Recording: Any Time At All, Things We Said Today, When I Get Home

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

Three songs for the non-soundtrack side of the A Hard Day’s Night LP were recorded today: ‘Any Time At All’, ‘Things We Said Today’, and ‘When I Get Home’.

The first of the day’s two recording sessions took place from 10am to 1.15pm. ‘Any Time At All’ was the first to be recorded: seven takes of the rhythm track and vocals were taped, but the song was temporarily left unfinished, with the middle eight needing more work.

‘Things We Said Today’ proved less complicated to record, taking just three attempts to complete. Take one was a false start, but the second take formed the basis of the released song. A third take saw a second vocal track by Paul McCartney, plus tambourine and piano parts.

The afternoon session began at 2.30pm and ended at 5.45pm. The Beatles recorded ‘When I Get Home’ in 11 takes before returning to ‘Any Time At All’. The song was completed in four takes, with the addition of the middle eight, piano and guitar, and a vocal part by McCartney.