HR. 1 Plastic Ono Band – Cold Turkey Considered one of John’s “most disturbing songs,” it had to do with his battle with heroin addiction. The track includes Eric Clapton (guitar), Klaus Voormann (bass), Ringo Starr (drums) and Yoko (wind). The Beatles – Come Together - Abbey Road Recorded July 21st 1969 Borrowing more that a line from Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me”. Agreed to record 3 songs from the publishing Co. BIG SEVEN MUSIC on his R’n’R LP. SHOOT ME….One of John’s favorite Beatle tracks. Lennon 1.00 The Beatles - Don't Let Me Down – Single/Past Masters Recorded Jan. 28th 1969 Apple Studio’s Recorded Jan. 27th (LP) and single Jan. 28th 1969 Released as a single in UK April 11, 1969 And in the USA May 5th 1969. The Beatles 1st STEREO single in the USA flip of “Get Back”…John’s 3rd B-side in a row Written for Yoko Ono. BREAK The Beatles - Little Child – With The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Composed in about two hours just days before being recorded, “Little Child” was originally written for Ringo Starr to sing on The Beatles’ second album. When he passed, John and Paul penned a similar and simpler song for him to sing entitled “I Wanna Be Your Man.” John Lennon provides the lead vocal. Overdubs include John’s harmonica part and Paul on piano. The song was never performed in concert by The Beatles. Recorded September 11 and 12, and October 3, 1963. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP The Beatles - Hold Me Tight – With The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Initially recorded during the marathon “Please Please Me” session on February 11, 1963, the song was not chosen for inclusion on The Beatles’ debut album and the tape containing that day’s recording had been lost, recorded over or destroyed. On September 12, 1963, their fourth recording session for the “With The Beatles” LP, the song was started from scratch. “Hold Me Tight” had been written by Paul and John sometime in 1961 and the song was part of their set list from 1961 through 1963 during their Cavern Club and Hamburg club days. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP The Beatles - Money (That’s What I Want) – With The Beatles (Bradford-Gordy) Lead vocal: John Originally recorded by Barrett Strong and released as a single on Motown’s Tamla and Anna labels in 1959 and 1960 respectively, peaking at #23 in 1960. It was a part of The Beatles’ live repertoire from 1960 to 1964. On July 18, 1963, the group, with George Martin on piano, performed the song live in the studio -- vocals and all -- for six full takes, the final take being deemed the best. Although The Beatles involvement with the recorded track lasted this one day, George Martin continued to add overdubs and tinker with his piano part until the song was completed to his satisfaction on September 30, 1963. The Beatles - I Wanna Be Your Man – With The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Ringo When Ringo Starr rejected “Little Child,” the song John and Paul had written for him to sing on the band’s second album, they created a similar song, but one that would be easier for Ringo to sing and more in his vocal range. “I Wanna Be Your Man” would be Ringo’s vocal contribution to the “With The Beatles” LP, and was often performed at Beatles concerts. The day before the song was to be recorded John and Paul were walking along Charing Cross Road in London when passing in a taxi were Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Paul McCartney: “They shouted from the taxi and we yelled, ‘Hey, hey, give us a lift, give us a lift,’ and we bummed a lift off them. So there were the four of us sitting in a taxi and I think Mick said, ‘Hey we’re recording. Got any songs?’ And we said, ‘Aaaah, yes, sure, we got one. How about Ringo’s song? You could do it as a single.’” John and Paul were invited to the Rolling Stones’ rehearsal to audition their new, but still unfinished song. There Lennon told them, “If you guys really like the main part of the song, we’ll finish it for you right now,” and within minutes, they returned with the song finished on the spot. The Rolling Stones recorded the song and it became their first big British hit, peaking at number 12. The Beatles recorded their version of “I Wanna Be Your Man” the next day, September 11, 1963. The Hammond organ heard faintly in the mix is played by George Martin. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP The Beatles - All I’ve Got to Do – With The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Written entirely by John Lennon and introduced to the other Beatles at the session at which it was recorded, The Beatles never played the song again. Lennon has said this soulful ballad was his attempt at making a Smokey Robinson song. Recorded on September 11, 1963 in 14 takes with an overdub (presumably George’s introductory guitar chord) becoming “take 15” and the finished version. “All I’ve Got to Do” marked a rare instance in which John’s lead vocal was not double-tracked. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP The Beatles - Not A Second Time – With The Beatles (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Written in early September 1963 entirely by John Lennon in the style of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Recorded on September 11, 1963. Featuring George Martin on piano. The Capitol Records A&R staff thought so highly of this song that they chose it to close their “Meet The Beatles!” LP. On U.S. album: Meet The Beatles! - Capitol LP The Beatles - Every Little Thing - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John (with Paul on the choruses) Written primarily by Paul between August 31 and September 1, 1964 in Atlantic City during days off on the Beatles’ North American Tour. Recorded on September 29 and 30, 1964 in nine takes. Ringo makes his debut on timpani (the orchestral drum instrument), which appears only on the final take (Take 9) of the song. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP The Beatles - What You’re Doing - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: Paul Recorded in seven takes on October 26, 1964. The most problematic song in the sessions for ”Beatles For Sale.” The Beatles tried different arrangements over three days and finally hit upon one they liked on the last day of recording for the album. Written primarily by Paul between August 31 and September 1, 1964 in Atlantic City during days off on the Beatles’ North American Tour. Paul provides the double-tracked lead vocal. On U.S. album: Beatles VI - Capitol LP The Beatles - No Reply - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Recorded in eight takes on September 30, 1964. Written entirely by John Lennon. John and Paul had been giving away a treasure trove of original compositions to other artists to record and release because they felt the songs were too pop for Beatles records. John had planned to give “No Reply” to another Brian Epstein managed artist, Tommy Quickly, to record, but those plans were cancelled in early August 1964 when it was determined the group was going to be short of new material for their upcoming album. The song’s storyline was based somewhat on “Silhouettes,” a number three hit in the U.S. for the R&B group the Rays, which was later covered with great success by Herman’s Hermits. Lennon: “I had that image of walking down the street and seeing her silhouetted in the window and not answering the phone.” Includes some nice piano work from producer George Martin. On U.S. album: Beatles ‘65 - Capitol LP The Beatles – Oh Darling - Abbey Road April 20th 1969 Comments by the other Beatles in this year was always interesting…case in point…About “Oh Darling“ George sez…”It’s really just Paul singing by himself while we do a few things in the background which you can barley hear…but it’s mainly just him shouting”…and Mr. Lennon sez…“Oh Darling is a great one of Paul’s that he didn’t sing too well. I always thought that I could have done it better.” … Paul took a stab at singing the song once a day for a week straight, first thing in the morning to get the right “sound”…. should of just asked John. McCartney 1.00 BREAK The Beatles - Roll Over Beethoven – With The Beatles (Berry) Lead vocal: George Chuck Berry’s rock and roll standard was released as a single in May 1956 on Chess Records. It peaking at #29. A staple of The Beatles’ live show from the earliest days, Beatles fans will be surprised to learn that John Lennon was the lead singer of the song in those very early club days. In 1961 George Harrison took over lead vocals. “Roll Over Beethoven” was the opening song at The Beatles’ first concert in America, February 11, 1964 in Washington D.C., and opens Capitol’s “The Beatles’ Second Album,” released on April 10, 1964. On U.S. album: The Beatles’ Second Album - Capitol LP The Beatles - Eight Days A Week - Beatles For Sale (Lennon-McCartney) Lead vocal: John Recorded primarily on October 6, 1964. It is the first instance of the Beatles taking an unfinished idea into the studio and experimenting with different approaches to a song.