Ah, new episode day here at Stuffology Towers. We’re up to I’m Happy Just To Dance With You and, coincidentally, it would have been George Harrison’s 80th birthday today.

It’s not the most obvious tribute but then, if we’re being completely honest, there was no design behind the scheduling clash. This is not a song where George has found his voice, perhaps because it’s actually the ‘voice’ of a Lennon & McCartney work song. You only have to listen to him deal with the elongated “do” to appreciate his vocals had yet to develop the confidence that would be apparent in later work.

Considering it’s meant to be a song about being happy (yes, I know, it’s a little bit more complicated than that), he doesn’t actually sound that happy. Again, that may just be a complication of inexperience and rushed material. He certainly looks happy in the sequence from A Hard Day’s Night. That could be because it’s a fun sequence.

We talk (a lot) about the film sequence in the podcast because it’s more impressive than the song itself (I’ll admit to making a mistake in the podcast, it’s not the dancers who get dragged away from watching the band, it’s the make up artists). It has a lightness and verve that’s missing from the song itself.

As with a few of these songs, it’s worth listening to a version by a more accomplished singer. This version by Mari Wilson (you know, the one with the beehive) is a pleasant enough version but her vocal certainty and range makes it a more assured performance.

Anyway, let us know what you think of this (or any other) episode. You can email JG at beatlesstuffology@gmail.com, although we’d obviously like to get some ratings on some of those all powerful podcast conglomerates.