PLAYLIST OCT. 21st 2012
The Beatles - COVERS ONLY!!!! Hear The Beatles sing songs they didn't
write...hear Beatles songs from people who didn't write `em!!!
FUN! FUN! FUN!
HR 1
The Beatles – Please Mr. Postman - With The Beatles
(William Garrett - Robert Bateman -Georgia Dobbins - Brian Holland and Freddy Goreman)
Recorded July 30th 1963 Originally by the Marvelettes Their version released August 1961 became a number one hit.
Musicians: John Lennon – double-tracked lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney –
backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums
This was a cover-version of Motown’s first-ever hit, by The Marvelettes. Paul said that we got it from our fans, who would write ‘Please Mr. Postman’ on the back of envelopes. ‘Posty, Posty, don’t be slow, be like the Beatles and go, man, go!’ That sort of stuff. John decided to double-track his vocal against the better advice of George Martin, who hoped
for the powerhouse sound of Twist And Shout. But he’d become self-conscious about the way his voice sounded on tape, and insisted that he fill it out
Lead vocal John US - Capitol LP The Beatles' Second Album
The Supremes - You Can't Do That - A LITTLE BIT OF
LIVERPOOL. 1964
The Beatles – Anna (Go To Him) (Arthur Alexander) Please Please Me Alexander’s original recording was released as a single in Sept. of 1962 on Dot
Records. Did not crack the Top 40. Beatles played it live in `62 and `63. Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr –
drums This only took three takes. John made a half-hearted attempt to toughen up Arthur
Alexander’s lyrics by omitting the word darling. Lead vocal John
US – Vee-Jay LP Introducing the Beatles US – The Early Beatles
Stevie Wonder- We Can Work It Out - Signed Sealed Delivered
The Beatles – Boys (Luther Dixon / Wes Farrell) Please Please Me
Originally recorded by The Shirelles as a B-side to their big hit “ Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”. Recorded 11th February 1963 in just 1 take.
Musicians: Ringo Starr – lead vocal, drums; John Lennon – backing vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal,
lead guitar You couldn’t get away with singing this these days, because the lyrics make you sound queer. Paul remembered that they did it for a laugh (but whether Ringo found it funny is
another matter!) Lead vocal Ringo
US - Vee-Jay LP Introducing the Beatles
US – The Early Beatles
Todd – Hold Me Tight – WMMR 1970
The Beatles – Leave My Kitten Alone - Beatles For Sale sessions (Little Willie John-Titus Turner- James McDougal) – Anthology I/ Beatles
For Sale sessions Recorded Aug. 14th 1964 around 10PM when they should have been ending
the days sessions (Abbey Road Studio regulations) Musicians:
John Lennon – double-tracked lead vocal; Paul McCartney – bass guitar, piano; George Harrison – double-tracked lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums,
tambourine This was recorded at the Beatles For Sale sessions, but was left to rot in the stores
for thirty years. It has now been made available on Anthology 1. Lead vocal John
The Jam – And Yer Bird Can Sing – Extras
The Beatles – Twist And Shout (Phil Medley & Bert Berns) – Please
Please Me Feb. 11th 1963. Original recorded by The Isley Brothers in May of 1962. The
Beatles performed it regularly between 1962 and 1965 Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums
This was the last song to be recorded at the marathon Please Please Me session. They’d been singing non-stop for twelve hours and it was already past ten at night, but George Martin still needed a big finish, so they gathered in the canteen to gee themselves up.
John was suffering from a cold at the time, and was drinking warm milk to stop his voice giving out. Then he sang it in a single take, with his top stripped off. By the end he said: I couldn’t sing the damn thing, I was just screaming. My voice wasn’t the same for a long time after. Every time I swallowed, it was like sandpaper. George Martin said: God alone
knows what he did to his larynx each time he performed it, because he made a sound rather like tearing flesh. That had to be right on the first take, because I knew perfectly
well that if we had to do it a second time it would never be as good. John later explained: The more interesting songs to me were the black ones because they
were more simple. They sort of said shake your arse, or your prick, which was an innovation really… The blacks were singing directly and immediately about their pain
and also about sex which is why I like it. But I hate singing Twist And Shout when there’s a coloured artist on the bill. It doesn’t seem right, you know. It seems to be their music,
and I feel sort of embarrassed. Makes me curl up… They can do these songs much better than us.
