| "You Know What to Do" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Beatles from the album Anthology 1 | |
| Released | 20 November 1995 (UK) 21 November 1995 (US) (The Beatles Anthology 1 Release) |
| Recorded | 3 June 1964 EMI Studios, London |
| Length | 1:59 |
| Label | Apple Records |
| Writer | George Harrison |
| Producer | George Martin |
"You Know What to Do" was one of the first songs written and recorded by George Harrison with The Beatles. It was recorded on 3 June 1964 (see 1964 in music) and does not appear on any album except 1995's Anthology 1 release (see 1995 in music).
During a photographic assignment on the morning of 3rd June 1964, Ringo Starr was taken ill with tonsillitis and pharyngitis, 24 hours before the Beatles were due to leave for a five country tour.[1] The original session booked for that day was cancelled so that a replacement drummer, Jimmie Nicol, could be brought in and rehearse with the band. After running through six songs in a one hour rehearsal in Abbey Road Studio Two[1], everyone felt satisfied with Nicol's drumming, and he left to pack his suitcase.[2]
That evening, in a four hour session in Abbey Road Studio Two, each of the three present Beatles recorded a demo of a newly written song. Harrison recorded "You Know What to Do", John Lennon did "No Reply", which eventually ended up as the opening track of their next album Beatles for Sale, and Paul McCartney did "It's for You", a song which was written specifically for Cilla Black to sing. The tape of the session was subsequently misfiled, and was re-discovered in 1993.[2]
After Anthology 1 was released, Harrison was asked about the song and he said he did not even remember its existence.
Harrison's previous contribution to the Beatles' output was Don't Bother Me, recorded the 11th and 12th September 1963.[3] His next contribution was not until I Need You, recorded 15th February 1965.[4] Asked about this gap, in The Beatles Off the Record in 1965, and referring obliquely to "You Know What To Do", George Martin explained that Harrison "got discouraged some time ago when none of us liked something that he had written".[5]