"Can't Buy Me Love"

Title: “Can’t Buy Me Love”

Album: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

While in Paris for a series of concerts at the Olympia Theater in January 1964, the Beatles booked studio time to record (reluctantly) new German-language versions of “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” and “She Loves You,” having been told that their records would never sell in large numbers in Germany if they were in English. They had extra time in the Paris studio after these tracks were recorded so the band also worked on McCartney’s new tune, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” making it the only Beatles’ English-language song recorded outside the U.K.   Paul’s final vocal, however, was overdubbed in February at Abbey Road, and the backing vocals were removed, making it the first Beatles’ single without their characteristic harmonies (and their sixth single overall, B-sided by “You Can’t Do That”).

Paul was often asked about the song, finally pressed by journalists in 1966 to reveal its “true” meaning.  He said that you can interpret it in almost any way you want, but he insisted it was not about prostitution.

The clip below is from the Beatles Shea Stadium performance.  “Everybody clap your hands and sing along.”