Recording: It’s Only Love

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

The Beatles recorded John Lennon’s song ‘It’s Only Love’ in six takes on this day, for the non-soundtrack side of the Help! album.

The session took place from 2.30-6.15pm. Four of the six takes were complete: take four was a false start, and the fifth broke down after Ringo Starr made an error.

John Lennon's lyrics to It's Only Love, 1965

Five guitars plus a bass feature on the recording of ‘It’s Only Love’, indicating how The Beatles had become keen to experiment with timbres by the summer of 1965. The majority of these parts were overdubbed once the rhythm track was in place.

Acoustic six-string and 12-string guitars were recorded on track one of the tape, along with bass guitar and drums; Lennon’s vocals were added to the second; and two further tracks, panned right on the stereo spectrum, feature three electric guitars, along with double-tracked vocals and tambourine in the choruses.

Last updated: 7 July 2022
Recording: I've Just Seen A Face, I'm Down, Yesterday
Recording: post-sync work for Help!
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