The Beatles: The Story of A Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles saga continues with the story of their third album, released in 1964 as the official soundtrack of their debut on the wide screen.
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On April 14th 1964, George Harrison was bragging about his new 12-strings Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe, and by simply playing a “G-chord with added seventh extended on a 4/4 time”- which in layman’s terms is that strident chord we all know by heart— he began “A Hard Day’s Night”.
It really was a hard day, as Ringo remembered, because in a matter of twelve hours the fab four had to record what would become the title track of their third album and also the opening song of their very first film.
While the images of “A Hard Day’s Night” emphasized the wild madness triggered by the Beatles, the underlying song could not but enforce a greater consideration for those four boys that in only a year had conquered the world. “A Hard Day’s Night” not only was ‘the great comeback of the Beatles’, but it also represented a major turning point, as it was the first time they signed all the songs on the record.
After closing down 26 tour dates, alternated with eight TV and radio performances, Lennon and McCartney finally unloaded their artistic streak. The recording sessions started with “I Should Have Known Better”, pulled by Lennon’s Dylanesque harmonica and George’s guitar. Then came out the very first ballads of the band, “If I Fell” and “And I Love Her”, for which we have to thank, once again, Jane Asher.
In many ways, “A Hard Day’s Night” was done with the aim to underline John Lennon’s leadership in the band, as he was the main writer on 9 songs out of 13, in contrast with Paul’s growing display of skills, who had already gotten a great deal of appreciation with “All My Loving”. In the meantime, George was starting to prove his talent, limiting himself to sing just on “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You”.
To this day, The Beatles third album is generally considered as a simple preview, as their transition from plain commercial success to living legends would finally be set off with the consecutive records.
Meanwhile, the Beatles will keep on making all Europe and USA fall in love with their music, and will also kind of get back to basics by releasing the German versions “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You”, remembering those first strenuous days in Hamburg.
“A Hard Day’s Night” will be followed by “Beatles For Sale”, known to most as the worst album by the Beatles.
