You Can't Do That
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| “You Can't Do That” | ||
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US (Capitol) single cover
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| Single by The Beatles | ||
| Released | 20 March 1964 (UK) 16 March 1964 (US) |
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| Recorded | Abbey Road Studios 25 February 1964 |
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| Genre | Beat | |
| Length | 02:37 | |
| Label | Parlophone R5114 (UK) Capitol 5587 (U.S.) |
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| Writer(s) | Lennon/McCartney | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| A Hard Day's Night track listing | ||
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"You Can't Do That" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles, which later became a hit (#122 US, #10 Canada) for Harry Nilsson. Authorship of the song is credited to Lennon/McCartney, although it was wholly composed by John Lennon[1][2][3].
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[edit] Beatles version
"You Can't Do That" was recorded on Tuesday, 25 February 1964, in Abbey Road Studios in London, and initially released as the B-side of the Beatles' single "Can't Buy Me Love", and later also included on the UK album A Hard Day's Night and the US album The Beatles' Second Album.
With filming due to begin on A Hard Day's Night, director Dick Lester needed the Beatles to provide him with new material ahead of production, and "You Can't Do That" was one of the songs used for the Scala Theatre "live performance" scene in the film, but dropped for the final cut. Originally it was intended to be the A-side of their next single, until McCartney came up with "Can't Buy Me Love".
Another of John Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs,[4] 'You Can’t Do That' "contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove" wrote Robert Sandall.[5] The abrasive guitar solo was devised and also played by Lennon[6] and by take nine—only the fourth complete take—it was finished. The song's jealousy theme was re-visited in other Lennon compositions, such as "Run for Your Life" and "Jealous Guy".
Influenced by the then relatively unknown Wilson Pickett,[7] the song is essentially a twelve bar in its structure, but Lennon introduces a sung discordant flattened 3rd (F) passing note on the D7th chord, pointedly emphasising "…I told you before…" and then pushing the same note for the exasperated "Oh!" before resolving to the song's key of G[8].
While in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show guitarist George Harrison was presented with a Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe electric 12-string guitar worth (in 1964) $900 [9][10]. Only the second one produced, it was heard for the first time on "You Can't Do That" (although actually used for the first time on "Can't Buy Me Love" but lost in the mix) and gave the song its distinctive chiming sound.[11] It would be played extensively on the A Hard Day’s Night LP, greatly influencing Roger McGuinn, who would later form The Byrds.
[edit] Credits
- John Lennon – lead vocal, lead guitar(solo),rhythm guitar & 6 string guitar solo
- Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar, cowbell
- George Harrison – backing vocal, 12 string lead guitar (throughout)
- Ringo Starr – drums, conga
- Credits per Ian MacDonald[7]
[edit] Releases
The song was first released as the B-side of the Beatles' sixth UK single "Can't Buy Me Love". It was later featured in the A Hard Day's Night album. The song was filmed as part of the film's final concert sequence, but not used. Footage can be found on the documentary The Making of "A Hard Day's Night" and can be easily viewed on YouTube.
[edit] Nilsson version
"You Can't Do That" was covered by Harry Nilsson for his debut album Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967). Rather than simply covering it straight, Nilsson re-arranged the song making it somewhat slower. He also worked references to 20 other Beatles tunes in the mix, usually by quoting snippets of Beatles lyrics in the multi-layered backing vocals.
The track was Nilsson's first hit as a performer; though it stalled at #122 on the US charts, it hit top 10 in Canada. It also (along with the rest of the album) established Nilsson as a favourite performer of The Beatles. Famously, John Lennon listened to Pandemonium Shadow Show for 36 hours straight after being given a copy by Derek Taylor; he then called Nilsson to congratulate him, which started a friendship that would last for the rest of Lennon's life. Later, in a 1968 press conference to announce the formation of Apple Corps, Lennon was asked to name his favorite American artist. He replied, "Nilsson". Paul McCartney was then asked to name his favorite American group. He replied, "Nilsson".
[edit] Other covers
- The American band Vanilla Fudge covered it on their second album, The Beat Goes On.
- Andy Ellison recorded a version
- Amanda Overmyer of American Idol Season 7 also did a faster rendition of the song on the Top 12 show of American Idol and likewise recorded a studio version of the song.
- The Punkles did a Punk cover of this song on their "1998-2003" album.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ian MacDonald Revolution In The Head p.96
- ^ Bill Harry The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia p.715
- ^ Paul McCartney & Barry Miles Many Years From Now p.164
- ^ Miles, Barry (1997). Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 164. ISBN 0-8050-5249-6.
- ^ (2000) Mojo Special Limited Edition # M-04951, 114.
- ^ MacDonald, Ian (1998). Revolution in the Head, 95.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Ian (1994). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 83. ISBN 0-8050-2780-7.
- ^ The Beatles Complete Scores p.1077
- ^ Bill Harry The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia p.715
- ^ George Harrison The Beatles Anthology P.81
- ^ Harry, Bill. The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia, 715.
