Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 25 February, 22 May 1964
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 20 March 1964 (UK), 16 March 1964 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass, cowbell
George Harrison: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, conga
Available on:
A Hard Day's Night
Anthology 1
First released in the UK and US as the b-side of Can't Buy Me Love, You Can't Do That was a typically confrontational song written by John Lennon.
The song was originally intended to be The Beatles' sixth UK single, until McCartney came up with Can't Buy Me Love. By 1964 Lennon and McCartney were writing together less frequently, and the quality of Can't Buy Me Love spurred Lennon on to write the majority of the A Hard Day's Night album.
Lennon's autobiographical lyrics show the jealousy and possessiveness he felt towards women at the time. The music, meanwhile, was based around blues changes and US soul and R&B (Lennon cited Wilson Pickett as an influence).
In turn, it is possible that You Can't Do That was an influence on Bob Dylan; it bears musical and lyrical similarities to Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) from Blonde On Blonde.
You Can't Do That was first released in March 1964. It later reappeared on the second half of the UK album A Hard Day's Night, and in the US on the Capitol release The Beatles' Second Album.
The song became a part of The Beatles' live repertoire in 1964. It was commonly the second song performed - after Twist And Shout - during their Australian tour in July, and in their August-September tour of the US and Canada.
The Beatles also performed the song at the New Musical Express Pollwinners' Concert on 26 April, and for the ITV network TV show Blackpool Night Out on 19 July.
In the studio
You Can't Do That was recorded on 25 February 1964. The Beatles also started And I Love Her and I Should Have Known Better on the same day, although they failed to finish them during the session.
You Can't Do That was completed in nine takes, only four of which were complete. It featured George Harrison's first prominent use of his new Rickenbacker 12 string guitar, given to him while in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show. The instrument gave the song its distinctive chiming sound, heard most prominently in the intro and ending.
Take six of the song, containing a guide version from Lennon as the band perfected the rhythm track, was included on the Anthology 1 collection.
One of the song's main strengths is in McCartney's and Harrison's answering harmony vocals. The rough-and-ready guitar solo, meanwhile, was performed by Lennon - the first such occurrence on a Beatles release.
I'd find it a drag to play rhythm all the time, so I always work myself out something interesting to play. The best example I can think of is like I did on You Can't Do That. There really isn't a lead guitarist and a rhythm guitarist on that, because I feel the rhythm guitarist role sounds too thin for records. Anyway it drove me potty to play chunk-chunk rhythm all the time. I never play anything as lead guitarist that George couldn't do better. But I like playing lead sometimes, so I do it.
Melody Maker, 1964
On 22 May 1964, after You Can't Do That had already been released, George Martin overdubbed a piano track onto the song. It was never used.
On the airwaves
You Can't Do That was filmed as part of the concert sequence in the A Hard Day's Night film, though it didn't make the final cut. Accordingly, the song was then relegated to side two of the album.
The filming took place at the Scala Theatre, London, on 31 March 1964. The clip of the group miming to You Can't Do That was given by United Artists to The Ed Sullivan Show, which broadcast it exclusively on 24 May.
The Beatles recorded You Can't Do That four times for BBC radio in 1964, none of which was included on Live At The BBC.
The first took place on 28 February at the BBC Piccadilly Studios, London, for the From Us To You programme. It was first broadcast on 30 March, just days after the Can't Buy Me Love single was released.
The Beatles played it again for Saturday Club on 31 March, which had its first transmission on 4 April. The session took place at the Playhouse Theatre, London
On 1 May they taped a version for From Us To You at the BBC Paris Studio, which was first broadcast on 18 May. And on 14 July The Beatles were at Broadcasting House, London, for the final radio version, which audiences heard for the first time on the Top Gear programme two days later.
Yes, John does an excellent job on the guitar solo! I can't seem to find any video of the Beatles playing this song where it shows Lennon playing the lead live. The camera always points away!
I think John purposely told the camera men to not film him when he played a solo...he was too self conscious.