Got to Get You into My Life

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, first released in 1966 on their album Revolver. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney.[5][6] The song is a homage to the Motown Sound, with colourful brass instrumentation[7] and lyrics that suggest a psychedelic experience.[1] "It`s actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained.[8]

A cover version by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, produced by McCartney, peaked at number six in 1966 in the UK.[9] The original Beatles version was issued in several countries as a single from the Rock `n` Roll Music compilation album in 1976, six years after the Beatles disbanded, and reached number one in Canada. Another cover version by Earth, Wind & Fire from the Sgt. Pepper`s Lonely Hearts Club Band film soundtrack peaked at number nine in the US in 1978. There was also a rousing horn-oriented version from Toronto`s A Stitch in Tyme in 1967.[citation needed]

Composition and recording

Though officially credited to Lennon–McCartney, McCartney was primarily responsible for the writing of the song,[5][6] to which he also contributed lead vocals.[10] It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 7 April and 17 June 1966 and evolved considerably between the first takes and the final version released on album.[11] The song seems to have been hard to arrange until the soul-style horns, strongly reminiscent of the Stax` Memphis soul and Motown sound, were introduced.[12] The original version of the track, taped on the second day of the Revolver sessions, featured an arrangement that included harmonium and acoustic guitar, and a partly a-cappella section (repeating the words "I need your love") sung by McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison.[13] In the description of author Robert Rodriguez, relative to the "R&B-styled shouter" that the band completed in June, this version was "more Haight-Ashbury than Memphis".[14] Author Devin McKinney similarly views the early take as "radiat[ing] peace in a hippie vein", and he recognises the arrangement as a forerunner to the sound adopted by the Beach Boys over 1967–1968 on their albums Smiley Smile and Wild Honey.[15]

The brass was close-miked in the bells of the instruments, then put through a limiter.[16] This session, on 18 May,[17] marked the first time that the Beatles had used a horn section.[18][19]

"Got to Get You into My Life"

Part of the song`s second verse and ensuing chorus

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The song starts with a blaring brass fanfare, McCartney`s vocals entering at 0:07. The chorus of the song appears at 1:04, with the song`s title sung. The song then switches between a verse and the refrain. A short electric guitar solo appears at 1:53 and at 2:10 the horn fanfare re-enters. The song closes with fading vocals of McCartney.

In Barry Miles` 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now, McCartney disclosed that the song was about marijuana.[5] "`Got to Get You into My Life` was one I wrote when I had first been introduced to pot ... So [it`s] really a song about that, it`s not to a person."[5] Many lyrics from the song suggest this: "I took a ride, I didn`t know what I would find there / Another road where maybe I could see some other kind of mind there.",`"What can I do? What can I be? When I`m with you, I want to stay there / If I am true, I will never leave and if I do, I`ll know the way there." "It`s actually an ode to pot," McCartney explained, "like someone else might write an ode to chocolate or a good claret."[8]

Release and reception

Parlophone released Revolver on 5 August 1966 with "Got to Get You into My Life" sequenced as the penultimate track,[20] between Harrison`s "I Want to Tell You" and Lennon`s "Tomorrow Never Knows".[21] According to Devin McKinney, while McCartney`s songs can be heard individually as "simple affirmations", in the context of their placement on Revolver, "each song gains" from the reflected depth of the Lennon and Harrison compositions. McKinney writes that "Got to Get You into My Life" "is notable for being as expressive of a simple livid frustration as any McCartney music to date: its two minutes are a tight mass of constipated fury, an existential annoyance expressing itself as romantic confusion".[22]

