Posted in: Rock by Alistair Briggs on January 8, 2010 | 40 Comments
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the vast majority of the Beatles songs, but what is less well known is that they both wrote a good number of songs for other artists also. Here we will take a look at some of the songs Lennon/McCartney penned and gave away to other artists.
This does not include cover versions by other bands, only songs that were truly given to other artists (although in some cases the Beatles did record their own version of it, but not for general release at the time).
(Paul McCartney)
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
This song was not released as a single by Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas. Instead they released the song ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’ as their debut song which was a song that was originally earmarked for the Beatles, who had no interest in (listen to the Beatles version on the Anthology album and you will hear how uninterested they sound about playing the song.)
(John Lennon)
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
This song was the second single by Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas which they managed to take to the top of the UK charts in late 1963.
(John Lennon)
The Fourmost
The second single by the Fourmost it peaked at number 17 in the UK charts and was released on the Parlaphone label.
(John Lennon)
The Fourmost
This was the Fourmost’s debut single and it was just another case of a song written by a Beatle being taken into the top 10 of the charts by someone else. This one peaked at number 9 in late 1963.
(Paul McCartney)
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas.
Another song written by a Beatle for Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, the success was almost guaranteed. Another top 10 hit in the UK, this one only reaching number 4.
(Lennon.McCartney)
The Rolling Stones
When the Rolling Stones released their debut album they had only written two songs on it. This song, written by a Beatle, was one of the covers on the album and became the Stones second single reaching number 12 in the charts in 1963. A year later the Beatles decided to record it for one of their albums.
(McCartney)
Tommy Quickly
Tommy Quickly was a label mate of the Beatles so it was no suprise that a song was written for him. However this sond, although being released as a single, failed to chart.
(McCartney)
Cilla Black
Cilla Black was another act who Brian Epstein managed, she latterly went on to have a glowing tv career but in the 60’s it was her music that brought fame. This song was her debut single, peaking at a rather lowl number 35 in the charts.
(McCartney)
Peter and Gordon
Peter Asher and Gordon Waller made up this duo who had some of their hits written by Paul McCartney. The link between them was that Peter Asher was the brother of McCartney’s then girlfriend, Jane Asher. The song was taken straight to the top of the charts in 1964.
(McCartney)
Mike Shannon and The Strangers
Arguably one of the lamest songs that have ever been written, let alone by one of the Beatles. This song did not chart at all in the UK or the US. One listen to it and it is easy to understand why.
(McCartney)
Peter and Gordon
Their second single release and the second written by a Beatle, this one did not do as well as the last one, peaking at number 10 in the summer of 1964.
(McCartney)
Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
In the summer of 1964 Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas released this song, it was their last top 10 hit and their second last release ever. Many people claim they only recieved their success in the first place by jumping on the Beatles bandwagon.
(McCartney)
Cilla Black
In the autumn of 1964 Cilla Black released her fourth single and her second Beatles penned one. This one managed to climb up to number 7 in the UK charts.
(McCartney)
The Applejacks
A song that was clearly never going to be a good Beatles song was nonetheless turned into a song of distinction by the Applejacks. They released it in the summer of 1964, peaking at number 20 in the UK charts.
(McCartney)
Peter and Gordon
Another song written by a Beatle and performed by Peter and Gordon, this song did not chart for them in the UK.
(Lennon/McCarteny)
PJ Proby
Listenting to the Beatles demo of this song on the Anthology album shows that it definetly had potential, so it is with some suprise that PJ Proby’s version was never a hit single.
(McCartney)
Peter and Gordon
Released without the writing credits of Lennon/McCartney on it (an attempt to see if it only sold well because of the names being on it), it reached number 28 in the UK charts. Not sure what that proves.
(McCartney)
The Chris Barber Band
An instrumental the Beatles occassionally played in Liverpool in 1960, it was polished up a bit and handed to Chris Barber to have a ‘hit’ with in 1967.
