In My Life - wikipedia In My Life For other uses, see In My Life ( disambiguation ). `` In My Life '' Song by the Beatles from the album Rubber Soul Released 3 December 1965 Recorded 18 and 22 October 1965, EMI Studios, London Genre Baroque pop pop rock Length 2 : 28 Label Parlophone Songwriter ( s ) Lennon -- McCartney Producer ( s ) George Martin Audio sample file help `` In My Life '' is a song by the Beatles released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul, and credited to Lennon -- McCartney. The song originated with John Lennon, but Paul McCartney and Lennon later disagreed over the extent of their respective contribution to that song, specifically the melody. George Martin contributed the piano solo bridge. It is ranked 23rd on Rolling Stone 's `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' as well as fifth on their list of the Beatles ' 100 Greatest Songs. The song placed second on CBC 's 50 Tracks. Mojo magazine named it the best song of all time in 2000. Contents 1 Composition 2 Recording 3 Personnel 4 Cover versions 5 References 6 External links Composition According to Lennon, the song 's origins can be traced to when the English journalist Kenneth Allsop made a remark that Lennon should write songs about his childhood. Afterwards, Lennon wrote a song in the form of a long poem reminiscing on his childhood years. The original version of the lyrics was based on a bus route he used to take in Liverpool, naming various sites seen along the way, including Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. Those original lyrics are on display at The British Library. Original lyrics to John Lennon 's `` In My Life '' However, Lennon found it to be `` ridiculous '', calling it `` the most boring sort of ' What I Did On My Holidays Bus Trip ' song '' ; he reworked the words, replacing the specific memories with a generalized meditation on his past. `` Very few lines '' of the original version remained in the finished song. According to Lennon 's friend and biographer Peter Shotton, the lines `` Some ( friends ) are dead and some are living / In my life I 've loved them all '' referred to Stuart Sutcliffe ( who died in 1962 ) and to Shotton. In a 1980 interview, Lennon referred to this song as his `` first real major piece of work '' because it was the first time he penned personal lyrics about his own life. Regarding authorship of the melody, Lennon 's and McCartney 's recollections differ. Referring to McCartney, Lennon said `` his contribution melodically was the harmony and the middle - eight itself. '' McCartney claimed he set Lennon 's lyrics to music from beginning to end, taking inspiration for the melody from songs by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. `` I liked ' In My Life '. Those were words that John wrote, and I wrote the tune to it. That was a great one. '' Recording The song was recorded on 18 October 1965, and was complete except for the instrumental bridge. At that time, Lennon had not decided what instrument to use, but he subsequently asked George Martin to play a piano solo, suggesting `` something Baroque - sounding ''. Martin wrote a Bach - influenced piece that he found he could not play at the song 's tempo. On 22 October, the solo was recorded with the tape running at half speed, so when played back at normal pace the piano was twice as fast and an octave higher, solving the performance challenge and also giving the solo a unique timbre, reminiscent of a harpsichord. Personnel John Lennon -- double - tracked vocal, rhythm guitar Paul McCartney -- harmony vocal, bass George Harrison -- harmony vocal, lead guitar Ringo Starr -- drums, tambourine, bells George Martin -- piano Personnel per Ian MacDonald Personnel notes Jump up ^ MacDonald was unsure if Starr played bells. Cover versions Judy Collins recorded the song as the title cut of her 1966 hit LP. John Denver