Recording: If I Needed Someone, In My Life

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

Having recorded the backing track two days previously, The Beatles completed If I Needed Someone, the first of two compositions by George Harrison for the Rubber Soul album.

Track two of the four-track tape was filled with Harrison's lead vocals, and backing vocals by Paul McCartney. On the third Harrison double-tracked his lead vocals, and John Lennon added more backing vocals. The fourth track contained an overdub of Harrison's 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and Ringo Starr's tambourine.

With If I Needed Someone completed, The Beatles rehearsed then recorded three takes of Lennon's In My Life, one of Rubber Soul's finest songs. The rhythm track contained bass guitar, drums, Harrison's lead guitar, Lennon's Epiphone Casino, and George Martin's tambourine.

Lennon added his lead vocals onto the second track, together with harmonies from McCartney. Track three contained double-tracked lead vocals, plus backing vocals by McCartney and Harrison.

In My Life was completed on 22 October 1965, when George Martin overdubbed his baroque-style piano solo.