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by: Andy Roman (revolver@bright.net)
I'm A Loser (takes 1-8)
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The ominous voice fills the studio: "I'm A Loser,
Take One."
Paul begins with his count-in, "1, 2.
. . 1, 2. . ." and the take starts.
It quickly aborts after Paul explains to John that he's "stopping at 1, 2. . 'cause that's where you'll come in with the mouth organ."
They begin Take One again after another Paul count-in. This second attempt at Take 1 quickly breaks down with Paul saying, "Stop. .I'd forgot. ."
Norman Smith again fills the air: "Two!"
This take starts without a hitch. At this point in the song's evolution, the structure is different. The song begins with a bar of open acoustic guitar strumming, accompanied by some electric guitar chordal phrasing before John and Paul harmonize one time on the line "I'm A Loser."
After singing the song's title one time, the song goes right into the
verse. Paul, at this point, is attempting to harmonize on the
line "And I'm Not What I appear to be." He is slightly out-of-synch
with John, and perhaps, a little off-key at first.
John also sings: "Behind this mask" instead of the
familiar "Beneath this mask."
The break is void of mouth-organ at this point. A close listen reveals Paul mimicking the sound of an harmonica over the break.
After the third stanza, John and Paul repeat the lines, "I'm A Loser" over again, with Paul adding a higher harmony on the line's third repetition. Almost complete, the take breaks down apparently because there was no determinative way of ending the song.
After a couple of falsetto spurts from John (which ends the take) Paul proclaims, "Well, there's a frayed edge for you. . ."
Ringo: "Here we go, quiet. ."
John: "Okay, George. ."
As the instruments are readied for the start of Take 3,
Paul prompts John as to how they will start
singing the song, singing "I'm a Loser. .And I've lost someone. ."
John continues singing the second line "I'm a Loser, and
I'm not what da-da da-da-da. . ."
Meanwhile, Ringo is attempting to silence the group so
that they might continue: "Shh. .now. . .Shutup. ."
John, ready now: "Okay."
Take 3 starts off like the commercially releasd version, beginning with the harmonized line "I'm A loo-oo-ser." At this point, these lines are sung ever-so-slightly slower.
This take is complete (assuming that a fade-out for the song was already
determined).
As the take ends, John announces: "It
didn't work out the same because-"
(at this point the session tape
cuts out).
Paul discusses the harmony with John
(referring to the singing of the line "And I'm Not what I appear to be. .
.) "It's hard to get a good harmony. ."
Ringo, particularly conscious of time during this session for
some reason, is heard to say: "The light isn't on.." (referring to
Number Two's famous 'red light').
A couple of get-ready guitar strums and a few "Shhs" fill the
room.
John is heard blowing into the mouth-organ for the
first time briefly before the take begins. "Okay."
Take 4 starts, again, with a slightly longer drag on the opening lines.
The take breaks down as John reverses lines, singing "And
I'm not what I appear to be" when he ought to have sung "And I've lost
someone. . ."
John: "Oh, sorry. . .sorry.
."
Paul begins a run-through of the bass line for the
chorus, singing the harmony lines as John asks, "Can I
play it there? Can you do it?" apparently wishing to either reposition
himself or something else in the studio, "I'm just all uncomfy. .
."
Paul, possibly referring to a stand holding lyric
sheets (assuming there was one) asks John, "Can you see it
there?"
John: "Yeah, I'm only gonna be reminded
of it (sic)."
Another quick toot into the mouth organ and the take begins. It's a
quick breadown, however, with an announcement from the booth.
John: "Why?"
George Martin:
"Appear to be. Pop of the mic. . .aPPear to be. ."
John: "Oh."
This take is complete.
In this version, John sings: "I should have known I would lose in the end. . ." It is also the first take absent of Paul's harmony on the line "And I'm not what I appear to be.."
Also a first is John's use of the mouth organ during the solo. This mouth organ bit was NOT overdubbed later, rather it was plyed live, hence John's remarks at the end of the take: "Ha. .I'm all wrapped up. ."
Some warm up and instrument fine-tuning precedes Take 7.
John yelps out something, perhaps the second syllable of the word "loser," which Paul was screeching somewhat in the background.
John hecticly announces : "Ready. I'm Ready now!" while Paul continues singing "I'm a Loser!" in a mocking-type voice.
After an announcement of "Take Seven," John twice asks George if he's ready.
Again, the booth: "Se -VEN."
John:
"Are you?"
There are a few more quick get-ready strums as
Ringo announces, "Alright, we're rolling."
Paul (apparently looking at Ringo):
"Shhh."
Ringo: "I'm not doing a thing. .
."
The take breaks down again because of the popping "p" on
John's microphone.
John:
"Yeah?"
Martin: "We'll put a spit-screen on
him."
After a moment, George Martin begins to sound
rather like a school-master: "Now then, uh, have you suddenly turned your
bass level up, Paul?"
"No, I haven't."
"I see. .
."
Perhaps, John's remarks prior to this take was an indication that this would, indeed, be the version used for commercial release: "Okay, let's go. Let's get outta here."
April 16, 1964
October 8, 1964 
Behind The
Scenes.
