If I Fell

The first time you hear *If I Fell*, you realize there's something different about its structure. It doesn't follow the typical verse-chorus pattern. Instead, it features an intro that doesn't repeat, followed by sections that expand, but without a clear chorus or bridge. It's as if the song unfolds organically. Furthermore, the way John Lennon and Paul McCartney sing together, sharing a single microphone to achieve those close harmonies, evokes the Everly Brothers and gives it a special intimacy. The recording on February 27, 1964, at EMI, London, under the production of George Martin, captured that magic. It's interesting to note that the mono version has Lennon's voice un-doubled at the beginning, while in the stereo version it is doubled, giving it a different nuance.

This piece, born from the main pen of John Lennon with the collaboration of Paul McCartney, first appeared on the album A Hard Day's Night in 1964, both in the UK and the US, and also on the American compilation Something New. Lennon himself described it as his first attempt at a "proper" ballad, showcasing his more sentimental side. The song was released as the B-side of the American single "And I Love Her" by Capitol Records, reaching number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 28 in Canada. In Norway, however, it was a resounding success, reaching the top spot. Although released as an A-side in the UK in December 1964, it did not chart in that country. Guitarist George Harrison contributed loose notes with his electric guitar, while Ringo Starr kept the beat on the drums.