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Overview
"Here, There and Everywhere" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. A love ballad, it was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney includes it among his personal favourites of the songs he has written. [Wikipedia]
Background
Here, There and Everywhere is a song by The Beatles, written by McCartney and led on vocal by Paul McCartney. Inspired by 'God Only Knows'; Paul's own favourite of his Beatles songs. Paul McCartney's sophisticated ballad 'Here, There and Everywhere' demonstrated his facility with harmonic complexity and emotional restraint within a romantic song framework. The composition's key modulation, precise vocal phrasing, and intricate vocal arrangement established McCartney's command of pop ballad tradition. The song captured the essence of Revolver's exploration of diverse compositional approaches and recording techniques (Lewisohn 1988, p.83). Kozinn celebrates the song as McCartney working 'at a higher level, producing' articulate and picturesque songcraft—a tender ballad free of orchestral overdubs, where the multitracked three-part vocal harmonies provide the primary textural interest without external instrumentation. (Kozinn 1995, p.146)
What's distinctive
One of 65 songs led primarily by Paul. Recorded approximately 15 of 16 into the Revolver / Studio Awakening (1966) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'beach-boys-influence' — no other song shares it. Take count: 14 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "To lead a better life…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Revolver / Studio Awakening (1966) period, recorded 14 Jun 1966 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Geoff Emerick engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.83 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Recorded on 14 and the session emphasized vocal layering with McCartney performing lead and multiple harmony parts over an instrumental arrangement featuring drums, bass, guitars, and orchestration. George Martin's production balanced the competing vocal lines and instrumental elements with precision. Four-track multitrack recording enabled the complex vocal arrangement (Lewisohn 1988, p.83).
Emerick highlights 'Here, There And Everywhere' as a personal favorite alongside Paul, stressing that the three-day recording investment was exceptional for the era—representing the Beatles' commitment to achieving the precise tonal and harmonic qualities the song demanded. (Emerick 2006, p.343) MacDonald positions the song within McCartney's August 1965 LSD experimentation with Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, establishing a cultural and biographical context for the mid-tempo emotional expression that would eventually reach final form during Revolver sessions. (MacDonald 1994, p.92)
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — Studio Three (largely) |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Studer J37 four-track (with vari-speed, ADT) |
| Console | REDD.51 |
| Microphones | Neumann U47/U48, AKG C12, STC 4038, close-miking pioneered (Emerick) on Ringo's bass drum |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140 plate, Fairchild 660 limiter, EMI Artificial Double Tracking (ADT), Leslie cabinet (vocals) |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Gibson SG (Harrison), Rickenbacker 4001S bass (McCartney introduced) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC100, Vox 7120, Fender Showman, Fender Bassman |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Geoff Emerick • Phil McDonald (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 14 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Revolver. Documented alternate versions include 2009 Stereo Remasters. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. Here, There and Everywhere occupies 8 pages in Lewisohn's reference frequency. Paul McCartney vocals represent 65 canon songs, with 14 in Revolver, establishing this as characteristic vocal work. As one of the album's standout tracks and a concert favorite, the song demonstrated McCartney's maturation as composer and arranger while contributing to Revolver's reputation as a compositionally adventurous work (Lewisohn 1988, p.83).
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
- 2009 Stereo Remasters — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
Released on
- Revolver — LP, 5 August 1966
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (beach-boys-influence, three-key-changes, paul-favourite)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
beach-boys-influencethree-key-changespaul-favourite
References & external databases
Frequently asked
Who wrote Here, There and Everywhere?
“Here, There and Everywhere” is credited to Paul McCartney (Lennon–McCartney).
Who sings lead on Here, There and Everywhere?
The lead vocal on “Here, There and Everywhere” is by Paul McCartney.
When was Here, There and Everywhere recorded?
“Here, There and Everywhere” was recorded 14 Jun 1966 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Here, There and Everywhere require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 14 numbered takes for “Here, There and Everywhere”.
