A Beatles Timeline and Notes on Beatles Songs - A

Across the Universe (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: John

Recorded: 4, 8 Feb 69

Released: on "Let it Be": 8 May 70 (UK), 18 May 70 (US)

Notes: Started out about his wife Cynthia going on and on, and ruminating on "pools of sorrow, waves of joy." John really liked it, and thought Paul sabatoged it. Written after the Bangor trip but before the India trip, it mentions Maharishi's guru, Guru Dev.

All I've Got To Do (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: John

Recorded: 11 Sep 63

Released: on "With the Beatles": 22 Nov 63 (UK), on "Meet the Beatles": 20 Jan 64 (US)

Notes: "One of my my biggies," based on Smokey Robinson.

All My Loving (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: Paul

Recorded: 30 Jul 63

Released: on "With the Beatles": 22 Nov 63 (UK), on "Meet the Beatles": 20 Jan 64 (US)

Notes: First song where lyrics written first; written on tour.

All Together Now (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: Mostly Paul

Recorded: 12 May 67

Released: on "Yellow Submarine": 13 Jan 69 (US), 17 Jan 69 (UK)

Notes: Deliberately tried to write a sing-along nursery rhyme. Paul Horn says tune written in India,but it appears to have been written in the studio. Derives from Paul's earlier "Jumping Round the Room," which had lyric, "lying on your backs, skipping round the room, jumping in the air..."

All You Need is Love (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: John

Recorded: 14 Jun 67

Released: 7 Jul 67 (UK), 17 Jul 67 (US), on "Magical Mystery Tour" 27 Nov 67 (US), on "Yellow Submarine": 13 Jan 69 (US), 17 Jan 69 (UK)

Notes: Written for "Our World" simulcast of 25 Jun 67, the largest audience till that time. Inspired by "We Shall Overcome."

And I Love Her (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: Mostly Paul

Recorded: 25, 27 Feb 64

Released: 20 Jul 64 (US), on "A Hard Day's Night": 26 Jun 64 (US), 10 Jul 64 (UK), on "Something New": 20 Jul 64 (US)

Notes: Written for Jane shortly after moving in to her house.

And Your Bird Can Sing (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: John

Recorded: 26 Apr 66Released: on "Revolver": 5 Aug 66 (UK)

Notes: Considered it a throwaway.

Another Girl (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: Paul

Recorded: 15, 16 Feb 65

Released: on "Help!": 6 Aug 65 (UK), 13 Aug 65 (US)

Notes: Written in Hammamet, Tunisia artists colony.

Any Time At All (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: John

Recorded: 2 Jun 64

Released: on "A Hard Day's Night":10 Jul 64 (UK), on "Something New": 20 Jul 64 (US)

Notes: A rewrite of "It Won't Be Long."

Ask Me Why (Lennon and McCartney)

Real Author: Mostly John

Recorded: 26 Nov 62

Released: 11 Jan 63 (UK), 25 Feb 63 (US); on "Please Please Me": 22 Mar 63 (UK), on "Introducing the Beatles": 27 Jan 64 (US), on "The Early Beatles": 22 Mar 65 (US)

Notes: Written in Spring, 1962, influenced by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.