Air date – Jan.4th 2008
Show #17
Underground Garage
SIRIUS 25/ XM 59
BEATLE FIRSTS
HOUR 1
George Harrison – Ding Dong – Dark Horse
The last recording session of the band story.
The Beatles – I Me Mine - Let It Be
Recorded Jan. 3rd 1970
LAST Beatle recording session w/out John Lennon
"There is nothing that isn't part of the complete whole." - George Harrison on the Eastern religion belief system "I Me Mine" is based from
The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There Please Please Me
11th February 1963 along with 12 of the 14 tunes that day. Lead vocal Paul
1st Song on the 1st side….on the first LP…and the 1st track credited to (McCartney/Lennon) on a Beatles LP….
McCartney .8 Lennon .2
US - Meet The Beatles
1st side….
The Beatles – Ticket To Ride - HELP! MONO
Feb. 15th 1965
FIRST Beatle song OVER 3 minutes…(3.09) One song on Rubber Soul (You Won’t See Me 3;19) NO songs on Revolver over 3 minutes all changed w/ Sgt. Pepper
The Beatles - Get Back – Single/ Let It Be /Past Masters-
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 FIRST STEREO single in the USA
Paul 4th A-side in a row.
Only Beatles record to include an outside player Billy Preston on the label.
Get Back" was the original title to the film and album, which became "Let It Be". The whole idea of the album was for the band to 'get back' to their recording roots by playing live and without studio trickery, hence the title Lennon said in his Playboy interview that Get Back was a “better version of Lady Madonna…he added he thought there might be a few underlying references about Yoko in there like the part where Paul sez “Get back to where you once belonged” cuz every time he sang that line he looked directly at her”….
The single version was produced by George Martin.
The Beatles - Do You Want To Know A Secret – Please Please Me
Feb.11th 1963. George Harrison lead vocal
Written by John Lennon & given away to Billy J. Kramer and to George Harrison who sing lead vocal’s on, and inspired by a line from a Disney song his Mom used sing.
Lennon 1.00
US - Vee- Jay LP Introducing the Beatles
US – The Early Beatles
BREAK
The Beatles – All My Loving - With The Beatles
McCartney “ It was the first song I ever wrote where I had the words before the music” recorded July 30th 1963. Lead vocal Paul
McCartney 1.00
US - Capitol LP Meet the Beatles!
Paul McCartney – Another Day - Single
Paul's first solo single.
Credited to "Paul McCartney".
The single was recorded in January 1971 in New York with the New York Philharmonic and session men, Dave Spinozza and Hugh McCracken (guitars) and Denny Seiwell (drums), with Paul producing.
The Beatles – Don’t Bother Me - With The Beatles
The first UK LP to hit over 1 million sales
Harrison’s first recorded song recorded September 11th and 12th 1963
Lead vocal George
US - Capitol LP Meet the Beatles!
The Beatles – A Hard Days Night – AHDN
. A Beatle FIRST & LAST..The LP and SINGLE were #1 both the US & UK… Lead vocal John
Lennon 1.00
US - United Artists LP A Hard Day’s Night
Another FIRST & LAST AHDN was the ONLY Beatles LP to contain ONLY Lennon/McCartney penned tracks.
The Beatles – Revolution #1 – The Beatles
The FIRST track recorded for what would be known as The WHITE album.
Recording starting on 30th of May 1968
BREAK
The Beatles – Drive My Car - Rubber Soul
Recorded Oct. 13th 1965.
Lead off track to Rubber Soul on the UK version. This session was a first Beatles recording history to go past 12 Midnight…..! And the FIRST track on Rubber Soul UK
Lead vocal Paul
McCartney .7/ Lennon .3
US - Capitol LP Yesterday and Today
The Beatles - The Inner Light (Harrison) – Past Masters
Recorded: 12 January, 6/8 February 1968
flip of “Lady Madonna”
George’s first appearance as a songwriter on a Beatles single. No Beatles play on this track.
The Beatles- Tomorrow Never Knows – Revolver sessions
Recorded April 6th 1966 – FIRST TRACK RECORDED FOR REVOLVER
Originally titles “Mark I” . Was based on Timothy Leary and Richard Alperts’s The Psychedelic Experience, which was THEIR interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Each Beatle worked at home on creating strange sounds to add to the mix. Then they were added at different speeds sometime backwards…Paul got “arranging” credit.
