The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (Take 1)

Recorded October 20th, 1965 at EMI Studios London

[@Famulus9]

I was not expecting this to reach 175k views, thank you!

[@tbone2451]

Greatest group ever .

[@raybin6873]

Their music still seems so fresh today. I remember when their songs were played so much on radio...having so many hits at the same time..unreal.

[@greer15]

Collaboration : Paul's melody+John's middle eight,+George's idea to switch to that watz tempo in the bridge. Genius.

[@Famulus9]

The best there was, the best there ever will be. This with Day Tripper was a killer double A single.

[@rickbaker8188]

Agreed. Their songs formed so organically. They were so brilliant. My music heros!

[@sto620]

I love Beatles demos because they reinforce how incredible the final takes really were.

[@thexdude]

This sounds like it could be the backing track minus the piano overdubs and vocals

[@MarkMikelVideos]

This isn't a demo. It's an early take.

[@sto620]

@@MarkMikelVideos true! Either way, you hear the progression of the song.

[@polar199]

@@sto620 it’s not a demo it’s a loaf of bread

[@ChainNonSmoker]

@@thexdude "Piano" you're referring to is a harmonium, which is an organ type instrument. Sorry for being the know-it-all

[@williamriley9904]

On the seventh day God gave us The Beatles......

[@theanalyst2018]

Incredible.. the changing tempo is brilliant

[@grouchomarxist666]

It's not so much a change of tempo as a change of meter, i.e., from 4/4 to 3/4 and back.

[@KingOFuh]

@@grouchomarxist666 Right you are, Groucho! Power to the PEOPLE!

[@SayTheWord65]

Yes! And also I love that after the first middle eight the tempo picks up (faster bmp) and gives a feeling of optimism mixed with some rush. This is mostly commanded by the tambourine. It's the opposite of You Won't See Me, which slows down as the song progresses.

[@johnnymoondog]

Isn't it called " time signature ? "

[@Dana-wq5tp]

As with many Beatles songs, when you hear just instrumental tracks, you realize how brilliant their vocal melodies were how much they added to the the final mix. McCartney and Lennon's vocals on this song is what makes it special.

[@michaelharrington75]

This is the first take. It doesn't have the harmonium John played on it either. On this take John played acoustic, Paul played bass, Ringo on drums, and George on tambourine.

[@umangu]

Those chord changes are so clean and on beat

[@TempoDrift1480]

No they aren't. That guitar needs sent to the shop. It sounds like it's been in a closet for 31 years

[@Opiti72]

@@TempoDrift1480 I agree, at the same time I really enjoyed llistening such a simple rehearsal of a classic, I guess this was an early rehearsal, it is incredible how they evolved these songs to the final mixes that we know today. Beautifiul.

[@edyoung44]

​@@TempoDrift1480Stop your nonsense! It's flawless!

[@Boblobblaw88]

George looks like Bill Wyman in that photo.

[@davidgibbs381]

Yeah, my first thought was: 'Is Bill Wyman sitting in?'

[@ronberg8141]

My first thought too.!

[@kevinoshea4134]

He does

[@randycoursey7230]

Yes he does look like Bill Wyman here. Actually they were very good friends and George Harrison played on an album of Bills when he was with The Rhythm Kings. George Harrison and his guitars got around a lot. Harrison played with many different artists in his lifetime.

[@ZorrodeLaMancha]

I hadn’t seen your post but was actively scrutinizing the photo for the very same reason!

[@philipmonaghan8267]

We sometimes forget just good the Beatles were!!!!!!!!!

[@rns69]

I don't!!!

[@johnp515]

Do we?

[@markjulianoriginalhooli2217]

There will never be another "Beatles"

[@jasonkeith9317]

Nope.

[@jamessmelcer616]

Ditto

[@jasongrenierjasongrenier]

Sublime. What a fantastic melody

[@neilshepherd1904]

Far out. First time I'm hearing this without vocals. It's so complex and detailed - musical gymnastics. I saw recently that a lot of Beatles group and solo work is many-layered while having a 'simple' overall sound to the ear. 👍

[@jjthor407]

I love the way Lennon plays Rhythm . To me his melodies carried many BEATLE SONGS !

[@Fanquesfair]

George is on Rhythmic guitar, I guess.

[@gregsager2062]

@@Fanquesfair Nope, don't be fooled by the picture, which doesn't necessarily align with what we're hearing. According to just about every Beatles scholar who has compiled information about Beatles recording sessions (Everett, Guesdon/Margotin, Lewisohn, MacDonald, etc.), John Lennon played the acoustic guitar on "We Can Work It Out". Most of them state that Harrison's contribution was limited to tambourine, although Ian MacDonald doubted that George even played that (he suspected that Ringo played it).

