Any Time At All

“Any Time At All” is a Beatles’ composition that is on their 1964 album, “A Hard Day’s Night”.

A Hard Day’s Night Album (1964)

Track Source

A Hard Day’s Night

Any Time At All

Written primarily by John Lennon but with the credit going to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, “Any Time At All” sees the instrumental middle eight come from Paul McCartney.

“An effort at writing ‘It Won’t Be Long‘. Same ilk: C to A minor, C to A minor-with me shouting.”

John Lennon
Playboy Magazine (1980 interview)

John Lennon’s “Any Time At All” line sees Paul McCartney echoing this shortly after because Lennon couldn’t quite reach the high notes. From those screaming high notes, the song quickly transforms into sweeter, much warmer lyrics with great effect.

Although the song is on the “A Hard Day’s Night” album, it doesn’t appear at all in the film of the same name. This could possibly be due to the fact that it is an “unfinished” song. While recording the track on the 2 June 1964, Paul McCartney’s instrumental middle eight could have had lyrics added. Indeed, this was their intentions. However, possibly because of the timescale involved, by the time mixing took place, lyrics were still not available.

Incomplete Song

There are two lines that the band omitted because John didn’t think they added much to the song. Those lines are, “I’ll be waiting here all alone/Just like I’ve always done.” Even though the track comes to us in a state which is “almost as intended”, the song is still a catchy one. Moreover, it captures John Lennon at his early best and suits the album perfectly.

George Martin added one final trick – a piano solo lightly echoing George Harrison’s guitar work, note-for-note. Of course, we can never overlook the magic of George Martin.

Recording Studio

The Beatles recorded “Any Time At All” on the 2 June 1964, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 2.30pm-5.30pm session. There was 7 takes in that afternoon session but they recorded 4 more takes during the 7.00pm-10.00pm too. Between those sessions they also recorded “Things We Said Today” and “When I Get Home“.

Take 11 was suitable for the master rhythm track and they overdubbed piano, guitar and vocals to that. On the album, this song kicks off side two, just before, “I’ll Cry Instead“.