Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 18 February 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 18 March 1996 (UK), 19 March 1996 (US)
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums
John Lennon: rhythm guitar, vocals
Paul McCartney: bass, guitar, vocals
George Harrison: guitar
Available on:
Anthology 2
Written by Lennon and McCartney and sung by Ringo Starr, If You've Got Trouble was originally intended to be a part of Help!, the soundtrack to The Beatles' second film.
I recorded a song for the Help! album that was never released – If You've Got Trouble. George Martin found it in the vaults of EMI studios.
Anthology
The songs given to Ringo to sing were never among Lennon and McCartney's finest: I Wanna Be Your Man and What Goes On were little more than album fillers, and often Starr was left to sing cover versions.
If You've Got Trouble bears the unfortunate hallmarks of the two songwriters going through the motions: uninspired lyrics about diamond rings, "money and things", references to Starr's haplessness (his persona within the group's early years was that of an amiable clown), and a tune which was less than inspired.
We've just come across that, and it's the most weird song. I've no recollection of ever recording it. It's got stupid words and is the naffest song. No wonder it didn't make it onto anything.
Anthology
In the studio
If You've Got Trouble was recorded in a single take on 18 February 1965, in between two other Lennon-McCartney songs – You've Got To Hide Your Love Away and Tell Me What You See.
The rhythm track was recorded first, at 6pm, with drums, bass, and George Harrison's Gretsch electric guitar. Starr then overdubbed his first vocal track onto track three at 6.40pm.
Track two was an overdub of three guitars: Harrison's Gretsch, Paul McCartney's Epiphone Casino, and John Lennon's Fender Stratocaster.
At 7.15pm Starr double tracked his lead vocals onto track four, Lennon and McCartney contributed backing vocals, and Harrison performed a solo on a Fender Stratocaster.
That the song wasn't working as planned can be heard in Ringo's desperate call before the guitar solo: "Ah, rock on – anybody!" If You've Got Trouble was eventually replaced on the Help! album by Act Naturally, recorded four months later.
The song itself may “work” badly as a whole: not really inspired lyrics, guitar solo waving in between “first attempt” and “nice try”….but the main riff did something to me: it inspired me to write a song about my fan-relationship to the Fab4. I almost finished it, as I am not completely satisfied with some chord progresssions, but wow, I feel not bad at all with the result thus far.
I like that song. It could have been a great song for the Help album or as a B-side for a single, if they had worked more with it.
When I first heard it – some years before the Anthology – I remember laughing at how bad this is. I never would’ve believed they did something like this at that stage of their career.
There was nothing to work with and they knew it.
First of all, it’s got a funny lyric – “If you’ve got troubles, than you’ve got more troubles than me.”
Second, the afore-mentioned “Rock on, anybody!”
Third, George’s solo is so bad to border on the sarcastic. Yet it works in a sort of “so bad it’s good, avant garde” way. It’s certainly no wonder why he forgot it.
Lastly, the background singers do a perfectly placed “Uh uh.” I heard inferior versions where they did it throughout but this version nails. it.
I think it’s fun.
Don’t George Martin’s contemporary session notes contradict the line up you’ve got? –
IF YOU GOT TROUBLE.
Routine 5.30. Start recording 6pm.
Track 1 Drums, Bass, George on Gretsch
6.40 Track 3 Ringo first voice
Track 2 Paul on Epiphone, George on Gretsch, John on Fender
7.15 Track 4 Ringo double track.
John & Paul sing oh ohs.
George on Fender for solo
Finish 7.30 Have to do George’s solo again
https://imgur.com/6IhjhFN
This is really great! Where’s it from?
George Martin took detailed notes during the first week of recording on the Help! album; circa 2008 The Beatles Story purchased a private collection for their archive which included the seven pages of notes, putting them on display in February 2015 for the 50th Anniversary (don’t know if they’re still on show).
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/beatles-story-puts-george-martin-8643567