[@Fanquesfair]

@@gregsager2062 In the video clip George is playing guitar and John , the harmonium. Maybe John, because on the bridge there´s a rhythmic part just like John´s guitar on If I Needed Someone , but who knows ?

[@gregsager2062]

@@Fanquesfair That's nothing more than a promotional clip. In the actual recording, George no more plays guitar than Ringo plays stationary bike on "Help!" In the actual recording of "We Can Work It Out", John played the harmonium part *and* the guitar part.

[@themastroiannis]

@@gregsager2062 not true. i was there. brian jones played tambourine. george played sitar but it was cut off of the mix. paul played toy piano but john hated it!! ... with good reason.

[@RogerPeet]

This is so beautiful.

[@soundshaper]

Supposedly was Harrison's idea to make the bridge in waltz timing. Great song for such a simple chord progression.

[@Kieop]

George does love him some 3/4.

[@monzermasri8141]

بالتأكيد.. شيء مذهل كيف يطورون الاغنية.. لدرجة اني لا اصدق ان بدايات كهذه تصل الى ان تكون تلك الأغنيات الرائعة.

[@TheCream14]

My favorite Beatles song.

[@Larrymarx]

What I love about this song the most, it hit the ground running and doesn't stop until it's over♪♫♪

[@fradyendre]

I was born on 20th October 1965 in Budapest, when this all happened in London. :)

[@8avexp]

One of the few Beatles songs, if not the only Beatles song, to feature a harmonium.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

Also at the beginning of "Cry, Baby, Cry", underscoring the first iteration of "She´s old enough to know better".

[@exactsame]

Still the best, even after all these years

[@alfredorubio6941]

Awesome audio , to hear the Beatles practicing

[@thelordofliberty6984]

Come on EMI! Could you possibly get the lads some guitar stands? Guitars on the floor and leaning against chairs. It looks like my flat when I was 20.☺️👍

[@seid3366]

I mean, they prolly didnt care too much, since they could replace it in the event it'd be broken

[@B.R.0101]

Lol - They were twenty btw.

[@burleybater]

Shocking, aye? Pure meatball grunge basement. Astonishing what came out of this place in spite of the mess.

[@breathspray]

I dont know if guitar stands were around back then , like the electronic guitar tuner..The Beatles didnt have special pedals and things musicians take for granted now a days..All they had were maybe a fuzzbox and the Reverb and Vibrato built in the guitar amps plus loads and loads of natural talent.

[@radomirratkovic9014]

@@breathspray They did use big muff back on "Rubber Soul"...and it was after they heard Spencer David Group using the same pedal "Electro-Harmonix" one in London club back in October 1965. Instead of using that pedal on guitar they used it on the bass for Harrison's Think for yourself...After that comes reverb faze and dellay/echo /vibrato faze achieved some through Amps (Fender Twin Reverb) and some through pedals..

[@Larrymarx]

I always loved the way this song hit the ground running♪♫♪

[@austinpriest9830]

“I know how it goes its when it comes” John Lennon is beyond witty

[@speedoflight9005]

4 Magicians that broke the rules, the limits and were the leaders of all musicians, bands of their time and beyond. Today compared with that is the Valley of Nothing & Inharmonic.

[@kylepena8908]

You can hear the country aspects to the song here, and it gives you a cool where the appogiatura comes from, it’s just the natural hammer on and pull off on a cowboy chord.

[@flankerroad7414]

Cool seeing John and Paul together at the mike.

[@breathspray]

Watch Get Back John and Paul are working playing and creating together like best friends.

[@alias2364-t9y]

John: sounds great guys but just remember our rule No Chicks in the recording room ok!

[@mikaelsjoberg1894]

This is just....good!

[@clarkewi]

Great track.

[@pcsbeat]

Magnificent already.

[@Mackermanesq]

It was indeed great up until then

[@anxiousappliance]

I think these guys will go places. Just a touch more cowbell.

[@jasonkeith9317]

Needs more cowbell!!

[@en3usiastfortesque368]

The rhythm just springs out at you......

[@KingOFuh]

Davy Jones on tambourine for this one.

[@radomirratkovic9014]

My favourite faze

[@DayTripperrr]

The mid period a perfect mix between drugs and innocence.

[@jamesdavies5266]

Yeh!

[@jamesdavies5266]

Yes!

[@radomirratkovic9014]

This is when they were catching up with West Coast and West Coast was running after them ...for the first time in the history of pop we have unison happening....in the same year...The world was really going into some strange stereo vibes those days♥️🎸☮️🌲

[@TheGeosto]

@@DayTripperrr I would call it the beer and amphetamines phase going into the marijuana and LSD phase. Before Johns Heroin phase.

