd, "Co-written", category, not really joined by _that_ many other Lennon/McCartney songs -- of course suggesting that he _did_ feel somewhat responsible for these two 'Beatles For Sale' tracks.
(In 1980 he seems to have forgotten why.)
Of course, John is himself largely at fault for this common misconception about their writing, having suggested to Jann Wenner in 1970 that the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership basically ended around 1962; as well as sometimes presenting the odd contradicting statement, as you've seen in this case.
(In Playboy he even makes a statement contradicting the one about 1962, claiming he had been lying in the first place -- from sheer resentment it seems.)
**In the Playboy interview, John attributed 'Every Little Thing' and 'What You're Doing' directly to Paul, only saying 'I might have done something/Maybe I threw something in."
But Paul's own concession -- however vague -- about the latter, can't really be ignored.
Still, I'd put this one down as 60-70% Paul.
'Every Little Thing' -- 80%.
I'd call George and John's vocals "backing vocals" rather than "harmony vocals", since the only time they actually harmonize with Paul is at the very end.
After 're-discovering' some of the mid-period Beatle songs, I find this one to be a bit of charmer. It really has grown on me. Paul's vocals are a bit different on this track, you can hear some of the angst and frustration coming out as he sings about his relationship. Time has shown some of these so called 'fillers' to be hidden and overlooked gems.
The short drum intro is right from the Phil Spector/Beach Boys songbooks. That's the hook of the song for me. Great stuff even at this early stage with different instruments being used, and experimenting with recording techniques.
I remember this song from day one in the U.S. The tympani drum in the beginning always made this song stand out. I believe today after understanding the dynamics and chemistry of how The Beatles operated I agree this song is more Paul and John 70/30. John was very bitter in the early Playboy interview but once he calmed down, he became more humble.
I don't know, but when I hear Paul singing on What You're Doing I automatically think it's Paul's song because he's the one putting the groove to it. And for the most part, history has shown that it was mostly his song idea. But also, it can't be forgotten that none of the Beatles ever sounded the same on their own when they went solo.