Recording: Every Little Thing, I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party, What You’re Doing

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

Having finished their triumphant tour of North America in August and September 1964, The Beatles returned to Abbey Road to resume work on their fourth UK album Beatles For Sale.

They recorded three songs on this day, all by Lennon-McCartney. This was the third of seven days spent recording the album, which was released on 4 December 1964.

There were two scheduled recording sessions, both taking place in Studio Two. The first took place from 2.30-6.30pm, and began with four takes of ‘Every Little Thing’. George Harrison arrived late for the session and didn’t perform on these early attempts, and The Beatles re-recorded the song on the following day.

The day’s second song, ‘I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party’, was completed on this day. Seven takes were recorded in the afternoon, and a further 12 in the evening session. Just five of these were complete performances, the others breaking down mid-way.

The evening recording session ran from 7-10.45pm. After completing ‘I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party’ the group recorded seven takes of ‘What You’re Doing’’s rhythm track, although two further remakes were taped on subsequent days before all were happy with the results.