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"If I Needed Someone" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared in the UK on the 1965 album Rubber Soul (see 1965 in music) and was later included in the 1966 U.S. release Yesterday...and Today (see 1966 in music). It was written by George Harrison and recorded on October 16 and October 18, 1965.
The song was heavily influenced by the music of The Byrds. Reportedly, Harrison sent an acetate of the song to Jim McGuinn — on which he had written, "This is for Jim" — because the riff in "If I Needed Someone" was based on McGuinn's riff in "The Bells of Rhymney." The song's introduction and coda are also very similar to those of The Byrds' song. Coincidentally, The Byrds' own use of electric 12-string guitar was influenced by George Harrison's use of the instrument in the film A Hard Day's Night.
Harrison wrote about the song, "'If I Needed Someone', like a million other songs written around the D chord. If you move your finger about, you get various little melodies (and sometimes you get various little maladies). That guitar line, or variations on it, is found in many a song, and it amazes me that people still find new permutations of the same notes." Harrison plays the guitar part with a capo on the 7th fret.
The verses are heavily harmonized, with Lennon's voice highest, a little louder than Harrison in the mix.
Personnel
- John Lennon--harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney--harmony vocal, bass
- George Harrison--double-tracked lead vocal, lead guitar
- Ringo Starr--drums, tambourine
- George Martin--harmonium
Other versions
Harrison included the song on his Live In Japan album in 1992 (see 1992 in music). Harrison and Eric Clapton play considerably longer guitar interludes between verses. Harrison's voice is also much more prominent than on The Beatles' original.
Clapton played a succinct version of the song at 2003's Concert For George (see 2003 in music).
It was the first George Harrison song to be a hit for another act, when The Hollies covered it. Their version reached No. 20 in January 1966, but by their standards it was one of their least successful singles. Dismissive comments in the press led to angry exchanges between both groups.
References
- MacDonald, Ian (1995). Revolution In the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties. Vintage. ISBN 0712666974.
- Harrison, George (1980). I Me Mine. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671427873.
- Hammond, Ian. "The Harrisong, Part IV". Retrieved October 19, 2005.
External links
"If I Needed Someone"