Deconstructing Don't Bother Me - The Beatles (Isolated Tracks)

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"Don't Bother Me" was George Harrison's first original composition that the Beatles recorded.

Sometime around August 19th 1963 while sick in bed George began writing his first song. George explained that, "I wrote the song as an exercise to see if I could write a song, I was sick in bed. Maybe that’s why it turned out to be ‘Don’t Bother Me." further more, "I was a bit run down and was supposed to be having some sort of tonic, taking it easy for a few days. I decided to try to write a song, just for a laugh. I got out my guitar and just played around till a song came. I forgot all about it till we came to record the next LP. It was a fairly crappy song. I forgot about it completely once it was on the album." A demo from this writing session can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgO_KcUVIl4&list=RDXgO_KcUVIl4&start_radio=1

A month later on September 11th, 1963 after recording four other songs; I Wanna Be Your Man, Little Child, All I Got To Do, and Not A Second Time the group turned their attention to George's Don't Bother Me. During this session John attempted some takes with a Gibson Maestro Fuzz-Tone, however George Martin wasn't happy with the results so the idea was shelved. Although there was an attempt at a lead vocal overdub the takes for this day were also shelved.

The next day on September 12th they began another attempt at recording the song. The first take being labeled as take 10. It only took 3 takes for a satisfactory take to emerge. With this some overdubs were recorded by taking the two track tape and recording onto another machine. Simultaneously George double tracked his lead vocal while John played tambourine, Ringo played an Arabian bongo, and Paul played claves. Two attempts were needed with the 2nd labeled take 15 considered the best. With that the song was completed.

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Take 10 Studio Chatter (0:00)
Take 11 Studio Chatter (0:14)
Take 11 (0:26)
Take 12 (0:39)
Take 12 Breakdown (0:52)
Take 13 Studio Chatter (1:03)
Drums (1:12)
Overdubbed Percussion (3:37)
Bass (6:04)
Double Tracked Vocal (8:30)
Original Single Tracked Vocal (10:42)
Guitar Solo (12:57)
Guitars (13:09)
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George Harrison – Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar (1962 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman)
John Lennon – Rhythm Guitar (1958 Rickenbacker 325), Tambourine
Paul McCartney - Bass Guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1), Claves
Ringo Starr – Drums (1963 Ludwig Downbeat Black Oyster Pearl), Arabian Bongo
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