You won’t find this song on a greatest hits package or hear it on the radio. The Beatles never performed the song live throughout their career and it’s a shame but it was an embarrassment of riches for them. It was one of my first favorite songs from them.
This song was written by John Lennon but of course, credited to Lennon-McCartney. This is where John’s voice cuts through everything and when the harmonies kick in on “All I Got To Do” I’m hooked. The song acted as filler on the album but it is way above a filler song. Any other group would have pushed this song.
John Lennon said: “I had the image of walking down the street and seeing her silhouetted in the window and not answering the ‘phone, although I have never called a girl on the ‘phone in my life! Because ‘phones weren’t part of the English child’s life.”
He also said, “That’s me trying to do Smokey Robinson again.”
All I’ve Got To Do
Whenever I want you around, yeah
All I gotta do
Is call you on the phone
And you’ll come running home, yeah
That’s all I gotta do.
And when I, I wanna kiss you, yeah
All I gotta do
Is whisper in your ear
The words you long to hear
And I’ll be kissing you
And the same goes for me
Whenever you want me at all
I’ll be here yes I will
Whenever you call
You just gotta call on me, yeah
You just gotta call on me
And when I, I wanna kiss you, yeah
All I got to do
Is call you on the phone
And you’ll come running home, yeah
That’s all I gotta do.
And the same goes for me
Whenever you want me at all
I’ll be here, yes I will
Whenever you call
You just gotta call on me
You just gotta call on me.
Oh, you just gotta call on me
Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This song incorporates that very distinct early Beatles sound.
Quite a good song I’m not very sure I’ve ever heard before
Couldn’t agree with you more, badfinger. Recorded on September 11, 1963 – exactly one year after they cut “Love Me Do.” Amazing. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for reading! Underrated song.
Another great Beatles song that could have been a hit- if they didn’t have so many other great songs.
I’m surprised it hasn’t been covered more. The Smithereens did but that is all I’ve heard.
youtube doesn’t have the smithereens cover 🙁
They dont do they? I even checked vimeo and they don’t have it.
Well here is 30 seconds of it lol
https://www.amazon.com/All-Ive-Got-To-Do/dp/B01F9KP244
Thanks Max! I’m going to see if library has this. The Smithereens are perfect for covering The Beatles. I love their music. I’ve their 11 CD and have listened to it a zillion times.
I’ve like them also. They just never seem to break through for some reason…I mean big
Good to hear a never-heard-before Beatles song. So cool it was covered by The Smithereens. I will have to youtube it to hear it.
They covered that entire album…they did a “Meet the Smithereens” album after the US Meet The Beatles.
Ah! thank you for the info!
In the early days, George didn’t sing much.
No he didn’t at all. John and or Paul…usually John would write a song for him to sing.
Before they made it…he sang a lot of covers