Help! - Lennon/McCartney

The original recording by The Beatles:

Lennon vocal, backing vocal, 12-string acoustic rhythm guitar; McCartney vocal, bass; Harrison electric guitars; Starr drums, tambourine

The recording by Peter Devilee:

Peter Lead & harmony vocals, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitars, Hofner IBB-bass (Rotosound-strings), tambourine; Ronald Wildschut: Drums, backing vocals

Recorded: 13th April, 1965, Abbey Road 2.
Producer: George Martin. Engineer: Norman Smith. 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott.
UK release: 23rd July 1965 (Single bw I'm Down);

The Beatles needed 12 takes to nail this down. Takes #1 - 8 concentrated on the rhythm track, the first vocals being introduced at take 9. Take 10 was complete, take 11 was a false start; the 'best' and final take, numbered 12, saw the introduction of George Harrison's descending, jangly guitar figures which made the song especially distinctive. The various takes can be heard here:

Recorded: 24 November - 29 December 2012; Mixed and mastered: 30 December 2012 - 12 January 2013, Remixed Nov-Dec 2015, Homestudio 1
Producer: Peter Devilee; Engineer: Peter Devilee
Release: 13 December 2015

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