[I can’t let the moment pass without giving an honourary mention to Brian Poole and the Tremeloes’ version of Twist And Shout, which was released on the 28th June. They were the band that Decca signed instead of the Beatles. And poor old Dick Rowe had to sit and
suffer while the Beatles’ Twist And Shout EP made it past them in the singles chart!] Lead vocal John
US - Vee- Jay LP Introducing the Beatles US – The Early Beatles
The Tubes – I Saw Her Standing There – What Do You Want From Live?
Paul – Matchbox – Live 93
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – I Need You – Concert
For George
2.43 BREAK
The Beatles – Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry) - With The Beatles Released as a Chuck Berry single May 1956 on Chess records peaking at #29. A
song performed in the very early day when John sang lead.
Musicians: George Harrison – double-tracked lead vocal, lead guitar; John Lennon –
rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – bass guitar; Ringo Starr – drums The Beatles had always been big Berry fans, and between 1957 (when The Quarrymen started out) and their last gig in ‘66, they played more songs by him than by anybody
else. Berry explained that he aimed the lyrics at his big sis, telling her to get off the piano so he could have a go: Roll Over Beethoven was written based on the feelings I had when my sister would monopolise the piano at home during our youthful school years. In fact most of the words were aimed at Lucy instead of the Maestro Ludwig Van Beethoven. Thelma also took piano lessons in classical music but Lucy was the culprit that delayed
rock ‘n’ roll music twenty years. John always used to sing it in their Hamburg days, but he gave it to George for the LP –
and a very credible job he does too. You can hear an amazingly good live version on Anthology 1.
Lead vocal George US - Capitol LP The Beatles' Second Album
The Cryin Shames – If I Need Someone – Single
The Beatles – Baby It’s You – Please Please Me
(Mack David-Barney Williams-Burt Bacharach) Originally recorded by The Shirells in Dec. 1961 on Scepter Records.
Recorded Feb. 11th 1963 Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums;
George Martin – celesta This only took three takes. A week later George Martin over-dubbed a celeste and a
piano, but they didn’t like it, so they wiped it off Lead vocal John
US - Vee-Jay LP Introducing the Beatles (both) US- Capitol LP The Early Beatles
The Donnas – Drive My Car – This Bird Has Flown
Paul McCartney – I Got Stung (Schroeder-Hill) – Run Devil Run
‘99
This was a 1959 No.1 single for Elvis. Paul: "It wasn't my favorite Elvis song, but I kept hearing 'Holy smoke landsakes alive, I never thought this would happen to me'. That intro kept grabbing me. I thought I'll do it a bit more raucous than Elvis."
Aerosmith - I’m Down – Permanent Vacation
The Beatles - Dizzy Miss Lizzy - Help!
(Williams) Lead vocal: John
Recorded specifically for the American market at the urgent request of Capitol Records executives, who needed two songs to fill out their upcoming “Beatles VI” album. Of course, Capitol had four songs in its possession it could have included (“From Me To
You,” “Misery,” “There’s A Place” and the German-language version of “She Loves You,” had all yet to appear on an LP in America), but they went to the Beatles and asked for something new ASAP. With no new material ready to go the band pulled two Larry Williams’ songs from their pre-fame club repertoire, “Bad Boy” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” that could be recorded in one day and then the tapes would be air-freighted to Capitol Records in Los Angeles. “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” was added as the album closer on the UK “Help!” LP when several songs earmarked for the project fell through (“That Means A Lot” and “Wait”) and they decided against including the two most recent B-sides.
