The Beatles: All My Loving (Drum Cover)

Paul McCartney’s “All My Loving” was released in 1963 on The Beatles’ second album With The Beatles. McCartney has stated that he wrote the song’s lyrics while on a tour bus and then wrote the music on piano at a venue backstage. Although the song was never released as a single in the US or UK, the song received a lot of airplay which prompted EMI to release an EP of the same name in 1964. The song was released as a single in Canada where it became a #1 hit and was imported in the US where it would peak at #45.

The song was recorded on July 30, 1963 in eleven takes, with three additional takes for overdubs. Take fourteen would be the master take which was overdubbed onto take 11. The lineup consists of McCartney on double-tracked lead vocals and bass, John Lennon on rhythm guitar, George Harrison on lead guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums. Lennon and Harrison also provided the song’s backing vocals. If you happen to have the German version of With The Beatles, or the Netherlands compilation album Beatles’ Greatest, you can hear a slightly longer version of “All My Loving” with a hi-hat introduction. This particular version would also be released in the UK in 1980 in the eight record box set The Beatles Box.

Ringo’s performance on this song really drives the song forward. He plays an open hi-hat shuffle groove played only the way he could play and occasionally throws in a few snare fills. There are many interpretations of the bass drum pattern Ringo plays. I’ve seen players play quarter notes on the bass drum, others play on beats one and three, and I’ve seen people play only on beat one. I’m playing it on beats one and three as that is what I heard while listening to isolated tracks. During the choruses, and for one bar at the start of the second verse, Ringo plays quarter notes on both the snare and bass drum. Throw in McCartney’s walking bass line, Lennon’s fantastic rhythm guitar playing, and Harrison’s country inspired guitar solo, you’ve got this classic track which was staple in their live performances.

That’s pretty much it for “All my Loving.” It’s both a simple, and complex song from The Beatles’ early days but it’s a beloved classic by many people and it has gone on to become one of their greatest songs early in their career. As always thanks for watching and be on the lookout for more to come!