writes "I don't think it's a particularly good song... It mightn't even be a song at all, but at least it showed me that all I needed to do was keep on writing, and then maybe eventually I would write something good." Tim Riley describes it as a weak songwriting debut and demonstrates the strength of the Beatles as a group that they "find a groove in this tune despite its flaws." Mark Hertsgaard was more favourable to the song, describing it as one of the best on With the Beatles and "a promising premiere". Everett describes the song as an watershed moment, being the first time a guitar tone was manipulated electronically. The contrasting timbres of the guitars are unique among the songs on Please Please Me and With the Beatles, going beyond their "typical homogeneity of sound". He writes that "Don't Bother Me" and the later "Baby's in Black" presage the band's subsequent work, such as the feedback heard on "It's All Too Much". The song is heard in the Beatles 1964 film A Hard Day's Night. Along with other earlier numbers played in the film – "She Loves You", "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "All My Loving" – United Artists originally planned to include the song on the North American soundtrack album. After the band recorded enough new material, the label deemed the older songs' inclusion unnecessary. British actor Gregory Phillips released a version of "Don't Bother Me" as his third single. Though unsuccessful, this was the first cover version of a Harrison composition. Personnel According to Ian MacDonald, except where noted: The Beatles George Harrison double-tracked vocal, lead guitar John Lennon rhythm guitar, tambourine Paul McCartney bass, claves Ringo Starr drums, bongos Production George Martin producer Norman Smith engineer Richard Langham engineer Notes References Sources The Beatles songs Song recordings produced by George Martin Songs written by George Harrison Songs published by Northern Songs Torch songs 1963 songs