THE BEATLES – “A Hard Day’s Night”
The Beatles at a peak of high-energy Fabness, “A Hard Day’s Night” is crammed with hooks and ideas – they don’t all neccessarily fit, but the record’s so irrepressible it’s hard to care. The opening chord makes this feel like a challenge, a comeback, a statement – we’re the biggest band in the world, and we’re the best too, so clear out of the way. The final, sudden jangle into almost melancholy is harder to fathom – acknowledgement that they can’t keep this pace up forever? In its way it’s as striking as the first chord – so casually pretty, sounding like an afterthought but as lovely as most bands’ best work. In between it’s Ringo who thrills the most, pushing the pace of the song with furious bongo and (I think) cowbell work. Definitive pop.
8
Just wanted to confirm that there is indeed a cowbell on this record. Never noticed before how much percussion there was on it, but now you mention it, there’s loads.
Sally O’Rourke reaches this milestone of the British Invasion on her US equivalent of Popular, here: http://nohardchords.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/114-the-beatles-a-hard-days-night/
This still sounds fresh and modern – far more interesting rhythmically, instrumentally and vocally than Kylie’s ‘Hand on your heart’ * which inexplicably earns a 7 compared to 8 for this.
* and when visitors from the future wonder at this comparison, it’s because that’s where Popular has got to at the time of writing
‘Hand on Your Heart’ might well be the better song of the two, though. And is much the more enjoyable of the two singles to dance to!
I don’t think HOYH is a better song – but I must admit I was surprised when making a mixtape for a party a few years back how few Beatles songs lent themselves to dancing.
I did a poll of “most danceable Beatles track” when the reissues came out and “I Saw Her Standing There” was the winner. First track first album – all downhill from there!!
As the numbers suggest, “A Hard Day’s Night” is indeed better than “Hand On Your Heart”. AHDN should probably have got a 9, but we’ve had commenters complaining of Beatley favouritism before.
This was the number one in an edition of Pick of the Pops I heard a while back (or possibly number three or two), and what was surprising after sitting through the gentle tones of the rest of the chart was what a din this was by comparison. Especially Ringo banging away on any percussion he can get his hands on. Joyous stuff.
(The reissues of course exactly a year old today!)
On the contrary, Tom, while I appreciate that you came from scepticism to a genuine admiration for the Fabs, from my perspective (as one who grew up with them) you appear to have been hard on them.
Incidentally, you can leroc just fine to AHDN. Perhaps it comes down to differing understandings of ‘dancing’. I’d be at a loss to dance to Kylie, or Madonna, or the electronic noise combo of your choice, even before my failing knees and general unbendiness put paid to my dancing days.
I’d like to see somebody grooving to “Revolution # 9″… It would take a lot of tepid supermarket cider pull that one off.
DESERT ISLAND DISCS WATCH:
James Clavell, Novelist (1981)
Monty Don, Horticulturalist, Broadcaster(2006)
Sir Stuart Rose, Businessman (2009)
Lawrence Dallagio, Rugby player (2011).
Why is there a horrible amateur choir cover of this appearing during every ad break on commercial radio? I think it’s a Halifax advert, so the choir may be bank staff (“we’re just like you!”) but it’s really poor, weedy and simpering – the opening chord and drums are a big loss, but I never realised how important it is that the singer sounds as though they have ACTUALLY been working like a dog, or the whole thing collapses.
Agree with Nixon – makes you hanker for the days when the Beatles wouldn’t allow any of their songs to be used in adverts.
Tom, could you provide a link to your ‘most danceable Beatles track’ poll ? I’m intreeged. Sgt Pepper (side 2 version) springs to mind as a conventional dancer, but Ringo was a singular drummer wasn’t he?
The Fabs have a fair number of danceable tunes, especially the funky R&B-styled ones like Drive My Car, Got To Get You Into My Life, Hey Bulldog, Birthday, …Me And My Monkey, Come Together etc. Some of their out-and-out rockers are also good for shaking a tail feather to.
I always thought someone like the Specials could ska up “You Won’t See Me” nicely.
The Beatles did ska twice, on the “Anthology” version of “You know my name”, and the break on “I call your name”
Three if you count “Ob-La-Di.”
That was more a straight four-beat, but true, true….