Songs > All You Need Is Love

All You Need Is Love

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
This John Lennon song was the Beatles' contribution to a world-wide television link entitled "Our World". The band was to create a song which could be understood by all nationalities. The Beatles' performance was filled with balloons, celebrities, and signs in four languages which all read "all you need is love." John's song was declared the anthem for the Summer of Love, as it perfectly captured the mood that all one needed in life was love.

Recording dates

June 14, 1967 (33 takes; basic track)
June 19, 1967 (vocal, drums, banjo, piano overdubs)
June 21, 1967 (mixing)
June 23, 1967 (orchestral overdubs onto June 19 master)
June 24, 1967 (overdubs)
June 25, 1967 (live bass, lead guitar, drums, and orchestra overdubs)
June 26, 1967 (opening snare drum roll overdub; mixing)
October 29, 1968 (stereo mixing for 'Yellow Submarine')

Release dates

July 7, 1967 (UK) ("All You Need is Love/Baby, You're A Rich Man" single)
July 17, 1967 (US) ("All You Need is Love/Baby, You're A Rich Man" single)
November 27, 1967 (US) (on Magical Mystery Tour)
April 2, 1973 (US) (on 1967-70)
April 19, 1973 (UK) (on 1967-70)
November 14, 2000 (UK & US) (on Beatles 1)

Recording notes

Recorded for "Our World" - the first worldwide satellite broadcast - on June 25. Present in the studio audience include Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Pattie Harrison, Jane Asher, Paul's brother Mike McCartney, Graham Nash, Hunter Davies, and Keith Moon. Former Manfred Mann saxophonist Mike Vickers conducted the orchestra. Take 58 was used as the broadcast version. During the first recording sessions (June 14), John played the harpsichord and George played violin.
Additional musicians - Sidney Sax (violin), Patrick Halling (violin), Eric Bowie (violin), John Ronayne (violin), Lionel Ross (cello), Jack Holmes (cello), Rex Morris (tenor sax), Don Honeywill (tenor sax), Evan Watkins (trombone), Harry Spain (trombone), Jack Emblow (accordian), Stanley Woods (trumpet and flugelhorn), and David Mason (piccolo trumpet).

Chart performance

#1, July 19 - August 8, 1967 (3 weeks), Record Retailer (UK)
#1, August 19, 1967 (1 week), Billboard (US)

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Awards

Other notes

Notable covers