Trivia Series: Lennon-McCartney songs
In addition to writing songs for the Beatles, John and Paul gave some of their tunes to other recording artists. These questions will deal with Lennon-McCartney songs given to other artists that were also recorded by the Beatles.
What Lennon-McCartney song was first recorded and released by the Beatles as a single and two years later issued as a Paul McCartney-produced single by another artist? What was the name of the other artist?
“Yellow Submarine” was issued as a single by the Beatles on August 5, 1966. Two years later a brass band instrumental version of the song was issued as the B-side to the John Foster & Sons Ltd. Black Dyke Mills Band single “Thingumybob” in late August 1968 as one of Apple’s first four singles. Learn more about the Beatles version of the song on pages 63 – 64 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records and about the brass band version of the song on pages 18 -19 of “The Beatles on Apple Records” and page 342 of “The Beatles Solo on Apple Records.”
What Lennon-McCartney song was released as a single by a black British singer on the same day it was issued on the Beatles “Please Please Me” LP? Who was the singer who released the single and what other singer was the song originally written for?
“Misery” was issued as a single by Kenny Lynch on March 22, 1963. He was the first non-Beatle to record a Lennon-McCartney song. The single did not chart. John and Paul specifically wrote the song for Helen Shapiro, whose management turned down the song because they found it unsuitable for the 16-year-old star known for her upbeat hit single “Walking Back To Happiness.” Learn more about the song on page 132 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What Lennon-McCartney song, also recorded by the Beatles, was first issued as the B-side to Billy J. Kramer’s recording of the Lennon-McCartney song “Bad To Me”? Which Beatles sang lead on the song and where did the song first appear on a Beatles record in the U.S. and in the U.K.?
“I Call Your Name” first appeared as the B-side to Billy J. Kramer’s recording of “Bad To Me,” which topped the charts in the summer of 1963. John sang lead on the Beatles version of the song, which first appeared in the U.S. on the Capitol LP “The Beatles’ Second Album” on April 10, 1964, and in the U.K. on the “Long Tall Sally” EP in June, 1964. Learn more about the song on page 370 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What Lennon-McCartney song was recorded by a Brian Epstein-managed singer the day before the song was released on the Beatles “Please Please Me” LP on March 22, 1963? What was the name of the singer who recorded the song and which Beatle sang lead on the Beatles version of the song?
Billy J. Kramer recorded John and Paul’s “Do You Want To Know A Secret” on March 21, 1963. George sang lead on the Beatles version of the song. The Billy J. Kramer single peaked at number two, unable to get past the Beatles’ single “From Me To You.” Learn more about this song on page 134 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What song, also recorded by the Beatles, was written by John and Paul for an up-and-coming R&B band in need of a follow-up single to their debut cover of Chuck Berry’s “Come On”? What was the name of the band that recorded the song and which Beatle sang lead on the song on the Beatles version of the song?
John and Paul wrote “I Wanna Be Your Man” for the Rolling Stones. Ringo sang lead on the Beatles version of the song, which appeared on the “With The Beatles” LP and was frequently featured in concert as Ringo’s solo spot. Learn more about this song on page 152 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.