To Know Her Is To Love Her (Decca Audition Version)

Composer: Phil Spector

John Lennon rhythm guitar (Rickenbacker 325 guitar), Lead Vocal
Paul McCartney bass (Hofner 500/1 bass), Backing Vocal
George Harrison lead guitar (Gretsch Duo Jet guitar), Backing Vocal
Pete Best drums (blue Premier kit with 26" kick drum)

Mike Smith: Producer
Peter Attwood: Engineer

Recorded: Monday 1 January 1962, Decca Studios, 165 Broadhurst Gardens, London
Recording Medium: Two Track

UK Release: December 1979 (LP: The Decca Tapes [Circuit Records LK 4438-1])
US Release: February 1979 (A Single (titled "To Know Him Is To Love Him") / Besame Mucho [Deccagone PRO-1106])

Running Time:

• Mono Mix: 2:37

Available on:

• Lost Decca Sessions
• Anthology 1

(Source: Revolution in the Head, Ian MacDonald, Vintage 2005, and Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, Andy Babuick, Backbeat Books 2002)

To Know Her Is To Love Her was written by Phil Spector and recorded by his band The Teddy Bears in 1958 as To Know Him Is To Love Him. Released in September 1958, the song went to number one. The lyric was inspired by the words on Spector's father's tombstone: "To Know Him Was To Love Him."

It was the fifth song recorded by The Beatles at their audition for Decca Records. The Beatles would later go on to record the song for the BBC on 16 July 1963 for Pop Go The Beatles. This version is faster, but much less accomplished than the BBC version. McCartney credits this song as the origin of The Beatles' trademark three-part harmony vocals:

Paul McCartney: "'To know know know is to love love love,' that was the first three-part we ever did. We learned that in my Dad's house in Liverpool."

(Source: The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions Mark Lewisohn, Hamlyn Publishing (1988) )

John Lennon would later record his own version of the song (with Phil Spector himself producing) for his Rock and Roll album in 1973, but it remained unreleased until it was included on his posthumous compilation, Menlove Avenue.