7 Facts About ‘Eight Days A Week’ By The Beatles

Paul McCartney’s Idea

“Eight Days a Week” was written by both Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Featured on The Beatles’ fourth studio album “Beatles for Sale”, it became their seventh #1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Here are some interesting facts about this timeless track.

7. Although it was a huge hit in the US, it wasn’t released as a single in the UK.

6. Opening with a fade-in, it’s the first pop studio recording to feature such technique.

5. They never played it live but they did mime to it when they appeared on “Thank Your Lucky Stars” on March 28, 1965.

4. It was supposed to be for their second film “Help!” because according to McCartney, “there was at one time the thought of calling the film Eight Arms To Hold You.”

3. They went through several takes before the final version. According to historian and biographer Mark Lewisohn, “Take one was played straight, no frills, on acoustic guitar. On take two John and Paul introduced a succession of beautifully harmonised ‘Ooohs’, climbing up the scale, to precede the first guitar strum. On take three they merged the two ideas, ‘Ooohs’ and acoustic guitar. On take four the ‘Ooohs’ were altered to remain on the same pitch throughout rather than climbing the register. Take five incorporated ‘Ooohs’ at the end as well as the beginning. Take six took the shape of the released version but did not have the faded intro or outro.”

2. McCartney once said that the title came from his chauffeur. He recalled, “I remember writing that with John, at his place in Weybridge, from something said by the chauffeur who drove me out there. John had moved out of London. to the suburbs. I usually drove myself there, but the chauffeur drove me out that day and I said, ‘How’ve you been?’ – ‘Oh, working hard,’ he said, ‘working eight days a week.’ I had never heard anyone use that expression”. However, Macca later claimed it was Ringo Starr who coined the phrase.

1. It’s one of the songs Lennon wasn’t a fan of. He told Playboy magazine in 1980, “‘Eight Days A Week’ was never a good song. We struggled to record it and struggled to make it into a song. It was [Paul’s] initial effort, but I think we both worked on it. I’m not sure. But, it was lousy anyway.”