5 Famous Rock Songs That Were Recorded in Just One Take

If you’ve ever tried to record a song for a single, EP, or full album, you know how hard it is to deliver a perfect take in one go. That’s why it’s all the more impressive that these five bands managed to do it. Let’s take a look at five rock songs that were recorded in just one take!

1. “Twist And Shout” by The Beatles

Quite famously, The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me was finished in just 13 hours. Allegedly, the band had nine songs in the bank with 15 minutes to spare. They needed to fit their cover of The Isley Brothers’ “Twist And Shout” on the album with a limited amount of time, so they only had one take to get it done.

It’s very impressive that they managed to squeeze the song in there. John Lennon had a sore throat but trucked through it after gargling some milk. Despite Lennon’s voice eventually going out, the song became a huge hit and sold over a million copies. When it comes to rock songs that were recorded in one take, this song is one of the most commercially successful.

2. “House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals

“House Of The Rising Sun” was originally an 1800s American folk song, but it was popularized on a global level with The Animals’ initial live cover in 1963. They recorded it with Mickie Most, who was not so sure the song would be a worthwhile effort. 

Once it was released, it became a global hit on the radio and gave the band the breakthrough they needed stateside. Allegedly, The Animals’ cover of this song, laden with electric guitar, inspired Bob Dylan to start using the electric guitar as well.

3. “Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead

“Bodysnatchers” by Radiohead was recorded for the 2007 album In Rainbows. The album was recorded in a broken-down old English country home. There, singer Thom Yorke started to feel a bit ill and wanted to end the recording session quickly. The band decided to play the song in one single take, and it ended up being perfect in the context of the album as a whole. That album hit no. 8 on the Modern Rock chart in the US soon after.

4. “Cum On Feel The Noize” by Quiet Riot

This classic 1980s cover of Slade was Quiet Riot’s claim to fame. And to the surprise of many, it was recorded in just one take for their album Metal Health. The LA-based hair metal outfit originally just wanted original tracks on the album, and weren’t entirely thrilled about covering Slade.

Their producer gave them a gentle nudge, and Quiet Riot eventually recorded it, despite the band attempting to sabotage the recording by not practicing the song ahead of time. We can imagine the band was surprised when the single was released and hit no. 5 on the charts, with over a million records sold.

5. “Punk Song #2” by Silverchair

This fan-favorite Silverchair track was the B-side of their single “Freak”. To convey the lyrics about being “pulled down,” Silvechair recorded it in a single take, with the band appearing to be in the same room, watching each other’s eyes, and Daniel Johns’ voice left untouched. It’s a great little grunge/punk track that deserved a more official release.

Photo by Edward Wing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive

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