Recorded - October 6 and 18, 1964
Released - December 4, 1964 (UK), February 15, 1965 (US)
#1 for weeks of March 13 and 20, 1965.
Today, most people consider "Eight Days A Week" as being an album track on The Beatles' fourth British album, Beatles For Sale. However, if you were living in the US, the album in that format didn't see a release. Instead, Americans got, Beatles 65. It contained eight of the fourteen songs from Beatles For Sale plus some leftover single and older album tracks. "Eight Days A Week" was first released in America in February of 1965 as a single. It was not released on an American Beatles album until Beatles VI from June 1965, (Yet another seemingly random collection of songs from multiple albums).
While "Eight Days A Week" is certainly one of The Beatles more poppy numbers and it doesn't have the same level of maturity as "I Feel Fine", it is nonetheless a wonderful rocker that contains some of the best vocal work of John and Paul. The two bridges of the song in particular where the instruments briefly drop out are always amazing to hear. Because the song uses a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, there is a very sunny tone. Additionally, I'm really fond of the song's bassline.
There is also a bit of innovation in the opening with the use of fading into the song. What makes this even more impressive is that this method was worked out on the spot. When The Beatles went to record "Eight Days A Week", much of the song was unfinished. In fact, they would spend a separate day working out the song's bookending outro.
Perhaps due to this song being an American #1 in 1965, The Beatles second movie briefly had the title of "Eight Arms To Hold You". Seeing how The Beatles were constantly progressing musically, and especially seeing how the actual title song of their second movie turned out to be one of John's most personal songs yet, It's a good thing in hindsight that the film had a better name.
Final Verdict - "Eight Days A Week" is another great pop-rocker with fantastic vocal and guitar parts. Its greatness is only eclipsed by The Beatles' next #1 hit, which we'll get to soon.
Coming Up Next - "Stop! In The Name Of Love" by The Supremes.
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock, and I review music eight days a week.
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