| "If You've Got Trouble" | |
|---|---|
| Song byThe Beatles | |
| from the albumAnthology 2 | |
| Released | 18 March 1996 |
| Recorded | 18 February 1965 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 2:49 |
| Label | Apple Records |
| Songwriter | Lennon–McCartney |
| Producer | George Martin |
"If You've Got Trouble" is a song written byLennon–McCartney and recorded byThe Beatles on 18 February 1965 withRingo Starr singing the lead vocals. The song was intended to be Starr's vocal appearance on theHelp! album and theHelp! film, but The Beatles were not happy with the recording, and later chose to record "Act Naturally" (not shown in the film) instead.[1] "If You've Got Trouble" remained unreleased untilAnthology 2 in 1996.[1]
"If You've Got Trouble" was recorded in a session beginning at 6:00pm on 18 February 1965,[2] the fourth day of recording forHelp!. It was one of three songs worked on that day, the others being "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (recorded earlier in the day) and "Tell Me What You See" (recorded in the same evening session).
The backing track for the song was recorded in a single take. Starr thenoverdubbed adouble-trackedvocal, andHarrison added an extra guitar part.[2]
A mono mix of "If You've Got Trouble" was prepared on 20 February 1965.[2] A stereo mix of the song was created forAnthology 2, and this mono mix remains unreleased.
"If You've Got Trouble" was prepared for release in 1984 for theSessions album.[3]Geoff Emerick edited the arrangement, swapping the verses around and knocking around 20 seconds off the running time. After the release ofSessions was blocked by the surviving Beatles, this version was subsequently widely bootlegged until the unedited version was released onAnthology 2.
Music criticIan MacDonald said the song was "the only unmitigated disaster in the Lennon–McCartney catalogue", and criticised its lyrics and melody.[4] Beatles' historianMark Lewisohn agreed, saying it was "not one of the better Lennon–McCartney numbers ... nor was it brilliantly performed."[2] George Harrison stated that "it's the most weird song...it's got stupid words and is the naffest song. No wonder it didn't make it onto anything."[5]AllMusic criticRichie Unterberger gave a more favourable assessment, remarking that "For all its lack of seriousness, 'If You Got Trouble' [sic] is hummable, likable, and performed with good-natured spirit."[6]
The song was covered by singerFabienne Delsol with her group The Bristols, appearing on their 1999 albumIntroducing... The Bristols.[7][8]
Although not technically a cover,the Posies' instrumental "Alison Hubbard" (included on the expanded reissue ofFailure) is built around a copy of the main "If You've Got Trouble" riff.[citation needed]
