I'm Down
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "I'm Down" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Beatles | ||
| A-side(s) | "Help!" | |
| Released | 1965-08-06 (UK) 1965-08-13 (U.S.) |
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| Format | 7" | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road: 14 June 1965 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:18 | |
| Label | Parlophone (UK) Capitol Records (U.S.) |
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| Writer(s) | Lennon/McCartney | |
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Beatles singles chronology | ||
| "Ticket to Ride" (1965) |
"Help!" (1965) |
"We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper" (UK-1965) ----- "Yesterday" (US-1965) |
"I'm Down" is a song by the Beatles written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and first released as the B-side to the single "Help!" in 1965. According to critic Richie Unterberger of All Music Guide, "I'm Down" is "one of the most frantic rockers in the entire Beatles catalog."[1] The song was influenced by 1950s rhythm & blues artists—Amazon.com called it an "homage to Little Richard."[2]—and some critics see it as a rewrite of Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally", but Unterberger says there are significant differences, too.[1] Another example of this style song by McCartney is 1964's "She's a Woman", the B-side of "I Feel Fine".
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[edit] Recording
The Beatles recorded "I'm Down" on 14 June 1965 in the same session as "Yesterday" and "I've Just Seen a Face".[3] The backing vocals were done by John Lennon and George Harrison; Lennon sang the baritone repeat of the word "down" in the chorus. The song was produced by George Martin.
[edit] Release
The official release date for the "Help"/"I'm Down" single was 23 July 1965 in the UK and 19 July in the U.S. "I'm Down" was never released on an official Beatle studio album, and was only available in the U.S. in mono as the B-side of the "Help!" single until the summer of 1976. That year, it appeared in stereo on Rock 'n' Roll Music, a compilation LP released in America by Capitol Records featuring uptempo Beatles' tracks. The first CD release was in 1988 on the compilation Past Masters, Volume One.[4]
There is also an alternate version of the song (take 1) on Anthology 2. The tempo is slower and there are no backing vocals.[5]
[edit] Live performances
The Beatles used "I'm Down" to close concerts in their final year as a live act replacing "Long Tall Sally" for most of those shows.[6]
During their historic performance at Shea Stadium in August of 1965 (the largest audience the Beatles ever drew during their career as a live touring band), the band played a memorably frenzied version of the song. Footage of this performance may be seen on The Beatles Anthology video.
McCartney played the song to open his set at The Concert for New York City following the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. The concert was held at Madison Square Garden in support of firefighters, policemen, and other public workers who suffered from the aftermath of the attacks.
[edit] Credits
- Paul McCartney — lead vocal, bass guitar
- John Lennon — backing vocal, rhythm guitar, organ
- George Harrison — backing vocal, lead guitar
- Ringo Starr — drums
[edit] Cover versions
Aerosmith recorded a cover version of this song for the band's 1987 album Permanent Vacation. According to Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler, the band played this song during the audition that won the band its first recording contract.
A live cover of this song appears on the YesYears box set by Yes, featuring Alan White.
In 1982, guitarist and songwriter Adrian Belew released his first solo record, "Lone Rhino", which began with a postmodern take on the Beatles' classic.
In the 1980s, white rap group the Beastie Boys wanted to sample portions of the song for a recording of their own but were turned down by the then and current owner of most of the Lennon/McCartney publishing rights, Michael Jackson.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Richie Unterberger. Review of "I'm Down". All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ Past Masters, Vol. 1. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books, 59. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions, 59-60, 62, 200-201.
- ^ Anthology 2, (1996), The Beatles, notes from: booklet. Apple Records, London: 34448.
- ^ Cross, Craig (2005). The Beatles: Day-by-Day, Song-by-Song, Record-by-Record. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc., 378. ISBN 0-595-34663-4.
