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"Love You To" is a song by The Beatles from the album Revolver. It is sung and written by George Harrison and features North Indian classical instrumentation; tabla, a pair of hand-drums, sitar and a tambura providing a drone. "Love You To" was the first Beatles song that seriously attempted to incorporate classical Indian music and has even been hailed as the first pop song to emulate a non-western form in structure and instrumentation.^[1]

Background

Harrison was learning the sitar from Ravi Shankar. As Harrison seldom had titles for his songs the working title was "Granny Smith."^[2]

Ringo Starr is the only other Beatle who plays on the song, contributing tambourine. Paul McCartney originally recorded background vocals for the song but these were left out of the final mix.^[2] There have been various accounts of uncredited personnel from the North London Asian Music Centre who contributed.^[3]

A brief portion of the song was included in The Beatles animated film Yellow Submarine when Harrison's character is introduced.

Personnel

• George Harrison – double-tracked lead vocals, electric guitar, sitar
• Ringo Starr – tambourine
• Anil Bhagwat – tabla
• Uncredited – sitar, tambura

Cover versions

• Ronnie Montrose featured a cover version with his own vocals and an electric guitar solo on his Territory album in 1986.
• The Trypes, an offshoot of The Feelies, included a cover of the song on their 1984 EP, The Explorers Hold.
• In 2009, Jim James (as "Yim Yames"), frontman of the band My Morning Jacket, covered "Love You To" on his Tribute To EP.
• The song has also been covered by Bongwater, on their Box of Bongwater collection.

Notes

References