[@dinahk3056]

Beatles nejlepší pod sluncem ...super❤❤❤❤❤🇨🇿

[@fredericbiraud1109]

great acoustic sound

[@StephenS-2024]

And..... they did. They worked " it" out.

[@madzilla14]

🌟 0:21 !

[@sliceyD]

The guitars sound a lot more Byrd-like than the final version, I think I prefer this sound without the harmonium.

[@jackieguccione94]

The Beatles are number 1 the stones are 2 you think about all the quality and great songs combined they have made is unthinkable today nobody can make 2 or 3 songs if their lucky the only bands that have come close is maybe led z or pink floyd my opinion

[@sammyday3341]

This is great. Thank you for sharing this.

[@AnthonyPierreLucien]

Then, take 2 was the right one! 🙂

[@jiop538]

Is that George or Bill Wyman of the Stones

[@debrajarosz512]

Why don't we ever see them actually rehearsing any of these songs,or did they play or write any of them?

[@quad1000]

Out of the hundreds and hundreds of hours of the beatles working in the studio...here we have one of the only handful of times Ringo ever made a mistake on tape. A true fact, look it up. That came from George Martin himself, amazing to consider.

[@craigusselman546]

I can even hear a bit of country in there remarkable.

[@ralphgomez9006]

Who's playing tambourine and who's playing drums?

[@Tonetwisters]

What a great song. Good grief. Even that "B" string occasionally banging on the first fret from a worn nut slot ...

[@cliffbungalow9373]

I know how it goes, it‘s when it comes.

[@LuizCarlos-gi2ut]

Esse divisor de frequência é magnífico 😮😮😮

[@fabiofabio5994]

Per me rimarranno sempre unici e meravigliosi

[@BigSky1]

Must be George playing Tambourine if John is playing guitar.

[@mrblue99999]

✔️

[@folkrock4u]

There are two guitars playing.

[@BigSky1]

@@folkrock4u I hear one guitar and Paul’s bass.

[@TheAerovons]

@@folkrock4u Only one guitar.

[@timhorpo]

They can work it out

[@vidalskyociosen3326]

Their songs is like TikTok in todays equivalent short catchy make people crazy, and long videos or movies are like orchestra.

[@sandyfader4649]

Love the tune, not crazy about the lyrics. 😉

[@TheAerovons]

Lyrics are fine, what bothers you about them?

[@sandyfader4649]

@@TheAerovons Um, must have had my hearing aid turned off.

[@xxryder1]

Stevie Wonder liked the tune (and the lyrics) enough that he covered the song in 1970.

[@shirleyjennings5787]

Awesome!

[@michaelkatz9918]

I don’t know why John and Paul didn’t appreciate George when they were a band.

[@HankFinkle11]

They did.

[@TheAerovons]

Reportedly the first double "A" side single....with "Day Tripper" on the other side.

[@optimusminimus-v3d]

When you hear the ‘chassis’ of a song that everyone knows so well in its final form, it’s bound to get you wondering how much input the likes of George Martin and the rest of the recording crew may have had.

[@GoodMrDawes]

Awesome

[@michaelthomas366]

The accordion left out is very noticeable.

[@us-Bahn]

Yea you’re right. I hadn’t noticed that.

[@urielxd3100]

esto va a venir en el remaster del Help

[@Famulus9]

Rubber Soul

[@lancep4164]

This sounds like the take they used before overdubs

[@IDHOPTIMIST]

Who is the guy with the guitar? Bill Wyman?

[@IDHOPTIMIST]

Yes. This had already been explained, but I hadn't read it.

[@javierfueyo6871]

ALASBUENAS OOOOTIIAA Solo la guapa música...voz???? APASALOBIEN TÔS

[@GoodMrDawes]

Such clever Men

[@FrankOtheMountain]

Can't believe there was no secret camera rolling anywhere.

[@carpballet]

The snare is like a machine.

[@secularZoo]

Love the squashed sound of the drums thru the Fairchild Limiter. Is this everyone except John on this rhythm track? Or is George left out?

[@EmeraldWoodArchives]

John on acoustic, George on tambourine.

[@yournostroleeoleeolees.]

…FOR FUSSIN N FIGHTEN MY FRIENDS . 🥸🤡🙄🫤🫣😳

[@reethkitchards]

Is that a refrigerator in the recording room? Didn't that 60 cycle hum bleed in the amps? Meh?

[@alonzogarbanzo]

It acted as a kind of drone, pedal point, you know. Very ahead of its time!

[@TheAerovons]

Large playback speaker.

