Not sure if John was asked to play on Yesterday, but he didn't refuse it as far as I know.
George Martin recorded Paul playing the acoustic guitar and singing. He then added the string quartet later. It was understood that it was strictly a Paul solo type of performance. However, in Japan, the Beatles all played it together live and during their 1966 tour played it live as a band many times. When they performed it as a band, it was played one full step higher in the key of " G " . When Paul played it solo on the Ed Sullivan show, he played it in the record key of " F ". He played it in a G format but had the guitar tuned down a full step.
I thought he might have refused to play because he didn't like his contribution, I didn't consider it might be because he hated the song. Frankly, I can't blame him here. Never liked the song. However, I wouldn't have guessed Maxwell's because John's clearly involved in the scene from Let it Be where they're developing the song.
In 1965 John said he really didn't like his own contribution on Rubber Soul, "Run For Your Life." He even said the Beatles had to write another song to fill the time space on their album. He even said he thought it was a "throw away song" and he never liked it.
As a child, long before I knew the story behind it, I will admit that it was never one of my favorites. While I didn't have the adverse reaction to it that John did, it was still not my favorite. I thought it was just okay, mediocre, so-so.
Now "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" has been one of my favorites since I was fender high to a Ford Falcon. When I say I love that song, I am not kidding! It's my favorite song in the whole darn movie and title album. John wrote it and George, as we know ROCKED THE HECK OUT OF THAT SONG! Damn! He really tore it up GOOD on that one!
Enter John Lennon. John said that he would never sing it and he scornfully dismissed it. He called it "a little brother song" and we all know George was under contract to provide lead vocals for at least one song in the 1964 movie. In recent years Paul said "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" was a "formulaic" song. Although the Fabs expressed displeasure, I still think it is a wonderful song. I just love it!
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With a love like that, you know you should be glad, yeah, yeah, yeah!-- Beatles, 1963
If I seem to act unkind, it's only me, it's not my mind. -- George Harrison, 1966
Now "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" has been one of my favorites since I was fender high to a Ford Falcon. When I say I love that song, I am not kidding! It's my favorite song in the whole darn movie and title album. John wrote it and George, as we know ROCKED THE HECK OUT OF THAT SONG! Damn! He really tore it up GOOD on that one!
Although the Fabs expressed displeasure, I still think it is a wonderful song. I just love it!
I've always liked this song; I love the melody and George's voice; a truly underrated song I think.
The answer is "Yesterday". John heard the song,and laughed at it. John thought the song was hilariously terrible. However,he thought the finished version was quite alright.
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The answer is "Yesterday". John heard the song,and laughed at it. John thought the song was hilariously terrible. However,he thought the finished version was quite alright.
No. As has already been pointed out Lennon wasn't asked to play on the studio version.
But he played sometimes on the live version so he didn't refuse to play on Paul's song.
I was always surprised at John and Paul's disdain for "Happy Just to Dance With You", it's a terrific guitar song with great chord changes, I would guess they thought the lyrics were kinda cheesy and immature, even though they wrote them!
I was always surprised at John and Paul's disdain for "Happy Just to Dance With You", it's a terrific guitar song with great chord changes, I would guess they thought the lyrics were kinda cheesy and immature, even though they wrote them!
I never got that one either, Sil. I thought that was one heck of a good song and it remains one of my favorites to this day. John said he wouldn't sing it and Paul said it was forumlaic. I thought it was a wonderful song and the chord changes were nothing short of very impressive and George rocked his Beatle boots off with this classic! I love it!
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With a love like that, you know you should be glad, yeah, yeah, yeah!-- Beatles, 1963
If I seem to act unkind, it's only me, it's not my mind. -- George Harrison, 1966
I'm sure I heard that Lennon often didn't spend time on George's songs in the latter years. I don't know if that means he didn't play on some of them at all.
Last edited by KEROUAC : Oct 28, 2014 at 04:20 AM.
The original question is : did he refuse to play on any songs?
I don't think he did.
For example : He was there the first day they did Maxwell's Silver Hammer. In the Playboy interview he says he hated it but he doesn't say he didn't play on it. In fact he complains that Paul made the group play it over and over again. Maybe what he played wasn't used, but that's another question.
The original question is : did he refuse to play on any songs?
I don't think he did.
For example : He was there the first day they did Maxwell's Silver Hammer. In the Playboy interview he says he hated it but he doesn't say he didn't play on it. In fact he complains that Paul made the group play it over and over again. Maybe what he played wasn't used, but that's another question.
He didn't.... there's a quote from John in the "Anthology" book, regarding "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", and he mentions his not being on it because he was ill after that car accident he had around that time...
... and goes on to say that, on that one, Paul had really "ground George and Ringo into the ground"
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He didn't.... there's a quote from John in the "Anthology" book, regarding "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", and he mentions his not being on it because he was ill after that car accident he had around that time...
... and goes on to say that, on that one, Paul had really "ground George and Ringo into the ground"
Thanks for the confirmation.
Incidentally John and Yoko did their own granny music towards the end. "Yes I'm Your Angel" and "Grow Old With Me" were much worse than Maxwell imho.
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John refused to play on...
I'm just happy to dance with you
Hybrid Mode