In his review of the song for AllMusic, Thomas Ward writes: "McCartney`s always been a great vocalist, and this is perhaps the best example of his singing on Revolver. One of the overlooked gems on the album."[23] Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork considers Revolver to be McCartney`s "maturation record" as a songwriter in the same way that Rubber Soul had been for Lennon in 1965. He highlights "Got to Get You into My Life" as one of McCartney`s "most demonstrative songs" on the album and a reflection of his innate "optimism and populism".[24] Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound admires the psychedelic tone of Revolver, but says that this experimentalism renders the more standard pop songs, such as "Got to Get You into My Life" and "Here, There and Everywhere", "seemingly out of place" within the collection.[25]

Musicologist Walter Everett describes "Got to Get You into My Life" as "always ... one of the LP`s most popular tracks" due to the success of its cover recordings, the first of which was a 1966 UK top-ten hit by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, co-produced by McCartney, and the 1976 single release of the Beatles` original in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan.[17][26] Music critic Tim Riley says the song is the "most derivative cut" on Revolver but nevertheless identifies it as an authentic rhythm and blues track that shows how well the Beatles had mastered the style.[27] Riley especially praises the song`s closing section, introduced by a Harrison guitar break that he describes as "dazzling" in sound and a combination of "crimped energy" and "tasty ornaments", followed by McCartney`s vocal interplay with the brass.[28]

When asked about the song in his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon said, "Paul`s again. I think that was one of his best songs, too."[6]

Charts

Certifications

Personnel

According to Ian MacDonald:[10]

The Beatles

• Paul McCartney – double-tracked lead vocal, bass
• John Lennon – rhythm guitar (although MacDonald was unsure if Lennon played the rhythm guitar part)
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine

Additional musicians

• George Martin – organ, producer, horn arrangements, conducting
• Eddie Thornton – trumpet
• Ian Hamer – trumpet
• Les Condon – trumpet
• Alan Branscombe – tenor saxophone
• Peter Coe – tenor saxophone

Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers version

English band Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers released the first cover version of the song in August 1966, released the same day as the Beatles` album Revolver, on which the song appears.[39]

Background

In early 1966, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers were the opening act for the Beatles on their final European tour. Bennett got the opportunity to hear "Got to Get You into My Life", which was used on the Revolver album, but was never released as a single.[40] Bennett recorded it, with his own composition "Baby Each Day" appearing on the B-side.[40] Paul McCartney produced the session. The record reached No. 6 on the UK chart,[40] becoming Bennett`s biggest ever hit.[41] Bennett returned to the songbook of McCartney / Lennon in 1968 when he recorded "Back in the U.S.S.R." as Cliff Bennett and His Band.

Earth, Wind & Fire version

A cover version by Earth, Wind & Fire was issued as a single in July 1978 by Columbia Records.[42] Their rendition reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[43][44] The song also rose to No. 33 on the UK Singles chart.[45] "Got to Get You into My Life" has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

The guitar solo is by Al McKay.[46]

Critical reception

The New York Daily News described Earth, Wind & Fire`s version of "Got To Get You into My Life" as "oh-so-cool".[47] Allmusic noted the tune as "a great remake".[48] Cashbox also called EWF`s cover of the song an "innovative rendition".[49] Treble website placed this version as number thirty-four of "the top 100 cover songs".[50] Record World said that "Maurice White`s signature vocal and instrumental arrangements give extra life to the disc."[51]

"Got to Get You into My Life" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).[52] The song was also nominated for a Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[53]

Chart performance

Certifications

Other cover versions

• The Four Tops released the song on their 1969 album Soul Spin.
• Blood, Sweat & Tears released the song on their 1975 album New City, with the single reaching no. 62 in the US.[61]
• Chicago released the song on their album Chicago XXXIV: Live in `75, recorded live in 1975 and released in 2011.[62]
• Daniel Johnston released the song on his album 1990.[63]
• Connie Evingson covered the song on her album Let it Be Jazz: Connie Evingson Sings the Beatles.[64]
• Joe Pesci covered the song on his album Little Joe Sure Can Sing!.[65]
• The Surprise Sisters, and Australian sibling vocal quartet recorded a version in 1976, produced by Tony Visconti.[66]