recorded it on his 1966 self - produced demo album, John Denver Sings. José Feliciano recorded a cover version of the song in 1968 for Feliciano !. Siw Malmkvist recorded in Swedish, `` I mitt liv '' ( 1970 ) on her album `` Underbara Siw '' ( Wonderful Siw ), which was awarded a Swedish Grammis the same year. George Harrison did a soul - arranged version during his Dark Horse US Tour. Billy Preston did a Hammond organ solo. Bette Midler recorded one of the more noteworthy cover versions in 1992, released from the soundtrack of her 1991 movie For the Boys. It peaked at # 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S. This version also appeared as background music for a tribute to NASCAR on ABC at the end of the 2000 Brickyard 400 which was the final broadcast of NASCAR on ABC until 2007. Kids Incorporated covered the song in 1993 in the Season 9 episode `` Taking A Stand ''. Chantal Kreviazuk 's cover was used as the theme song for the series Providence. Johnny Cash covered the song in 2002 for his album `` American IV ''. The Seekers recorded the song for their 2012 Golden Jubilee LP. Charice covered the song in 2009 for her album `` My Inspiration ''. New Zealand / Australian band Dragon covered the song on their album, `` It 's All Too Beautiful ' '' ( 2011 ). MonaLisa Twins covered the song on their 2014 album `` MonaLisa Twins Play Beatles & More ''. Ozzy Osbourne covered the song on his `` Prince of Darkness '' boxset. Darren Criss, Samuel Larsen, Jenna Ushkowitz, Damian McGinty, Vanessa Lengies, Kevin McHale, and Chord Overstreet covered the song in the Glee season three finale `` Goodbye ''. 1960s portal References ^ Jump up to : Hertsgaard, Mark ( 1996 ). A Day in the Life : The Music and Artistry of the Beatles. New York : Delacorte Press. p. 156. ISBN 0 - 385 - 31517 - 1. Jump up ^ Doyle Greene ( 10 March 2014 ). The Rock Cover Song : Culture, History, Politics. McFarland. pp. 161 --. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4766 - 1507 - 3. Jump up ^ `` The Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Beatles Songs ''. Rolling Stone. August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010. Jump up ^ `` 5. In My Life ''. 100 Greatest Beatles Songs. Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 21, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Mojo lists ''. Rocklistmusic. Retrieved 21 April 2017. ^ Jump up to : Everett, Walter ( 2001 ). The Beatles as Musicians : The Quarrymen Through Rubber Soul. Oxford : Oxford Press. p. 319. ISBN 0 - 19 - 514105 - 9. ^ Jump up to : Spitz, Bob ( 2005 ). The Beatles : The Biography. New York : Little, Brown and Company. pp. 587 -- 91. ISBN 1 - 84513 - 160 - 6. ^ Jump up to : Sheff, David ( 2000 ). All We Are Saying. New York : St. Martin 's Press. pp. 152, 178. ISBN 0 - 312 - 25464 - 4. Jump up ^ Sheehan, Ivan ( December 3, 2015 ). `` Finding John Lennon 's `` first real major piece of work '' ``. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jump up ^ The section to which Lennon referred is unclear, as the song does not contain a recognisable middle - eight aside from a brief instrumental break ( the melody for which is attributed to producer George Martin ). Jump up ^ Miles, Barry ( 1997 ). Paul McCartney : Many Years from Now. New York : Macmillan. p. 277. ISBN 0 - 7493 - 8658 - 4. Jump up ^ Compton, Todd ( 2017 ). Who Wrote the Beatle Songs ? A History of Lennon - McCartney. San Jose : Pahreah Press. p. 130 - 132. ISBN 978 - 0 - 9988997 - 0 - 1. Jump up ^ Gambaccini, Paul, ed. ( 1976 ). Paul McCartney in His Own Words. New York : Flash. p. 19. ISBN 0 - 8256 - 3910 - 7. ^ Jump up to : Lewisohn, Mark ( 1988 ). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York : Harmony Books. pp. 64 -- 5. ISBN 0 - 517 - 57066 - 1. Jump up ^ MacDonald, Ian ( 2005 ). Revolution in the Head : The Beatles ' Records and the Sixties ( Second Revised ed. ). London : Pimlico ( Rand ). p. 169. ISBN 1 - 84413 - 828 - 3. Jump up ^ `` For the Boys - Bette Midler : Awards ''. AllMusic. 