A Hard Day's Night cover art

  Soundtrack · No. 1

A Hard Day's Night Songwriting Credits by The Beatles

1964 Parlophone 13 tracks 30 min

Produced by George Martin

Parlophone RockPop Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Beatles carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
13 trackswritten by The Beatles 0 tracksoutside writers
The Beatles's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
1964
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Hall of Fame (2000, Inducted)
Data Insight

The first Beatles album to consist entirely of original compositions, all 13 tracks written by Lennon-McCartney, with no cover songs. Recorded January-June 1964 as the soundtrack to the film of the same name, it was also the first Beatles album in which the division of work between Lennon and McCartney was clearly visible: Lennon wrote most of the film songs on side one while McCartney contributed "Can't Buy Me Love," "And I Love Her," and "Things We Said Today." The US Billboard 200 chart debut at number 1 lasted 14 weeks.

A Hard Day's Night is the third studio album by The Beatles, released in July 1964 on Parlophone as the soundtrack to their first feature film of the same name, and the first album in their catalog composed entirely of Lennon-McCartney originals. The absence of cover songs was a significant turning point, Lennon and McCartney demonstrating they could sustain an entire album from self-written material after years of supplementing originals with American R&B and rock and roll covers. George Harrison and Ringo Starr received no composer credits, making the authorship concentration more absolute than at any other point in the band's career. Lennon contributed 'If I Fell,' 'I'm Happy Just to Dance with You' (written specifically for Harrison to sing), and 'I'll Be Back'; McCartney contributed 'And I Love Her' and 'Things We Said Today,' both demonstrating the melodic sophistication that would characterize his best work. Produced by George Martin and recorded at Abbey Road Studios, A Hard Day's Night reached number one in both the UK and the US, confirming the Lennon-McCartney partnership as the dominant songwriting force in the world.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
A Hard Day's Night #1
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)Paul McCartney (Harmony Vocals)
2
I Should Have Known Better
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
3
If I Fell
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)Paul McCartney (Harmony Vocals)
4
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin George Harrison (Lead Vocals)
5
And I Love Her
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
6
Tell Me Why
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
7
Can't Buy Me Love #1
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
8
Any Time at All
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
9
I'll Cry Instead
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
10
Things We Said Today
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
11
When I Get Home
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
12
You Can't Do That
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)
13
I'll Be Back
John LennonPaul McCartney John LennonPaul McCartney George Martin John Lennon (Lead Vocals)Paul McCartney (Harmony Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 4 contributors

More from The Beatles

Frequently Asked Questions A Hard Day's Night

Did The Beatles write all songs on A Hard Day's Night?
Yes, A Hard Day's Night is the first Beatles album consisting entirely of original Lennon-McCartney compositions, with no cover songs. All 13 tracks were written by Lennon and McCartney. This was unusual for the era and represented a milestone in their development as self-sufficient songwriters.
Who wrote A Hard Day's Night the song?
"A Hard Day's Night" was written by John Lennon, with the title coming from a remark made by Ringo Starr after a long day of filming. Lennon wrote the song overnight after the film's director Richard Lester requested a title track. The song reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in August 1964.
Did Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
"Can't Buy Me Love" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1964 and simultaneously held all five top positions on the chart alongside other Beatles singles, an unprecedented chart domination. Paul McCartney wrote the song and recorded the lead vocal. It was the lead single from A Hard Day's Night.
Is A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles a soundtrack album?
Yes, A Hard Day's Night is the soundtrack to the 1964 film of the same name, directed by Richard Lester. The UK album release features 13 tracks; the US version on United Artists had a different configuration, including dialogue from the film. Despite being a soundtrack, all tracks are original Lennon-McCartney compositions, no film-score instrumentals appear on the main album.
How many copies did A Hard Day's Night sell in the United States?
A Hard Day's Night is certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA (4 million US units), making it one of the best-certified early Beatles albums in the US. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 14 weeks there. The UK and Canadian releases achieved Platinum certification in their respective markets.
Who directed the A Hard Day's Night film that the album accompanies?
A Hard Day's Night was directed by Richard Lester, a US-born director working in Britain. Lester shot the film in a cinema verité style using handheld cameras, giving it an improvisational energy that matched The Beatles' screen personas. The 1964 film is widely considered one of the greatest rock films ever made and was selected for preservation in the US Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Who wrote And I Love Her by The Beatles on A Hard Day's Night?
"And I Love Her" was written primarily by Paul McCartney, with a chord sequence contribution from John Lennon (credited Lennon-McCartney). McCartney has described it as his first attempt at a gentle ballad in the style he would continue to develop, leading to songs like "Yesterday." The song appeared on A Hard Day's Night (1964) and has been covered over 400 times.

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