#110 I Need You with guest Kit O’Toole (host of Talk More Talk & Toppermost of the Poppermost)
George Harrison’s journey as a songwriter began later than his other bandmates. After delivering his first self-penned track for the band’s 2nd album, he had to rely on a Lennon/McCartney song for the 3rd, and a Carl Perkins cover on the 4th. But by the time of the Help! album, he had 2 on the table, and found his abilities starting to really grow. With “I Need You,” he drops the dour, bitter persona he is sometimes known for to deliver an open, honest, vulnerable track that’s economical in length, has some gorgeous key changes, and features the band starting to stretch in terms of trying new sounds in the studio. George plays rhythm guitar on a nylon string acoustic, Ringo plays percussion on the back of a guitar, John (?!?!) delivers the back beat on the snare drum, while Paul delivers a really interesting bass part that eschews the normal root note bass mentality. The band aren’t afraid to venture into new territory, and George seems unafraid to show his actual vulnerability and own real life turmoil, which all coalesces into a track that’s better than people remember.
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back the Queen of Beatles media, Kit O’Toole! Fresh from speaking on a whopping 7 panels at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans, we chat with Kit about her upcoming course on the British Invasion at Monmouth University (sign up here), the legacy of the Help! film and album, George’s growth as a writer, memories of cds and cassettes, and so much more! Follow Kit on Facebook for more fun!
What do you think about “I Need You” at 110? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram! Be sure to check out rankingthebeatles.com for all your RTB needs, and tell a friend to come join in the fun!