The Beatles, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles
From “Besame Mucho” to “And I Love Her,” the Beatles demonstrated their love of Latin rhythms numerous times. Another example, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl,” is a hidden gem from the Help! soundtrack. Yes, it played a prominent role in the film (showing the group recording the song in a smoky studio as Clang and his minions saw a hole around Ringo’s drum kit), but the Beatles never played the track live.
The primary composer, John Lennon, began work on “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” at his home in Weybridge. Paul McCartney assisted with completing the song, which they brought to Abbey Road Studios on February 19, 1965. By this time, the group was well into the Help! recording sessions, but were under pressure. They had to finish laying down the track before leaving to shoot the Bahamas sequences.
During the first session, they recorded two takes of the backing track (featuring Lennon’s rhythm guitar, McCartney’s bass, and Ringo Starr’s drums), only one complete. Next, they overdubbed electric piano and George Harrison’s lead guitar; for unknown reasons, these tracks were erased. Harrison, Lennon, and McCartney contributed backing vocals; Lennon then double-tracked his lead vocal.
Over a month later, the Beatles, George Martin and engineer Normal Smith revisited “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” to complete Harrison’s guitar solo. Starr played bongos, and McCartney contributed piano. Finally, Martin and Smith created a mono mix and three stereo mixes on April 2; the Beatles did not attend this session, as they were filming Help! scenes at Twickenham Studios.
By: Kit O'Toole
Source: Something Else Reviews