(McCartney)
Cilla Black
This song was demoed with Cilla Black singing and Paul McCartney playing acoustic guitar. When released as a single in 1968 it peaked at number 8 in the UK.
(McCartney)
The Black Dyke Mills Band
An early release on the Apple label, it was a song that McCartney had written for a brass band. Bizarre just doesn’t cover it.
(McCartney)
Badfinger
Beatles demo version of this song appeared on the Anthology album but it was given to Badfinger (another band on the Apple label) and became their debut hit in 1970, reaching number 4 in the UK charts.
(McCartney)
Carlos Mendes
Paul McCartney wrote this ’song’ while on holiday in Portugal in 1969, he gave it away to a local performer called Carlos Mendes. Not really much of a song to be honest.
So there you have it – the 22 songs that the Beatles gave away to other artists. (would have been 23 because Paul McCartney originally intended Let It Be to be sung by Aretha Franklin but kept it as a Beatles song. Although Franklin did cover it years later). Of the 22 songs 15 of them were hits in the UK although very few of them could ever be described as classic Lennon/McCartney songs.
If you liked this, check out the website: For all your music needs, CLICK HERE
ashleycollier April 24th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Hey great article, i love the beatles and i knew that lennon and Mccartney had wrote some songs for other people but i didn’t realise bad to me was one of Lennon’s i love that song! very interesting article
Glynis Smy April 24th, 2009 at 5:20 am
How interesting, there were only two I knew.
Betty Carew April 24th, 2009 at 5:20 am
Excellent article Alistair and very well researched . Great read
SZM April 24th, 2009 at 5:30 am
“I don’t want to see you again”.
Yes, Beatles is an inspiration for everyone.
Kate Smedley April 24th, 2009 at 5:50 am
I only knew one, I adore the Beatles, good article.
clay hurtubise April 24th, 2009 at 5:59 am
That shows how talentet=d they really were.
Thanks,
Clay
nobert soloria bermosa April 24th, 2009 at 7:55 am
i know some,it is really different if the rendition were done by the beatles themselves
R J Evans April 24th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Would have liked to see a few pictures of some of the acts whose faces I cannot remember, but otherwise this was an entertaining – and sometimes surprising article.
Blogged at http://www.webphemera.com – hope you don’t mind!
TJD April 24th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Great article! I’ve had the chance to hear most of these songs, all except Tip of My Tongue and Penina
Alistair Briggs April 24th, 2009 at 11:24 am
RJ Evans; the links to the videos were meant to be in this but never worked, it is in getting fixed right now so hopefully soon they will be there
C Jordan April 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Really interesting article Alistair. I found myself trying to remember some of those melodies.
iain April 24th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
interesting, but the Beatles aren’t really my thing considering I’m a teenager
Casey Kelley April 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Very cool Alistair. To the comment above, just because you are a teenager doesn’t mean you can’t love the beatles. I am head-over-heels for them and I am 19.
Juancav April 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Amazing unknown facts of the Beatles.
George W Whitehead April 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Well researched, well written article, Ali. For my money, 20 of these could have sunk without trace. I’ll just take the Stones and Badfinger, if you don’t mind!
Alina Beck April 24th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Great – I didn’t know about any of these!
papaleng April 24th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
great Beatles article. $ out of 22, how do you rate me friend.
Momma Tells April 24th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Hey, interesting article about the Beatles… I didn’t know all that before. Thanks,
My best to you,
Momma Tells
Mark Gordon Brown April 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
They still got money for them, as song writers, prior to that most pop stars had other people write their stuff. One of my favorite songs of all time was Ferry Across the Mersey (spelling?) which was a Lennon and McCarteny song.
I like it when people know music trivia.
Luffy12 April 24th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
^_^
JLEck April 25th, 2009 at 12:19 am
The Beatles gave the world many gifts. I believe you could do several more pieces with this subject. Good article!
