Written by:Â Lennon-McCartney
Recorded:Â 18 October 1964
Producer:Â George Martin
Engineer:Â Norman Smith
Released: 27 November 1964 (UK), 23 November 1964 (US)
Available on:
Past Masters
1
Anthology 2
Live At The BBC
On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2
Personnel
- John Lennon: vocals, guitar
- Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
- George Harrison: vocals, guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums
About The Song
The introduction of “I Feel Fine” is marked by a brief, throaty growl emanating from Lennon’s amplifier. Though the clipped distortion may seem mild compared to the later records of Pete Townshend and Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles can be credited as pioneers in this regard. Lennon boldly claimed, “I defy anybody to find a record — unless it’s some old blues record in 1922 — that uses feedback that way. I claim it for the Beatles.”
According to George Martin, feedback proved to be a common challenge during Beatles sessions. He noted that John Lennon consistently turned the volume knob up to the maximum, initially seen as a humorous routine. However, Lennon discovered the advantageous potential of this feedback. The intentional use of feedback on “I Feel Fine” was present in the master tapes from the very first take.
“I Feel Fine” not only featured the Beatles’ innovative use of feedback but also highlighted their evolving musicianship. Ringo Starr contributed a calypso-flavored interplay between the cymbal and tom-tom, showcasing his transformation from a straightforward rock drummer into a more musically explorative thinker. As noted by Martin, Ringo was always experimenting with different musical ideas.