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I Should Have Known Better

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“I Should Have Known Better”
“I Should Have Known Better” cover
Single by The Beatles
A-side "Yesterday"
Released 8 March 1976
Format 7" & 12"
Recorded Abbey Road Studios:
25-26 February 1964
Genre Pop
Length 2:44
Label Parlophone/EMI (UK)
Capitol (US)
Writer(s) Lennon/McCartney
Producer George Martin
The Beatles singles chronology
"Let It Be"/"You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"
(1970)
-
"Can't Buy Me Love"/"You Can't Do That"
(1964)
"Yesterday"/"I Should Have Known Better"
(1965)
"Back in the USSR"
(1976)
-
"I'll Cry Instead" /"I'm Happy Just to Dance With You"
(1965)
That's me. Just a song-- It doesn't mean a damn thing.

—John Lennon, 1980

Paul and I enjoyed writing the music for the film. There were times when we honestly thought we'd never get the time to write all the material. But we managed to get a couple finished while we were in Paris. And three more completed in America, while we were soaking up the sun on Miami Beach. There are four I really go for: 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'If I Fell', 'I Should Have Known Better' — a song with harmonica we feature during the opening tram sequences — and 'Tell Me Why', a shuffle number that comes at the end of the film.

—John Lennon, in 1964, The Beatles Anthology, p.129, 2000

'I Should Have Known Better' was also different at this early stage, John originally opening it with a very Bob Dylan-ish harmonica solo and George ending it with his lead guitar. Only three takes were attempted, and only one of those made it through to the end.

[On Feb 26, 1964] 'And I Love Her' and 'I Should Have Known Better' were re-made by the Beatles, the latter song first. ... The final version was take nine, John singing without the harmonica for the first time, with an overdub from take 22 adding a double-track vocal and the harmonica.

—Mark Lewisohn, The Beatles Recording Sessions, p.39-40, 1988

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