Alistair Briggs April 25th, 2009 at 5:15 am
@ Mark Gordon Brown; ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ wasn’t a Lennon/McCartney song, it was written by Gerry Marsden (of Gerry and the Pacemakers). There is a couple of Beatles links to the song however. It was produced by George Martin (the Beatles main producer) and, in the 1980’s the song was re-released by ‘the Christians’ which included Paul McCartney playing bass on it.
postpunkpixie April 25th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Wow how generous of them! Although I guess they still got money from them. I guess there was a limit to the amount of stuff they could cram onto each LP!
Jo Oliver April 25th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
wonderful read, even for a non-Beatles fan
Denise Kawaii April 26th, 2009 at 1:25 am
I haven’t heard many of these songs, but I will look them up and check them out!
magicdarts April 28th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
fascinating, a few suprises in there!
tracy sardelli May 1st, 2009 at 4:36 am
Excellent article. Thank you.
jharmon May 17th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Fantastic article. I learned a lot, and I only recognized 5 or 6 of the songs.
Sandra A Flowers June 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
a fabulous article
Bernie July 6th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Hi man. Nice article. However, you mix facts a lot. You did not do any serious research regarding sources, and that’s a shame.
“I’ll Be On My Way” is not on the Anthologies, but on the Live At The BBC album, and “I Wanna Be Your Man” was not included on the Stones’ debut album neither in the US or the UK. Also, “Cat Call” was NEVER included in neither Anthology. Indeed, the Beatles version (recorded live at the Cavern) has yet to be officially released (it is a well known bootleg).
blessings,
Bernie
Alistair Briggs July 7th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Perhaps Bernie should pay more attention to what is being said:
This article doesn’t say that I’ll Be On My Way was on the Anthology album, it clearly says that the Beatles version of How Do You Do was on the Anthology album (which it was). Perhpas Bernie needs to pay more attention!!
I Wanna Be Your Man was 100% on the Stones debut album in the UK, I have it, and it is there. Perhaps Bernie is talking about the butchered version!!
And where Bernie gets any reference to the song CAT CALL being on ‘either’ Anthology is just bizarre seen as it doesn’t say that above in any way. Did Bernie just make that one up?
Brings up another point. What on Earth does he mean by ‘EITHER’ Anthology? Seen as there was 3 of them?!?!?!?!?
ODD.
David Crerand July 9th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Good article, I always like to be surprised with new information about things I thought I knew quite a bit about.
RS Wing July 13th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Awesome piece,I am a big Beatles fan and play a lot of Beatles song for just sheer pleasure, My favorite, which is hard to narrow down because they are so deep, is Rubber Soul and Norweigan Wood, really like the entirety of their work, and of course the white album…but have to agree with Mr. Whitehead, I’m a big stones and Queen fan as well as badfinger who are actually from Germany I think….Great music lovers piece, and by the way , your images and access to the recordings are a perfect example of good imagery to apply to your pieces…excellent choice, Awesome article. I will surely be back to your site, really cool arrangements of your material and will def enjoy. Great work Alistair!
Juancav October 7th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Rare thing to me,don´t sound too good .
BradONeill October 8th, 2009 at 12:58 am
wow that was interesting. It makes sense I think that Neil diamond has written a bunch of songs for other people also.
Carla Fiscina October 8th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Thank you for these amazing unknown facts about the Beatles. Unfortunately, most modern teenagers do not understand and even reject the music of the Beatles, but this is the music that will remain in art history forever, like Mozart or Stravinsky.
revivor October 10th, 2009 at 3:21 am
like a trip back down memory lane!! thanks alistair
Neil October 12th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
You\’re missing \”Goodbye,\” which Paul wrote for Mary Hopkin in 1969.
Dave December 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Good point Neil. Wonder why that wasn’t included on the orginal vinyl album, from which these tracks were all featured.
It’s For You and Step Inside Love are, for my money, two very well put together songs from the gifted McCartney.
Thanks for this article, and for gathering the youtube vids too!
Ron February 7th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I knew they gave away quite a few,but not this many.
It just goes to show you the immense talent and the
hugh body of work these 2 men left.They shin with
the brilliance of the sun & will never be forgotten.