On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP
2.34 BREAK
HR 2
Sandi Shaw – Love Me Do - 1969 album, Reviewing the Situation
The Beatles – Chains (Gerry Goffin /Carole King) Please Please Me
Feb.11th 1963 / Top 20 hit for The Cookies in 1962. Lead vocal John Paul and George
Musicians: George Harrison – lead vocal, lead guitar; Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar; John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar, harmonica; Ringo
Starr – drums They recorded four takes of this, and apparently it’s a little bit out of tune. They also
added a harmonica intro that isn’t in the Cookie’s version Lead vocal George
US - Vee-Jay LP Introducing the Beatles
US – The Early Beatles
Cilla Black – The Love Of The Loved – Single
The Beatles – Don’t Ever Change (Goffin /King) - BBC LIVE
"Don't Ever Change" is a 1961 popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It is one of their lesser-known songs, although a version by The Crickets reached the top 5 in the United Kingdom.
Ella Fitzgerald – Savory Truffle – Single 1969 single "I'll Never Fall In Love Again / Savoy Truffle".
1.13 BREAK
The Beatles - A Taste of Honey (Marlow/ Scott) - Please Please Me Written by Ric Marlow & Bobby Scott for the play of the same name.1st recorded
by the Bobby Scott combo in 1960 as the title track for the SDTK LP Musicians:
Paul McCartney – double-tracked lead vocal, bass guitar; John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar; George Harrison – harmony vocal, lead guitar;
Ringo Starr – drums
This was taken from Tony Richardson’s film A Taste Of Honey, which came out in 1961. Acker Bilk scored a hit with it in the early sixties, so they covered it on the Please Please Me LP. John was later scathing about it, and whenever they played it live he changed the
chorus to A Waste Of Money Lead vocal Paul
US - Vee- Jay LP Introducing the Beatles US – The Early Beatles
Teenage Fanclub – Ballad Of John & Yoko – Single 1990
3.12 BREAK
The Beatles – Money (That’s What I Want) (Janie Bradford & Berry
Gordy) With The Beatles
Originally recorded by Barrett Strong and released as a single in dec.1959 peaking at #123. It was a part of the Beatles live repertoire from 1960 to 1964.
Recorded by the Beatles July 18th 1963. Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums;
George Martin – piano This was a cover version of Barrett Strong’s 1959 flop. [This legendary song was
originally released on the Anna label – the early precursor of Motown, and was written by Berry Gordy. It refers to the money worries that he was having setting up Motown.] It became a staple of their Hamburg set, and they performed at their failed Decca audition
as well. The mono and stereo versions are slightly different, because the stereo version has got
some extra guitar at the start, and there’s some hand clapping in the intro, which can’t be heard in the mono version.
Lead vocal John US - Capitol LP The Beatles' Second Album
Nils Lofgren – Anytime At All – Night Fades Away 1981
The Beatles – Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby (Carl Perkins) –
/LIVE BBC/ Beatles For Sale Recorded Oct. 18th 1964.
Originally recorded by its author Carl Perkins on his Teen Beat LP from 1958…the Teen Beat LP also contained two other songs that the Beatles
covered: “Matchbox” and “Honey Don’t”. Musicians:
George Harrison – lead vocal, lead guitar; Paul McCartney – bass guitar; John Lennon – acoustic guitar, tambourine; Ringo Starr – drums
This was based on an old 1950s hit by Carl Perkins (who based his on an old country-and-western ballad). The original lyrics were an ode to groupie sex, and much more risque than the Beatles’ version, which cut out all the references to balling and squaling. In order to compensate, though, they decided to raise the
original nineteen women knocking on my door to a much more impressive fifty! Lead vocal George
US - Capitol LP Beatles '65 Capitol EP 4-By the Beatles
Faces – Maybe I’m Amazed – LIVE
The Beatles – Memphis – Decca Tapes Jan. 1st 1962
1.59 BREAK
The Beatles – Rock’n’Roll Music (Chuck Berry) Beatles For Sale Recorded Oct. 18th 1964.
Chuck’s original single was released in Sept. of 1957 getting to the #8 spot on the US charts.
