This is great stuff!

The last song in the movie soundtrack to be composed, the motion picture was being produced when Ringo made his statement that inspired the song (original movie title: Beatlemania). Walter Shenson, who was the movie producer of A Hard Day’s Night, told PBS that he said to John, “You need to write a song that will incorporate the movie’s title,” and Shenson was amazed when John came in the very next day with the song. He thought John would labor over it for days or weeks.

Phil Collins was one of the school kids brought in as extras for a scene in the movie where The Beatles perform. He didn’t make the cut, but years later, the film’s producer gave Collins the outtake footage with him in it and had Collins add commentary to the DVD release.

Lennon sang lead and Paul McCartney sang the middle sequences. John had Paul sing the middle section because he felt Paul had the more appropriate vocal range for it. Surprisingly, he insisted on singing a higher harmonization in “From Me To You” only a year earlier because he said he could sing the higher stuff better than Paul. (thanks, Adrian – Wilmington, DE)

A journalist friend of Lennon’s, Maureen Cleave, claims that she suggested a slight change to one of the lyrics for this song on the way to Abbey Road studios shortly before it was recorded. (thanks, John – London, England)

The Beatles recorded this in 9 takes on Thursday, April 16, 1964. It was written and recorded in a little more than 24 hours. It had to be done quickly when film name was changed from “Beatlemania!” to “A Hard Day’s Night.” (thanks, Ben – Cheverly, MD)

John Lennon used the phrase “A hard day’s night” in a his book In His Own Write before it was used as a song or movie title. He used it in the short story (more of a vignette) titled “Sad Michael.” An excerpt: “There was no reason for Michael to be sad that morning, (the little wretch): everyone liked him, (the scab). He’d had a hard day’s night that day, for Michael was a Cocky Watchtower.” (thanks, Susan – Toronto, Canada, for above 2)

In 1964, the Beatles won 2 Grammy awards. The first Grammy was Best New Artist. The second Grammy was Best Performance By A Vocal Group, which was awarded to this song. (thanks, Tommy – flower mound, TX)

At the 2002 Super Bowl, where Paul McCartney performed “Freedom,” Terry Bradshaw started singing this with McCartney when Paul joined the Fox announcers on the set.

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