US Release date : Sep 13, 1965
Yesterday / Act Naturally
By The Beatles • 7" Single • Part of the collection “The Beatles • Singles”
Last updated on January 8, 2026
US Release date : Sep 13, 1965
By The Beatles • 7" Single • Part of the collection “The Beatles • Singles”
Last updated on January 8, 2026
Single Sep 10, 1965 • "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Silkie released in the UK
Article September 11-13, 1965 • Paul, John and George visit relatives in Liverpool
Single Sep 13, 1965 • "Yesterday / Act Naturally" by The Beatles released in the US
Single Sep 17, 1965 • "That Means A Lot" by P.J. Proby released in the UK
Single Sep 20, 1965 • "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Silkie released in the US
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Jun 18, 1965
2:06 • Studio version • A • Mono
Paul McCartney : Guitar, Vocals George Martin : Producer Norman Smith : Recording engineer Tony Gilbert : Violin Sidney Sax : Violin Kenneth Essex : Viola Francesc Gabarró Solé : Cello
SessionRecording : Jun 14, 1965 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jun 17, 1965 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Written by Johnny Russell, Voni Morrison
2:30 • Studio version • A • Mono
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmony vocals Ringo Starr : Drums, Sticks, Vocals John Lennon : Acoustic rhythm guitar George Harrison : Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Norman Smith : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Jun 17, 1965 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1965 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
From Wikipedia:
[…] Since “Yesterday” was unlike the Beatles’ previous work and did not fit in with their image, and was essentially a solo recording, the Beatles refused to permit the release of a single in the United Kingdom. This did not prevent Matt Monro from recording the first of many cover versions of “Yesterday“. His version made it into the top ten in the UK charts soon after its release in the autumn of 1965.
The Beatles’ influence over their US record label, Capitol, was not as strong as it was over EMI’s Parlophone in Britain. A single was released in the US, pairing “Yesterday” with “Act Naturally“, a track which featured vocals by Starr. The single was released on 13 September 1965 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks, beginning on 9 October. The song spent a total of 11 weeks on the chart, selling a million copies within five weeks. The single was also number one for three weeks on the U.S. Cashbox pop singles chart the same year.
“Yesterday” was the fifth of six number one singles in a row on the American charts, a record at the time. The other singles were “I Feel Fine“, “Eight Days a Week“, “Ticket to Ride“, “Help!“, and “We Can Work It Out“. “Yesterday” also marked a turning point in who wrote number one singles for the group. Lennon wrote five through “Help!“, whereas afterwards McCartney wrote eight starting with “Yesterday“. […]
SURPRISE U.S. HIT FOR PAUL – ‘Yesterday’ Single in top spot
BEATLE Paul McCartney has scored a surprise personal success with “Yesterday”, the ballad he recorded with strings for the Beatles recent “Help!” LP. This week, it shot to number one in the American charts. Although listed as by the Beatles, it features only the solo voice of Paul — the closest yet to a solo Beatle hit.
Paul McCartney told the Melody Maker: “We didn’t know at first whether to release the number as a single or not. So I was very relieved indeed when I heard it had gone to number one. It’s really marvellous!”
NEMS Press Officer, Tony Barrow, told the Melody Maker: “This track and ‘Act Naturally’, which features Ringo singing a country and western number, were not included on the ‘Help!’ LP released in the States, and that is why it was decided to release them as a single. There are no plans at all to release ‘Yesterday’ as a single in Britain. It is, of course, available on the LP and will also be included when the LP is broken down for EP release in the future.”
From Melody Maker – October 9, 1965
On U.S. chart front — PAUL’S ‘YESTERDAY’ STAYS AT THE TOP
PAUL McCARTNEY’S million seller “Yesterday” heads next week’s “Billboard” Hot Hundred for the fourth week, cables Nat Hentoff. He is holding off a strong challenge from the Rolling Stones, who rise one place to No. 3 with “Get Off Of My Cloud.”
Two new British records enter the chart, the Yardbirds’ “I’m A Man” at 83 and Chad and Jeremy’s “I Have Dreams” at 100.
Records going up are — previous positions in brackets — Jonathan King’s “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” 20 (28), Petula Clark’s “Round Every Corner” 38 (55), the Bachelors’ “Chapel In The Moonlight” 48 (60), the Silkie’s “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” 51 (61) and the Walker Brothers’ “Make It Easy On Yourself” 58 (73).
Going down are Herman’s Hermits’ “Just A Little Bit Better” 13 (7), the Fortunes’ “You’ve Got Your Troubles” 36 (20), the Beatles’ “Help!” 32 (29), Dave Clark’s “Catch Us If You Can” 40 (33) and Donovan’s “Universal Soldier” 53 (48). Ringo’s “Act Naturally” remains at 47.
From New Musical Express – October 22, 1965
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