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What Goes On

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"What Goes On"
Song by The Beatles
Album Rubber Soul
Released 3 December 1965
Recorded 4 November 1965,
EMI Studios, London
Genre Country rock
Length 2:50
Label Parlophone
Writer Lennon/McCartney/Starkey
Producer George Martin
Rubber Soul track listing
“What Goes On”
“What Goes On” cover
Single by The Beatles
A-side "Nowhere Man"
Released 15 February 1966 (US)
Format 7"
Recorded 4 November 1965,
EMI Studios, London
Genre Country rock
Length 2:50
Label Parlophone
Writer(s) Lennon/McCartney/Starkey
Producer George Martin
The Beatles singles chronology
"We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper"
(1965)
"Nowhere Man"
(US-1966)
"Paperback Writer"
(1966)
That was an early Lennon, written before the Beatles when we were the Quarrymen or something like that. And resurrected with a middle-eight thrown in, probably with Paul's help, to give Ringo a song... and also to use the bits, because I never liked to waste anything.

—John Lennon, The Playboy Interviews p.188, 1980

I contributed about five words to "What Goes On.' [laughs] And I haven't done a thing since!

—Ringo Starr, 1966

A very early song of mine. Ringo and Paul wrote a new middle-eight together when we recorded it.

—John Lennon, Hit Parader interview, Apr 1972

It was on 5 March 1963 that the Beatles first attempted to record 'What Goes On', though lack of' time meant that the tapes never actually rolled. It was. even then, quite an old Lennon-McCartney song. Now it was revived and handed to Ringo for his statutory one vocal per LP'. He also ended up with a joint composing credit too, though what exactly he contributed to warrant this has never been clarified. The song was recorded in one take, with overdubs of Ringo's rockabilly vocal and John and Paul's backing.

—Mark Lewisohn, The Beatles Recording Sessions, p.67, 1988

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