If I Fell
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"If I Fell" is a song by English rock band the Beatles which first appeared in 1964 on the album A Hard Day's Night in the United Kingdom and United States, and on the North American album Something New. It was written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. "That's my first attempt at a ballad proper. ... It shows that I wrote sentimental love ballads way back when", Lennon stated in his 1980 Playboy interview. Paul McCartney stated that he contributed to the song: "We wrote 'If I Fell' together."
Recording and performance
Lennon and McCartney shared a single microphone "for their Everly Brothers-like close harmonies".
Like much of the Beatles' early work, the song was released in two different mixes for mono and stereo. Lennon's opening vocal is single-tracked in mono but double-tracked in the stereo mix.
Single releases
"If I Fell" was released as the B-side of the US single "And I Love Her" on Capitol 5235. As the B-side, it reached number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached number 28 in Canada. The song was also released as a single in Norway, where it reached number one.
In the UK, it was released on 4 December 1964 as the A-side of a single (b/w "Tell Me Why") on Parlophone DP 562. The single was intended for export, but some retailers sold it in the UK anyway. It did not chart there and is generally not considered an "official" UK single.
Charts
| Chart (1964–1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (Musica e dischi) | 38 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 3 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 53 |
| West Germany (Media Control) | 25 |
Personnel
According to Ian MacDonald, except where noted:
- John Lennon – double-tracked vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – double-tracked vocal, bass
- George Harrison – twelve-string lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
Notes
- Compton, Todd (2017). Who Wrote the Beatle Songs? A History of Lennon-McCartney. Pahreah Press. ISBN 978-0-9988997-0-1.
- Everett, Walter (2001). . New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-514105-4.
- Fontenont, Robert (2008). . About.com. Archived from on 20 April 2009.
- MacDonald, Ian (2007). (Third ed.). Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-55652-733-3.
- Miles, Barry (1997). . New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-5249-6.
- . VG-lista. 2009. Archived from on 18 April 2012.
- . BBC. 2010.
- Ingham, Chris (2003). The Rough Guide to the Beatles. Rough Guides. ISBN 1-84353-140-2.
- Winn, John C. (2008). . New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-307-45157-6.
External links
- on YouTube