Wednesday, October 20, 1965
Recording "We Can Work It Out"
For The Beatles
Last updated on December 17, 2025
Wednesday, October 20, 1965
For The Beatles
Last updated on December 17, 2025
Oct 12 - Nov 30, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Recording studio: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road • London • UK
Session Oct 18, 1965 • Recording "If I Needed Someone", "In My Life"
Session Oct 19, 1965 • Recording Christmas fan club messages
Session Oct 20, 1965 • Recording "We Can Work It Out"
Session Oct 21, 1965 • Recording "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)", "Nowhere Man"
Session Oct 22, 1965 • Recording "In My Life", "Nowhere Man"
AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper (UK)" 7" Single
By The Beatles
This was the fifth day of work on The Beatles’ new album “Rubber Soul.” On this day, they focused on John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s new composition “We Can Work It Out,” which would be issued as one side of the single “We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper,” released on the same day as the album.
From 2:30 to 6:30 pm, they recorded the backing track, with John Lennon on acoustic guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on tambourine, and Ringo Starr on drums. All instruments were recorded onto track one of the four-track tape.
Take 1 broke down, while Take 2 was complete and considered strong enough to receive overdubs during the second session of the day, held from 7 pm to 11:45 pm. Paul and John added their lead vocals onto track three, and John recorded a harmonium part onto track two.
Further overdubs would be added on October 29 to complete the recording.
Recording • Take 1
Recording • Take 2
Recording • SI onto take 2
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions • Mark Lewisohn
The definitive guide for every Beatles recording sessions from 1962 to 1970. We owe a lot to Mark Lewisohn for the creation of those session pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - the number of takes for each song, who contributed what, a description of the context and how each session went, various photographies... And an introductory interview with Paul McCartney!
The Beatles Recording Reference Manual - Volume 2 - Help! through Revolver (1965-1966)
The second book of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC)-nominated series, "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 2: Help! through Revolver (1965-1966)" follows the evolution of the band from the end of Beatlemania with "Help!" through the introspection of "Rubber Soul" up to the sonic revolution of "Revolver". From the first take to the final remix, discover the making of the greatest recordings of all time.Through extensive, fully-documented research, these books fill an important gap left by all other Beatles books published to date and provide a unique view into the recordings of the world's most successful pop music act.
If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
