Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 16 February 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 9 April 1965 (UK), 19 April 1965 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine
Available on:
Past Masters
Anthology 2
The b-side of Ticket To Ride was written mainly by John Lennon, and displayed the romantic side at odds with his often edgier public persona.
Yes It Is was later described by Lennon as a failed rewrite of This Boy. Certainly both songs share characteristics, notably the 12/8 time signature, three-part vocal harmonies and 1950s doo wop-style chord sequences.
That's me trying a rewrite of This Boy, but it didn't work.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
The song was written at John Lennon's house at Kenwood, Surrey.
I was there writing it with John, but it was his inspiration that I helped him finish off. Yes It Is is a very fine song of John's, a ballad, unusual for John. He wrote some beautiful ballads but I'm known generally as the balladeer.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
Yes It Is was recorded on 16 February 1965. On the same day The Beatles also completed I Need You, with both songs featuring George Harrison's distinctive volume-pedal guitar work.
The group recorded the rhythm track in 14 takes between 5 and 7pm. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison then spent three hours perfecting their vocal harmonies, all singing live together.
A version of Yes It Is appeared on Anthology 2 in 1996. It begins with the unfinished take two, which contained the rhythm track and Lennon's guide vocals, edited together with a remix of the final take 14.
Related articles:
- If I Needed Someone
- Recording, mixing: And Your Bird Can Sing, Taxman
- I Need You
- Because
- Here, There And Everywhere
One of my favorite Beatles songs because of the harmonies on it.
the words and melody are haunting...it hits me right in the heart
Ian MacDonald in his book "Revolution In The Head" suggests that the woman who used to wear red had died, as inspired by some Bob Dylan songs written before that time. With this in mind, the song is even more emotional and haunting.
I would NEVER say anything disparaging in regard to George's guitar work. But a haunting bad mistake in the guitar swells, apparent only on the Stereo version, as it seems they "ducked" it on the Mono one, or perhaps forgot about it by time it came to mix the Stereo one, which as they always pointed out, the Stereo mixes were usually done as an afterthought anyway, [even the Beatles didn't show up for them] at least until just around MMT. Right at the 1st "I could be Happy With You By My Side", there's a swell at"I", then "Happy", the 3rd one at the word "You" an the next one is at "Side". Listen to that swell chord, at the word "Side". Glaring! He knew he did it too. There's a certain character about the next chord after that tells me he was recouping from the "glitch", and he did it to complete perfection too :-] I just felt this was the place to point that one out, though Harrison is my all time hero, right next to Hendrix, I might add. Anybody who could "write" that 1st chord to "A Hard Day's Night" or the outro for the same tune, or the intro to Eight Days a Week . . Well, you get the picture. Harrison was the BOMB! So sometimes it's just as much fun to pick out the 1 blooper or 2, as there were so damn few of hem! Peace
PS: I just found this site this morn. Fantastic!!
I agree with everything you said Steev. I just got some new head phones. Won't promote the brand but its incredible. I just heard all that stuff for the first time after listening to the song for over 40 years. Johns guitar on the right and George on the left. Mindblowing. Couldn't even hear George before. Never knew all those minor and major 7ths along with the blunders were in there.
Interesting technique of using volume swells and guitar harmonics creating a sound that is cross between a steel pedal and violin.
Always one of my favorites. The lush three part harmonies, the melancholy mood, and the volume swells on guitar create an atmosphere of yearning and make it unique and moving.
I think of all the 3-part harmonies John, Paul, and George did during the Beatles career, the 3-part vocals on this are probably my favorite.