Lead vocal John
Lennon 1.00
Rare mix on 1st pressing UK Mono
The Beatles - Revolution – Single/ Hey Jude / Past Masters
Recorded: 9/10/11/12 July 1968
flip of Hey Jude
John really wanted this to be the first Apple single but it was tough to beat out “Hey Jude”…but it still made for one of the best singles in pop music history.
The Beatles - Hey Jude –Single/ Hey Jude / Past Masters
Recorded: 29/30/31 July TRIDENT, 1 August 1968
The Beatles most successful single in their entire career. It was #1 for NINE weeks straight in the USA…(3 weeks in the UK)
Lennon: I always heard it as a song to me. When Paul say’s “go out and get her”…he meant go ahead leave me….
This was the FIRST record released on Apple Records.
RADIO SPOT
The Beatles – Love Me Do – Single
The Beatles FIRST single on Parlophone released Oct. 5th, 1962.
Recorded w/ 3 different drummers Pete Best (June `62 The Parlophone audition) & Andy White (Sept. 11 `62) and Ringo Starr (Sept. 4th ` 62)
* Fun fact John Lennon shoplifted the harmonica he played on the song from a shop in Holland.
McCartney .7/ Lennon .3
HOUR 2
The Beatles – What Goes On (Lennon/McCartney/ Starkey) - Rubber Soul
Recorded Nov. 4th 1965
Written mainly by John with Paul & Ringo writing the middle eight.
This was Ringo’s first writing credit on a Beatle record.
Rubber Soul was the first Beatles album NOT to have the name Beatles on the cover and another first… the FIRST LP to have compositions by ALL 4 FABS
Lennon .6 McCartney .2 Starr .2
US - Capitol LP Yesterday and Today
The Beatles – If I Needed Someone (Harrison) – Rubber Soul
Recorded Oct. 16th 1965
Part of the Beatles live shows in 1965 and `66.
US - Capitol LP Yesterday and Today
The Beatles – Wait - Rubber Soul
Recorded June 17th 1965 (HELP! sessions)
The last song recorded for the HELP! sessions and again the last song from the Rubber Soul sessions as another song were needed to round out the LP.
Paul sez in Barry Miles book Many Years From Now that he wrote it “mainly by himself…and that he can’t remember John contributing too much”
Lead vocals Paul & John
McCartney .8/ Lennon .2
The Beatles – Think For Yourself (Harrison) Rubber Soul
Recorded Nov. 8th 1965
One of George’s most underrated rockers featuring Paul on fuzz bass…
The Beatles – Run For Your Life – Rubber Soul
Recorded Oct. 12th 1965 (First Rubber Soul session)
Written 100 % by Mr. Lennon and stealing a bit from Arthur Gunter’s ‘Baby Let’s Play House’ the bits about “I’d rather see you dead little girl, than to be with another man” ….of course heard by The Beatles via Elvis Presley.
The Beatles - Day Tripper – Past Masters
Recorded: 16 October 1965
Rubber Soul sessions Oct. `65 – Yesterday & Today LP here in the US… The eleventh official EMI release.
The first official double "A" side release of “We Can Work It Out”
Inspired in part by John and George's first experience with acid, "Day Tripper" was written under pressure for use as a single for the Christmas season. John wrote most of the song, with Paul contributing to each of the verses
b/w
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out – Past Masters
Recorded: 20/29 October 1965
RELEASED AS A CHRISTMAS SINGLE ON DEC. 3RD 1965 AND IT KICKED OFF THE RUBBER SOUL SESSIONS IN OCT. 1965
Yesterday & Today in US / Collection of Oldies in UK
Written by Paul as a pleading song to Jane Asher, who had just moved away from London to join the theatre. It was the first such instance in their relationship, and one that contributed to their eventual breakup
Break
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band had a bunch of Beatles 1st associated with it:
First – Beatle album that was identical in both in The US and UK.
First Beatle album to print the lyrics
Released on the First of June `67
First album the band didn’t tour with….
First with songs OVER 3 mintutes!
The record is the first not to be banded into individual tracks, with hardly any gaps between songs. It was also the first to use the run-out groove, therefore leave the stylus on the record and it would chatter away endlessly
The FIRST & ONLY Beatles album to have The Rolling Stones on the cover! .
First Time the Beatle’s wore pajamas on the cover of an album… and it’s NOT Mal Evans on the back cover…as sometimes reported.
The Beatles – Lovely Rita - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recorded Feb. 23 1967
Paul heard that in America, parking – meter woman where called “meter aids” and thus….the tune.
