Video: 'You Really Got A Hold On Me (Remastered 2009)'

(Thursday, July 18, 1963, 7:00 p.m.-10:45 p.m. British Summer Time; during recording sessions for With The Beatles) — Just seventeen days after recording what was to be their next single “She Loves You,” manager Brian Epstein had The Beatles back at EMI Studio Two in London tonight to begin recording their second studio album With The Beatles.

The rock band from Liverpool, England, recorded four cover songs on this night, including Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me,” Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want)” the Donays’ “Devil in His Heart,” albeit retitled “Devil In Her Heart,” and Meredith Willson’s “Till There Was You.”

“You Really Got A Hold On Me” (inadvertently changing the title from the original “You’ve”) was the first song recorded and features John Lennon on lead vocals with Paul McCartney and George Harrison on harmony vocals.

Seven live performances of the song were first recorded, featuring all four Beatles playing their usual instruments and singing without overdubs, accompanied by producer George Martin on piano.

Only four of these performances were complete (three of them being false starts), take seven being the keeper.

They immediately recorded four edit pieces for the song, concentrating on the word “baby” found in the final verse, and on the ending riffs of the song.

Take 10 finalized the ending riff, while take 11 perfected the “baby.”

Completed by approximately 8:00 p.m. BST, it took an estimated hour to fully record this amazing rendition of an amazing song.

Video: 'Devil In Her Heart (Remastered 2009)'

They immediately recorded the bulk of “Money (That’s What I Want).” With George Martin on piano, the group performed the song live, vocals and all, for six full takes until everyone was satisfied, take six being deemed the best.

All instruments were recorded on one track of the two-track tape, the other track consisting of only John’s vocal.

A piano edit piece by George Martin, probably for the song’s introduction, immediately followed the final take, which brought the number of takes to seven. Further overdubs would be attempted in the coming weeks.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., they began work on “Devil In Her Heart” as their third song of the evening.

Three live takes were made of the complete song, all four group members playing their usual instruments with all lead and background singing. Take three was deemed the best.

Three overdubs were then performed on top of take three, which included extra guitar flourishes from George Harrison, double-tracked lead vocals during the verses, and Ringo playing maracas. This brought it to take six, completing the song as we hear it today.

At approximately 10:00 p.m., The Beatles ran through three takes of “Till There Was You,” two of them complete, before deciding to return to the song on another day.

The Beatles would return to EMI Studio Two for a second session for the album on July 30, 1963. Sessions for the album would continue through Oct. 23, 1963.