I'll Be Back Again

The final song on the "A Hard Day's Night" LP is another Lennon/McCartney composition written mainly by John entitled "I'll Be Back". This is mainly an acoustic number and a very tender song played with an intro in a major mode and switching to a minor mode for the verses and the middle eight ( in fact, two of them mixed together) varies between the minor and major modes. It's very brilliantly thought out and a great songwriting technique is used whereby the mood is reflected with the various major and minor chords.

"I'll Be Back" was recorded on Monday June 01 1964 in Studio Two. There were 16 takes of the song which shows that the Beatles were trying to find a suitable arrangement for the tune. At first, electric guitars were featured and the song was performed in the three/four time until it was discovered that it was too hard to sing the lyrics and try to fit all of the words in. There is a take available with the electric guitars and the three/four time (in fact, take 2) and then the switch to the better and much smoother four/four time (take 3) on the Apple 3-LP, 2-CD "Anthology 1". Later on the sessions and by take 12, the electric guitars were abandoned and the acoustic guitars came out in order to perform the version we all know and love.

"I'll Be Back" was mixed for both mono and stereo on the same day: June 22 1964 from the control room of Studio one. For some unknown reason, two mono mixes were made on this day with one used for the UK and European market and the other made for the North American market. There was only one stereo mix made. The mono mix used on the UK Parlophone LP/CD "A Hard Day's Night" runs slightly (by a hair) faster than the North American mono mix. The stereo mix runs at the same speed at the North American mono mix.

"I'll Be Back" is available on the Parlophone UK LP/CD "A Hard Day's Night" as well as the North American Capitol Records LP/CD "Beatles '65". The song is also on the EMI/Capitol 2-LP "Love Songs".

Unfortunately, "I'll Be Back" was never performed live in concert not was it ever performed live for BBC radio.