Lead vocal Paul
McCartney 1.00
The Beatles – Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recorded Feb. 17th 1967
John swiping the lyrics from a Fairground poster from 1843… purchased during the filming of the “Penny Lane“ video… Featuring Paul on lead guitar and sez Paul a very co-written song. Lead vocals John
Lennon .6 / McCartney .4
The Beatles – Fixing A Hole - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
First Beatles recording session at a British studio other than Abbey Road. Recorded Feb. 9th at Regent Studios with over dubbing a few weeks later back at Abbey Road. The night the Beatles recorded “Fixing A Hole” a guy turned up at Paul McCartney’s who announced himself as Jesus…Paul of course took him to the studio to introduce Jesus the band…they never saw him again after that.
The song was said to have written while fixing his rook on his Scottish farmhouse hence the title….but Paul said in the book Many Years From Now that this was not true at all.
Long time Beatle assistant Mal Evans claims to have written the song but of course not credited…but was paid for his HELP!
The Beatles – Getting Better - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recorded March 9th 1967 in a somewhat classic evening of recording. John Lennon while doing back up vocals began to feel very ill, but more nervous than actually ill. They took him to the roof to get some air, (as they couldn’t go out the front doors of the studio as a ton of Apple Scuffs were their) and when he got to the roof John realized he must have taken some acid (forgot John?)…He watched the rest of the session and afterwards Paul took John home and took acid for the first time to comfort his pal.
Lead vocal Paul
McCartney .65 / Lennon .35
The Beatles – Within You Without You - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recorded March 17 1967
Written after a wonderful dinner at Klaus Voorman’s house in Hampstead London. Steven Stills dug the lyric’s so much he had them carved on a monument in his backyard. Only first & last George and Neil Aspinall play on this track from the Beatles camp. Lead vocal George.
BREAK
The Beatles- She Loves You (Lennon / McCartney) – single
July 1st 1963
The fourth official EMI release.
By the 3rd September this had sold half a million copies, and by 27th November it became the first Beatles record to sell One Million copies in Britain alone. It also achieved the rare feat of two separate spells at number 1.
The Beatles – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away - HELP!
Recorded Feb. 18th `65 in a quick afternoon session.
Interesting note: John’s original lyric was “I can’t go on feeling two foot tall “, but when singing it for Paul the first time he accidentally said, two foot “small”…Lennon then laughed and said “lets leave it…all those psudes will really love it.”
The first Beatle track to have an outside musician brought in to play an extra instrument, Johnnie Scott on Flute.
Final mix - take 9.
Lead vocal John
Lennon 1.00
US - Capitol LP HELP!
John Lennon – Instant Karma – Single
The First time Phil Spector worked w/ 2 Beatles.
His audition for Let It Be.
The Beatles - Ain’t She Sweet - 22nd June 1961
Paul McCartney – Ooh You – McCartney
First McCartney LP
BREAK
The Beatles - Don't Pass Me By - The Beatles
Recorded June1968
Orig, title “Some Kind of Friendly”.
First Ringo song on a Beatle LP.
HOUR 3
Ringo Starr – Night & Day – Sentimental Journey
Arranged by Chico O'Farrill.
Originally from the 1932 musical, "The Gay Divorcee" and sung by Fred Astaire and Claire Luce.
Ringo Starr – It Don’t Come Easy - Single
Ringo's FIRST solo single.
NOT from any album, this was Ringo's first solo single release. Ringo composed the song in 1970 and allegedly recorded three versions. Two versions of these three versions are said to have George on guitar and the other with Eric Clapton on guitar. The released version was recorded 8th March 1970 and featured George on guitar, with Klaus Voorman, Steven Stills, Ron Cattermole(brass) and Ringo on drums.
Ringo Starr – I’m the Greatest – RINGO
First time three Beatles played together on a track since 1970
Personnel :
Ringo - Lead vocals, drums
John Lennon - Piano, harmony vocal
George Harrison - Guitars
Klaus Voorman - Bass
Billy Preston - Organ
John Lennon – Whatever Gets You Through The Night – Walls & Bridges
John FIRST No. 1 single in both the US. John's seventh solo single.
The "A" side is credited to "John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band", and the "B" side is amusingly by "John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band/Little Big Horns and Booker Table and the Maitre D's" !
Whatever Gets You Thru The Night took it's title from a TV programme that Lennon had watched about alcoholism, it features Elton John on piano, organ and supplying backing vocals (along with others).
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. Lead vocal John
US - Capitol LP The Beatles' Second Album
George Harrison – My Sweet Lord – ATMP
George's first solo single, and incredibly, George is the first to have a number 1 as a solo Beatle.
