Things We Said Today

When the filming of A Hard Day's Night was complete, the weary Beatles took a well-deserved holiday in May of 1964.  Paul and Ringo took off for the Virgin Islands together with their respective girlfriends Jane and Maureen.  Yet, even while relaxing on a yacht, the return to work was looming in Paul's mind.  He knew that the group would have to quickly record some more songs for the non-soundtrack side of their next album before setting off on their first world tour in June.  With little time to himself, he only managed to come up with one new composition, but it was a quality piece of work.  Over the course of his relationship with Jane Asher, McCartney was inspired to write more than a few songs based on his feelings for her, but perhaps none was as tender as Things We Said Today, which projected them as a couple in the future looking back nostalgically at themselves in the present. 

Once the Beatles reconvened on June 1st, Lennon dominated the proceedings, with four compositions ready for the group to record.  When McCartney finally got his chance on June 2nd, he efficiently led the band through a mere three takes before arriving at the best basic track.  He then double-tracked his lead vocal, harmonizing with himself in places.  Ringo also added a tambourine and John played a piano during the bridges, though the piano part was somewhat buried, especially in the final mono mix of the song.

In addition to its place on the non-soundtrack side of the album, Things We Said Today was also chosen to be the B-side of the single A Hard Day's Night.  However, Capitol Records in the US was more interested in promoting the film, so the American label used the soundtrack song I Should Have Known Better as the B-side instead.  Thus, American fans could only find Things We Said Today on the Capitol album Something New.  In the UK, the song later became available on the EP Extracts from the Album A Hard Day's Night.

The Beatles promoted both sides of the single in the UK, featuring the songs on television programs Top of the Pops, Lucky Stars and Blackpool Night Out.  They also played it on BBC Radio on the program Top Gear and on an edition of their series of specials From Us to You.  The former recording can be heard on the 1994 collection Live at the BBC.

They then felt strongly enough about Things We Said Today to add it to their stage act for their American and British tours of 1964.  The performance from August 23rd can be heard on the 1977 album The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl.  Note that George joins in vocally at the points where Paul harmonized with himself on the original record.  Also, the shifts into and out of the energized bridges are much more pronounced and dramatic when played live.

Even more so than on the pop ballad And I Love Her from the same time period, Things We Said Today revealed a somber and mature side of McCartney's songwriting that would blossom in the next few years, providing a nice balance to the sunny, upbeat fare for which he was usually better known.