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Overview
"Do You Want to Know a Secret" is a song by English rock band the Beatles from their 1963 album Please Please Me, sung by George Harrison. In the United States, it was the first top ten song to feature Harrison as a lead singer, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1964 as a single released by Vee-Jay, VJ 587. [Wikipedia]
Background
Do You Want to Know a Secret is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon–McCartney and led on vocal by George Harrison. Inspired by a Disney 'Snow White' lyric; given to George to sing. Within the catalogue, its george-vocal thread connects it to Chains, Roll Over Beethoven, Devil in Her Heart. Originally a John Lennon composition from the group's Cavern Club era, 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' was recorded 11 February 1963 with an unusual studio arrangement: the song appeared on Please Please Me with vocalist Billy Kramer's voice double-tracked underneath George Harrison's lead, an early example of the Beatles' willingness to feature non-member voices in formal recordings. This cross-promotional choice reflected Brian Epstein's management strategy of supporting fellow NEMS roster artists (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
What's distinctive
At 1:58 it's bottom fifth by length. One of 28 songs led primarily by George. Recorded approximately 10 of 67 into the Beatlemania (1962–1964) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'secret' — no other song shares it. Take count: 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "You'll never know how much I really love you…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.28 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). The recording from take 2 demonstrates the Beatles' facility with multi-voice mixing, requiring synchronization of Harrison's lead with a separately recorded Kramer vocal. The technical challenge of matching two lead voices on twin-track recording equipment, predating four-track capability, represented sophisticated engineering. Norman Smith's microphone placement and balancing created separation while maintaining the intimate vocal quality (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — predominantly Studio Two |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Twin-track BTR-2 (1962); Studer J37 four-track from late-1963 |
| Console | REDD.37 / REDD.51 valve consoles |
| Microphones | Neumann U47, U48; AKG D19 (drums); STC 4038 (overheads) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124 compressor (Altec 436B mod), EMT 140 plate reverb, STEED tape echo |
| Guitars | Rickenbacker 325 (Lennon), Gretsch Country Gent / Tennessean (Harrison), Höfner 500/1 violin bass (McCartney), Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit (Starr) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC30 (TB & non-Top-Boost variants) |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Norman Smith • Richard Langham, Geoff Emerick (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Please Please Me; on the EP Twist and Shout. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. George Harrison lead vocals appear in 19 canon songs (4 in Beatlemania), making this another of his rare opportunities. The song's key of C major is shared with 31 canon songs across the catalog (9 in era). The unusual dual-vocalist arrangement became a curiosity in Beatles discography, later re-recorded with Harrison as sole voice for the UK stereo releases. Its presence on the album provided a vehicle for emerging artist Billy Kramer, whose 'Trains and Boats and Planes' would later become a hit (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
No documented alternate versions.
Released on
- Please Please Me — LP, 22 March 1963
- Twist and Shout — EP, 12 July 1963
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (secret, disney-inspired, george-vocal)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
secretdisney-inspiredgeorge-vocal
References & external databases
Frequently asked
Who wrote Do You Want to Know a Secret?
“Do You Want to Know a Secret” was written by Lennon–McCartney.
Who sings lead on Do You Want to Know a Secret?
The lead vocal on “Do You Want to Know a Secret” is by George Harrison.
When was Do You Want to Know a Secret recorded?
“Do You Want to Know a Secret” was recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Do You Want to Know a Secret require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 16 numbered takes for “Do You Want to Know a Secret”.