[@reethkitchards]

@@alonzogarbanzo Somewhere between 10th and 11th I bet.

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

It was great up until then.

[@melody-way]

思わず歌ってしまった(^_-)-☆

[@tjcassidy2694]

Who was that in the booth who said, “Take 1”?

[@TheAerovons]

Norman Smith, engineer.

[@tomitstube]

love this, they had some parts but not the song, the vocals would guide the structure.

[@KaBoomChannel]

That photo is strange, I am assuming it's just a publicity photo. I'm an engineer and I have never recorded vocals without the vocalist wearing headphones. You of course can do it, but you'd have to play the playback through speakers which would bleed into the vocal mic and present all kinds of problems and this photo looks like they are in a big room so you would have the playback bouncing off the walls creating all kinds of echo putting it out of time. Either that pic is a publicity photo or they are just rehearsing.

[@TheAerovons]

No that is how it was done at EMI in that era. The big white cabinet is a large playback speaker.

[@joeheadblues]

Rehearsal!

[@TheAerovons]

@@joeheadblues No, Take one of two.

[@KaBoomChannel]

@@TheAerovons - Wow that is nutty, so the playback must have bled into the mic while recording vocals. I don't even want to think what kind of nightmare they had with latency, obviously they had it all figured out though.

[@TheAerovons]

@@KaBoomChannel I think the playback levels were kept fairly low. By the time I recorded there in 1969 the white cabinet was still there, but only used for playback so artists wouldn't have to run all the way up the steps back to the control room, and we used headphones. Not sure what they did about the latency thing, probably just ignored it lol

[@BaconTomatoCheese]

Not bad for a first take

[@enriqueortiz6347]

Hippster sound👍

[@cliffbungalow9373]

I believe they used flat wound electric strings with the pickups in those J 45s.

[@TheAerovons]

J-160E

[@cliffbungalow9373]

@@TheAerovons Yes, sorry

[@cliffbungalow9373]

Why does George look like Bill Wyman?

[@us-Bahn]

It was when George took a 2-week sabbatical that Wyman filled in. With Wyman they recorded ‘If I needed Someone’, ‘Taxman’ and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.

[@youiti2nz]

Bill Geekte \\✊

[@barnabyoliver7846]

Fermats theorem?

[@jameswithers2334]

Sounds like a traveling Willburys track.

[@bertwesler1181]

No, we can't, because love as a nasty habit...

[@marvwatkins7029]

Oy lads, nice melody but how 'bout addin' some lyrics, eh?

[@slightlygrumpy]

Outspan orange box! LOL

[@MrRlwiley]

song was substantially rushed, mostly by Ringo it sounds like. don't know if they applied a click track for Ringo to reference back then. But this (take 1) was certainly in need of something to hold back the horses.

[@TheAerovons]

Not at all. Ebbs and flows with the melody, not sequenced in Logic LOL

[@MrRlwiley]

meter was cleaned up on final take.

[@TheAerovons]

@@MrRlwiley Only did two takes....music back then ebbs and flows a lot. No computers lol

[@TheAerovons]

Bands didn't use click tracks back then, with possible rare exceptions. Certainly The Beatles didn't . Click tracks were used mostly in film scoring.

[@MrRlwiley]

@@TheAerovons listen to the beginning of "Take One" and then listen to the end, they have sped up substantially. The Take on the released record is more consistent. Ringo payed attention to business better on Take Two if you are correct about there only being 2 takes.

[@chipwalter4490]

RINGO

[@sicks6six]

See it my way. Fool on the hill. Yesterday. Hard days night. Macca the writer Lennon societies mirror.

[@guitarzan59]

Mainly all downstrokes in the verses

[@johnsteelman1410]

Don't sound like it .............

[@dedicated2WHOiLove]

teh lads were all satin worshiper sorts mind.

[@Kupcho58]

The Beatles had a fetish for slick materials? Wow n stuff!

[@dedicated2WHOiLove]

@@Kupcho58 i meant like the devil

[@Kupcho58]

@@dedicated2WHOiLove - Golly, who woulda thunk that? So you believe that the Beatles were SATAN worshipers? Got proof or are you just trying to disparage someone that you don't know?

[@cocotimbo]

Ehm...

[@gaelleflorack3630]

NO VIDEO.... Just a photo...

[@TempoDrift1480]

That's an acoustic guitar that needs an awful lot of work. You can hear that whoever is on it can't play it for shit. Those strings probably came over on the Mayflower.

[@TheAerovons]

Lennon played just fine lol

[@smoocifilms6169]

John, and it sounded amazing. sounds like you’re jealous that you’ll never be able to play the guitar as good as he could 😉

[@ssdilapi]

What record label are you on?