Released 4 December 1964 Length 2:33 | Genre Country rock
pop rock Writer(s) Lennon–McCartney | |
Recorded 29 September 1964
EMI Studios, London Label Parlophone
PMC 1240 (mono)
PCS 3062 (stereo) | ||
"I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" is a song by the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on the album Beatles for Sale in the United Kingdom in 1964. "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" was also released on the Beatles for Sale (No. 2) EP. In the United States, Capitol released the song as the B-side of the single "Eight Days a Week", and later on the Beatles VI album, both in 1965. The single peaked at number one in the US (it was not released in the UK); "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" charted as a B-side, reaching number thirty-nine on Billboard.
Contents
Lyrics
The lyrics revisit Lennon's familiar themes of alienation and inner pain. In this song, he is at a party, waiting for his girl to show up. When it becomes clear that she has stood him up, he decides to leave, rather than spoil the party for everyone else. Both the lyrics and melody share a melancholy sound and theme with previous songs on Beatles for Sale, such as "No Reply" and "I'm a Loser".
Recording
The Beatles recorded the song on 29 September 1964 in 19 takes, the last of which was released. McCartney sings the lower harmony on the verses, then the higher harmony on the choruses as usual.
Personnel
Rosanne Cash version
Rosanne Cash covered the song for her Hits 1979-1989 compilation. Her version went to number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 1989. It was also Cash's last number one hit to date, and is the only Lennon-McCartney song to top the country chart.