Including THREE people playing the SAME piano. John, Paul & George Martin. Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – bass guitar; George Harrison – acoustic guitar; Ringo Starr – drums; George Martin (with
John and Paul) – piano This only took one take. John, Paul and George Martin bashed out the intro on a single piano. You can hear John messing up the lyric at 2:19 where he sings It’s
oughta-got rock and roll music, instead of It’s gotta be rock and roll music. Lead vocal John
US - Capitol LP Beatles '65
Todd – Rain – Faithful
Paul McCartney – For You Blue - Concert For George ‘03
Al Green – Daytripper - LIVE
John Lennon – Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins) – Live Peace in
Toronto 1969 After being introduced by Kim Fowley, the semi-legendary L.A. “scenemaker,” John and band do some tuning, some pre-show
explanation of the ad-hoc nature of the group and set, and launch into a good version of Carl Perkin’s signature tune. They followed
Carl’s arrangement as opposed to Elvis
Wings – Lucille – LIVE Glasgow
2.34 BREAK
HR 3
The Dammed – HELP! flip of New rose
Produced by Nick Lowe 1976
The Beatles - Bad Boy (Williams) – Beatles VI / Collection of Oldies 1st time in UK Dec. 1966/ Past Masters
Recorded: 10 May 1965 Musicians:
John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar; Paul McCartney – bass guitar, electric piano; George Harrison – double-tracked lead guitar;
Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
Generation X – Gimme Some Truth - flip
1978 - "King Rocker" b/w "Gimme Some Truth" UK #11
Paul – Partial To Yer Abracadabra
The Cyrkle – Happy Just To Dance w/ You – Neon
The Beatles – You Really Got A Hold On Me (William “Smokey”
Robinson)-
With The Beatles Recorded June 18th 1963. Originally recorded by its authors group Smokey
Robinson & The Miracles, releases as a single in Nov. of 1962 reaching #8 in the US billboard charts.
Musicians: John Lennon – joint lead vocal, rhythm guitar; George Harrison – joint lead
vocal, lead guitar; Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar; Ringo Starr – drums; George Martin – piano
This was the first song recorded for With The Beatles. They did eleven takes in July, and had another go on the 17th October but it was crap, so they scrapped it.
Lead vocal John & George US - Capitol LP The Beatles' Second Album
2.14 BREAK
Bono w/ Secret Machines – I Am The Walrus – Across The Universe
Ringo – Love Me DO - Vertical Man
Black Keys – She Said She Said – The Big Come Up
Paul McCartney – Honey Hush (Turner) – Run Devil Run ‘99
Written by Big Joe Turner. Paul was more familiar with Johnny Burnette's version. Paul: "John and Stuart used to have a flat in Gambier Terrace. I
remember waking up, burning eyes job, and one of the guys put on 'Come into this house, stop all that yakety yak'. It's my favorite on the whole album to sing."
Breeders – Happiness Is A Warm Gun – Pod
George Harrison – Between The Devil And The Deep
Blue Sea - Brainwashed ‘02 Recorded in 1991 for British television, during sessions with Jools Holland and band. It allows the ever-playful George to play ukulele and sing and just have
fun with the great Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler standard
2.04 BREAK
Scott McCarl – Yes iT Is – Single
The Beatles – Kansas City / Hey Hey Hey Hey (Jerry Leiber / Mike
Stoller Richard Penniman) - Beatles For Sale Recorded Oct. 18th 1964
Originally recorded by KC Lovong i.e. Little Willie Littlefield who released it as a single on Dec 29th 1952 and was part of the Beatle live set in 1961 `62 and
again in `64. Musicians:
Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass guitar; John Lennon – backing vocal, rhythm guitar; George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar; Ringo Starr – drums;
George Martin – piano They only did two takes of this, and they issued the first one. (But you can hear the
second one on Anthology 2.) They picked it up when sharing a stage with Little Richard in 1962. The song has a long and complicated history, and started life as Leiber and Stoller’s K.C. Loving in ‘52. Richard changed it’s name to Kansas City and added the call-and-response finale in ‘55. Six months later he turned the call-
and-response bit into a completely new song, and released it as Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey on the back of his Good Golly Miss Molly. And one year after that he released Kansas
City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey as an A-side. Lead vocal Paul
US - Capitol LP Beatles VI
Beady Eye – Across The Universe – Single
Paul – All Things Must Pass- Concert For George