Paul McCartney produces The Iveys’ Come And Get It

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney had recorded a demo version of his song ‘Come And Get It’ on 24 July 1969. On this day he produced a session in which the Apple group The Iveys recorded the song for release as a single.

The Iveys, who later became Badfinger, were a band from Swansea in south Wales. They had signed to Apple after The Beatles’ assistant Mal Evans brought them to The Beatles’ attention.

McCartney gave them ‘Come And Get It’ with the instruction that they were to record it exactly the same as the demo. During the session he auditioned each of the four band members of The Iveys to perform lead vocals on the song. In the end he picked fellow Liverpudlian Tom Evans.

The Iveys’ recording was slightly faster than McCartney’s demo, and also featured tambourine and harmony vocals, both by McCartney. An outtake of take five from the session has him singing a guide vocal, and circulates on bootlegs.

‘Come And Get It’ was a hit single for The Iveys, reaching number four in the UK and number seven in the US. In 1970 it was included on Badfinger’s album Magic Christian Music.

The song was issued as a single in December 1969 and peaked at number four in the UK and number seven in the US. It was used as the opening theme for the film The Magic Christian, which starred Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr.

An alternative mix of ‘Come And Get It’ was made on 25 September 1969 at Abbey Road. It had an additional string arrangement but featured alternative vocals and omitted the piano part. It appeared in the film during the closing credits.