Recording: Eight Days A Week

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

The Beatles spent the day working on ‘Eight Days A Week’, a song which appeared on the UK album Beatles For Sale. At this early stage, however, the group was considering releasing it as their next single.

There were two scheduled recording sessions, from 3-6.45pm and 7-10pm. During the first one they recorded six takes of ‘Eight Days A Week’, although in this early stage the arrangement was subject to a number of experiments.

By the sixth take The Beatles had an arrangement they were satisfied with, and onto this basic track they added a number of overdubs including double-tracked vocals. They continued work on the song in the second recording session, adding new elements in takes numbered 7-13.

Session tapes show that in between takes of the song, John Lennon played around with the guitar riff from ‘I Feel Fine’. That song was recorded on 18 October.

‘Eight Days A Week’ is believed to be the first pop song to feature a faded-in introduction. This was added during a mixing session at a later date; the instrumental coda was also recorded after this day.

After the recording sessions were over, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr went to London’s Ad Lib club, where they spent time with Cilla Black, Mick Jagger, and The Ronettes.