Song #106 - "Can't Buy Me Love" - The Beatles

#1 for weeks of April 4, 11, 18, 25, and May 2nd, 1964. 

     The Beatles broke a record for having three consecutive number one hits in 1964. Beatlemania was not only in full swing but it was now a force to be reckoned with. Unlike their previous two number ones, "Can't By Me Love" was the group's most current single and sound in both the UK and the US. It also shows just how much the group had evolved musically in just a few months. 

     The Recording of "Can't Buy Me Love" was started on January 29, 1964 in a Paris recording studio due to the fact that the group was touring there. It actually proved to be the only time the group would record in a non-English studio. The song was finished about a month later during a session on February 25th that coincided with George Harrison's 21st birthday. It was soon selected for their first feature film that they would start shooting soon, and it also became their seventh UK single, which soared to #1 in both the UK and of course, the US. 

     What is remarkable about "Can't Buy Me Love" is just how much more advanced it sounds compared to the band's previous two singles. The song eschews the Brill Building sound of "She Loves You" and replaces it with a 12-bar blues sound. Paul McCartney also gives the song a soulful lead vocal which put his American R&B influenced style on the spotlight. To top this all off, we have birthday boy George Harrison giving us a nice bluesy guitar solo. 

     This song would have further significance when it was used in the film A Hard Days Night where The Beatles jump/run and frolic in an open field as a way of showing just how great it feels to be free of the claustrophobia of fame. Just like the film it appears in, "Can't By Me Love" remains a treasured classic to this very day. 

Final Verdict - Another superb Beatles track that showcases the ever evolving sound of the group. Just like all of their previous hits, it is a well-deserved #1 hit. 

             Coming Up Next - "Hello, Dolly!" by Louis Armstrong. 

      Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock, and I don't come with a price-tag -