12 November 1991. Retrieved 1 July 2012. Jump up ^ Kids Incorporated Fans ( 23 May 2012 ). `` Kids Incorporated - In My Life '' -- via YouTube. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Rubber Soul Alan W. Pollack 's Notes on `` In My Life '' Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Rubber Soul Songs Side one `` Drive My Car '' `` Norwegian Wood ( This Bird Has Flown ) '' `` You Wo n't See Me '' `` Nowhere Man '' `` Think for Yourself '' `` The Word '' `` Michelle '' Side two `` What Goes On '' `` Girl '' `` I 'm Looking Through You '' `` In My Life '' `` Wait '' `` If I Needed Someone '' `` Run for Your Life '' Non-album single `` We Can Work It Out '' `` Day Tripper '' Related articles The Beatles discography `` 12 - Bar Original '' The Beatles ' 1965 UK tour Yesterday and Today This Bird Has Flown -- A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles ' Rubber Soul Please Please Me With the Beatles A Hard Day 's Night Beatles for Sale Help ! Rubber Soul Revolver Sgt. Pepper 's Lonely Hearts Club Band Magical Mystery Tour The Beatles ( White Album ) Yellow Submarine Abbey Road Let It Be Past Masters Bette Midler singles discography Discography Filmography The Divine Miss M `` Do You Want to Dance '' ( 1972 ) `` Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy '' ( 1973 ) `` Friends '' ( 1973 ) Bette Midler `` In the Mood '' ( 1974 ) Songs for the New Depression `` Strangers in the Night '' ( 1976 ) The Best of Bette `` Buckets of Rain '' featuring Bob Dylan ( 1978 ) Thighs and Whispers `` Hang On in There Baby '' ( 1979 ) The Rose `` When a Man Loves a Woman '' ( 1980 ) `` The Rose '' ( 1980 ) Divine Madness `` Chapel of Love '' ( Live ) ( 1980 ) No Frills `` All I Need to Know '' ( 1983 ) `` Favorite Waste of Time '' ( 1983 ) `` Beast of Burden '' ( 1984 ) Beaches `` Under the Boardwalk '' ( 1988 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( 1989 ) Some People 's Lives `` From a Distance '' ( 1990 ) `` Night and Day '' ( 1991 ) For the Boys `` In My Life '' ( 1992 ) Bette of Roses `` In This Life '' ( 1995 ) The First Wives Club `` You Do n't Own Me '' with Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton ( 1997 ) Bathhouse Betty `` I 'm Beautiful '' ( 1999 ) Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook `` White Christmas '' ( 2004 ) Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook `` Fever '' ( 2006 ) Cool Yule `` From a Distance ( Christmas version ) '' ( 2006 ) ( Jackpot ! ) The Best Bette `` Wind Beneath My Wings ( re-issue ) '' ( 2008 ) It 's the Girls ! `` Be My Baby '' ( 2014 ) Other releases Promotional singles : `` Old Cape Cod '' ( 1976 ) `` Big Noise from Winnetka '' ( 1979 ) `` Small World '' ( 1993 ) `` Love T.K.O. '' ( 2001 ) Other songs : `` We Are the World '' ( 1985 ) `` I Put a Spell on You '' ( 1993 ) `` It 's Gonna Take a Miracle '' ( 1995 ) `` Somewhere Along the Way '' ( 1997 ) `` Manhattan '' ( 2004 ) `` The Greatest Ears in Town '' ( 2010 ) Book Template Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=In_My_Life&oldid=801137284 '' Categories : 1965 songs 1960s ballads Songs about old age Bette Midler songs Bonnie Tyler songs Cilla Black songs Johnny Cash songs Oliver ( singer ) songs Ozzy Osbourne songs Pop ballads Rock ballads Songs written by Lennon -- McCartney Song recordings produced by George Martin Songs published by Northern Songs The Beatles songs Hidden categories : Use British English from June 2011 Use dmy dates from July 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Català Deutsch Español فارسی Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 17 September 2017, at 21 : 58. 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Question: who played the piano solo in in my life
Answer: George Martin