Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just want to mention that on the german sung version of "she loves you", Sie liebt dich,recorded January 29 1964 in Paris, John must have used his old 325 guitar (there was no new one ,yet), but the new Vox AC50 amp and speaker cabinet. This was the same combination used on the first (and third) Ed Sullivan show and the Washington and New York concerts on their first U.S. visit.
But to check the sound of the old 325 with the new
AC50 listen to "Sie liebt dich". From then on he used his new 325 Miami (exclusively?) for studio work, with the AC50 on the A Hard Day's Night LP and with AC100 on Beatles for Sale/Beatles65 LP.

I am not sure, but I thought that they sang the new vocals, to the instrumental track from she loves you. I'll have to check the liner notes from Past Masters Volume 1

You're right David, both "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" featured the new vocals sung in German overdubbed onto the existing instrumental versions from the earlier sessions. It's in Lewisohn's recording sessions book.

Funny, they've (the German instrumental tracks) have always sounded different to me than the original English language versions. Could they have been mixed differently? This doesn't seem likely since they did a lot of bounce-downs.

I just played both alternating between them, The guitars sound very different and it is sharper (German version). I don't trust 90% of what I read in those things, it was definitely re-recorded, even the drums and bass sound different, it doesn't have the sparkle of the English version.

The instrumental versions are most likely from the same sessions, but different takes. I'll dig into the book tonight plus some other material that I have and try to come up with some answers.

That is strange though huh? You would think they would have just overdubbed, bleedthrough?

Actually I stand corrected. Wolfgang is correct, a new instrumental track was recorded for "Sie Liebt Dich" because the original instrumental backing tracks for "She Loves You" were scrapped from the July 1 1963 sessions. For you completists the version on PAST MASTERS Vol. 1 is take 14.
However I was right on "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand". The instrumental backing track is from October 17 1963 from the same sessions which produced the "I Want To Hold Your Hand" single. The German vocals were laid down in Paris also on January 29 1964. The finished result is an edit of takes 5 & 7.
So, there it is. My apologies to Wolfgang. He was right all along. Sorry guys, I just recently moved and anymore my mind is a complete fleeting mass of useless information. I'll read the facts next time before I open my mouth.

One reason why the German recordings sound different that the Englisn recordings is that they are sung by Paul. It has been said that John did not know enough German.

Very interesting. I wonder how many other things were "scrapped"?

Thanks, Jeff.
Peter, I don't think it's without John. I've got a version with an "Edit piece take 10" at the start of the song.
I am pretty sure John sings the lower part.
Paul sings his part pretty loud, but for me not without John. Same for "Komm gib mir deine Hand".

Wasn't it basically a phonetic reading anyway? They wouldn't need to know german in that case.

Wolfgang: Upon a very close listening it does seem like John in the background. The mixing of this track certainly puts his voice in the background and not "front and centre" as in the English version of She Loves You.

Jerry, as far as I know EMI Cologne sent someone
to check the pronunciation.
Peter, maybe this is the reason why the song lost its charme. I did not like it even in 1964, when I was ten years old.
The real thing started with "Can't buy me love/You can't do that" (O.K. there was Money and It won't be long and Please Mr. Postman and Twist and shout, and There's a place....,and...

anyway: to check the sound of the old 325 V81 with the Vox AC50 against the new 325 Miami (such as "I'm happy just to dance with you"), try "Sie liebt dich"