George Harrison – This Song – 33 1/3
First single from his new label Dark Horse
The Beatles – Cry For A Shadow (Harrison/Lennon)
22 June 1961 - Recording session with Tony Sheridan, Beatles only instrumental. George on lead guitar, Paul on bass and backing vocals, John rhythm guitar, Pete Best on drums.
BREAK
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
The Beatles – Mean Mr. Mustard - Abbey Road
Recorded July 24th.
Written in India as we heard on the White LP demos from Esher.
When the band is playing it during the Let It Be sessions
Pam was then a Shirley.
Lennon 1.00
The Beatles – Her Majesty - Abbey Road
The Beatles – Polythene Pam - Abbey Road
Recorded July 25th w/ “She Came in Through The Bathroom Window “.
The only Beatles song inspired by a woman in New Jersey who dressed in polythene (but not jack boots or kilts). Written in India, demoed for the White LP.
Lennon 1.00
The Beatles – She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Abbey Road
Recorded July 25th 1969. Written while in NYC to announce Apple. Based on a true story about some Scruffs breaking into Paul house at St. John’s Wood. Paul wrote w/ Joe Cocker in mind…who later coved it as he did with most Beatle songs.
McCartney 1.00
The Beatles - The Ballad Of John And Yoko – Past Masters
Recorded April 14, 1969 by John 7 Paul only.
June 4, 1969 US
Released less than a month after Get Back (John needed an A- Side)
First STEREO single in the UK. Banned by the BBC and some US stations as well.
It was actually recorded during the beginning of the Abbey Road sessions.
The twentieth official EMI release.
The first Beatles stereo single, and therefore, the first NOT to be mixed for mono.
b/w
The Beatles - Old Brown Shoe (Harrison) – Past Masters
Recorded April 16th 1969 Abbey Road right before the Abbey Road sessions began, though some Abbey Road material was already laid down.
flip of Ballad of John & Yoko
June 4, 1969 US
The Beatles 1st STEREO single in the UK
Featuring Billy Preston on organ.
BREAK
John Lennon - Give Peace A Chance – Single
John's first solo single.
During a "bed-in" for peace in May 1969 John and Yoko wrote their FIRST joint composition, "Give Peace A Chance".
They were in room 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal but John decided to record it straight away, summoning for some 8-track recording equipment. The Andre Perry Studios installed what John required almost immediately and recording took place on June 1st with John and Yoko leading the gathered throng. These included, The Smothers Brothers, Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Murray the K, Petula Clark and a variety of others. John christened this motley crew the "Plastic Ono Band", a name which he continued to use on many recordings.
The B-side, written solely by Yoko was also recorded in the hotel room.
The Beatles - I Feel Fine – EP Million Sellers / Beatles 65 / Collection of Oldies `66 /Past Masters
Recorded: 18 October 1964
Single: Capitol 5327 (US)
November 23, 1964
Parlophone R 5200 (UK)
November 27, 1964
The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love – AHDN
A #1 in both the UK and US
Recorded Jan. 29th 1964 at Pathe’ Marconi Studio Paris.
Lead vocal Paul
McCartney .9 / Lennon .1
US - United Artists LP A Hard Day’s Night
Apple LP Hey Jude
The Beatles – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - Rubber Soul
Recorded Oct.12th 1965
The sitar being used for the first time on a Beatles song, though one was used on the intro to HELP!
Written mainly by John though Paul did help out a bit w/ the lyrics. Paul says that it was his idea that the house should burn down…Which is something I never knew …I always thought he just lit a fire in the fireplace…But in Barry Mikes book Many Years From Now, Paul says just that. It was revenge for having to sleep in the tub! See ya never know these things as a kid!
Bob Dylan did a bit of a parody of the song on his 1966 Blonde on Blonde LP. called “4th Time Around”.
Lead vocal John
Lennon .8 / McCartney .2
The Beatles – I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party - Beatles For Sale
September 29th, 1964
A personal favorite of John’s
Featuring George Harrison on his Gretsch Tennessean guitar.
Lennon 1.00
US - Capitol LP Beatles VI
Ringo Starr – You & Me Babe (G. Harrison/M. Evans) – RINGO 1973
MAL EVANS THIS WEEKEND 1976
Mal Evans dies in Los Angeles, in an unfortunate incident. In a drunken stupor, he had become uncontrollably violent. The recent divorce proceedings of his marriage may have contributed to his mental state. The Los Angeles Police shoots him in self defense.
