This BoyThis Boy is one of only a few Beatles songs, including Yes It Is and Because, that was written for a vocal trio.
Just my attempt at writing one of those three-part harmony Smokey Robinson songs. John Lennon 1980
Paul remembers collaborating on this song in September 1963...
It was very cowritten. We wanted to do a close-harmony thing. We liked harmonies and were quite good at them. We used to do a close-harmony version of The Teddy Bears' to Know Her Is To love Her. Paul McCartney Many Years From Now
On 17 October 1963 The Beatles entered EMI Studio Two at 7:00 PM for a three hour recording session. This was the session that introduced the techniques of four-track recording to the Beatles. They first recorded I Want To Hold Your Hand followed by their first Beatles Christmas Record and an aborted attempt at a remake of You Really Got A Hold On Me. At 9:00 PM they began recording This Boy. John, Paul and George shared a single microphone for their vocals. They did fifteen takes of the song and it's very apparent that they knew exactly what they wanted when we listen to Takes 12 and 13...
They were still flubbing "this" and "that."
Two overdubs (Take 16 and 17) were then recorded, which involved George Harrison performing octave guitar fills at the end of the song. These overdubs were added to the end of Take 15.
The finished version appears to be an edit of Takes 14 and 15, spliced together just before the final verse, making an obvious abrupt edit that is very noticeable in the finished product...
John Lennon – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (1962 Gibson J160E)
Paul McCartney - Bass Guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1), Harmony Vocals
George Harrison – Lead Guitar (1962 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman), Harmony Vocals
Ringo Starr – Drums (1963 Ludwig Downbeat Black Oyster Pearl)