The Beatles Songs: "I"ll Cry Instead"

I'll Cry Instead

Written by: John Lennon (100%) (credited as Lennon-McCartney)
Recorded: June 1, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: June 4, 1964; June 22, 1964
Length: 1:49
Takes: 8

Musicians:

John Lennon: lead vocal (double-tracked), rhythm guitar (1962 Gibson J160E), acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead guitar (1963 Gretsch 6122 "Country Gentleman")
Ringo Starr: drums (1963 Black Oyster Pearl Ludwig kit), tambourine

First released: July 20, 1964 (US: Capitol 5234; b-side "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You")

Available on: (CDs in bold)

• A Hard Day's Night, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1230, PCS 3058, Parlophone CDP7 46437 2, US: United Artists UAL 3366, UAS 6366, Capitol CLJ 46435)
• Something New, (US: Capitol (S)T 2108, CDP 7243 8 66876 2 3)
• Extracts From The Album A Hard Day's Night (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8924)

Highest chart position: 25 (US: August 20, 1964)

History:

Written by John specifically for the famous "jumping" scene in A Hard Day's Night but scratched at the last minute by director Richard Lester in favor of "Can't Buy Me Love," recorded before the film's other songs and already a hit single.

Because the song had to be tailored to fit the length of the scene, it was rumored that the original recording was done in two parts -- verse/chorus and bridge -- in order to allow different versions of the song in different lengths. There is no evidence of this, but the song does end abruptly in order to allow for a loop to be made: the version of the song that appears on the US soundtrack album (and the mono US Something New) runs 2:09, due to just such an edit.

The first verse is tacked on near the end, creating an artificial third verse.

This song is the first proper original by the band to be done in a "rockabilly" style, owing primarily Paul's "walking" bass track and to George's Gretsch guitar, made popular by country music icon Chet Atkins.

Lyrically, this is one of the first recorded Beatles songs to explore the theme of romantic revenge, which John in particular would immediately begin to explore on subsequent recordings.

Trivia:

• When the Hard Day's Night movie was re-released in theaters in 1981, it featured an opening photo montage set to the song.

Covered by: Chet Atkins, Joe Cocker, Billy Joel, Johnny Rivers, Lee Rocker