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- Album This song officially appears on the A Hard Day's Night (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"A Hard Day's Night" session #4
Mar 01, 1964
"A Hard Day's Night" session #5
Mar 03, 1964
"A Hard Day's Night" session #13
Jun 09, 1964
"A Hard Day's Night" session #15
Jun 22, 1964
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by the Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose performance in the film marked the first commercial music video segment with Harrison singing lead.
Composition
It was written specifically for George Harrison to sing at a time when he lacked the confidence to compose his own material. Years later, McCartney described it as a “formula song“, and Lennon said, “I would never have sung it myself.”
Structurally, it features hectic Bo Diddley rhythm and busy banjo style guitar playing in juxtaposition with Harrison’s vocal. Its composers give it an unpredictable choice of chord (augmenting the B7th on “I’m happy just to dance with you“) right at the crux of its title, jarring the chorus. The song is also unique in that it begins not with a verse or chorus but with the last four bars of the bridge.
Recording
The Beatles recorded “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” on a Sunday, the first time they had used Abbey Road Studios on other than a normal work day.
The group also recorded a version for the BBC’s From Us to You radio show. The session took place on 17 July 1964 at the BBC Paris Studio in London, and was first broadcast on 3 August that year. […]
Paul McCartney in Many Years From Now by Barry Miles:
We Wrote I’m Happy Just To Dance With You for George in the film. It was a bit of a formula song. We knew that in E if you went to an A flat minor, you could always make a song with those chords; that change pretty much always excited you. This is one of these. Certainly Do You Want To Know A Secret was. This one anyway was a straight co-written song for George. We wouldn’t have actually wanted to sing it because it was a bit… The ones that pandered to the fans in truth were our least favourite songs but they were good. They were good for the time. The nice thing about it was to actually pull a song off on a slim little premise like that. A simple little idea. It was songwriting practice.
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 3 Mar 1964.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1230 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
US: United Artists UAL 3366 and UAS 6366 Hard Day’s Night 1964, Capitol 5234 single 1964, Capitol T 2018 Something New 1964.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46437 2 Hard Day’s Night 1987. - [b] stereo 22 Jun 1964.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3058 Hard Day’s Night 1964.
US: Capitol ST 2018 Something New 1964.
Last updated on March 2, 2016
Lyrics
Before this dance is through I think I'll love you too
I'm so happy when you dance with me
I don't wanna kiss or hold your hand
If it's funny try and understand
There is really nothing else I'd rather do
'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you
I don't need to hug or hold you tight
I just wanna dance with you all night
In this world there's nothing I would rather do
'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you
Just to dance with you
Is everything I need
Before this dance is through
I think I'll love you too
I'm so happy when you dance with me
If somebody tries to take my place
Let's pretend we just can't see his face
In this world there's nothing I would rather do
'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you
Just to dance with you
Is everything I need
Before this dance is through I think I'll love you too
I'm so happy when you dance with me
If somebody tries to take my place
Let's pretend we just can't see his face
In this world there's nothing I would rather do
I've discovered I'm in love with you
'Cause I'm happy just to dance with you
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1964
1:59 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 03, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1964
1:59 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 22, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1964
1:56 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 03, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1964
1:56 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 22, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1964
1:58 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 03, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1964
1:58 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 22, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2004
1:58 • Studio version • B2004 • Stereo • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 22, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2004
1:58 • Studio version • A2004 • Mono • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 03, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
A Hard Day's Night (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
1:56 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Mar 03, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
A Hard Day's Night (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
1:56 • Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Arabian drum, Drums
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 22, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 10
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:06 • Live • Backing track - rehearsal
Concert From "From Us To You" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 03, 1964
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 10
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:04 • Live • Rehearsal
Concert From "From Us To You" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 03, 1964
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 11
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
1:57 • Live
Concert From "From Us To You" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 03, 1964
A Hard Day's Night - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics - Vol. 2
Unofficial album • Released in 2011
1:59 • Studio version • Stereo • MPI Home Video Stereo Mix (Yellow Dog)
Live performances
“I'm Happy Just To Dance With You” has been played in 55 concerts.
Latest concerts where I'm Happy Just To Dance With You has been played
Bristol • Colston Hall • United Kingdom
Nov 10, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Sheffield • City Hall • United Kingdom
Nov 09, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Liverpool • Empire Theatre • United Kingdom
Nov 08, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Cardiff • Capitol Centre • United Kingdom
Nov 07, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Southampton • Gaumont Cinema • United Kingdom
Nov 06, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
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