The Beatles

Live at the BBC - Line Notes

Writer: Kevin Howlett

 

From 1962 to 1965, the Beatles recorded a staggering 288 songs for the BBC. This album, compiled by executive producer George Martin, contains 56 songs, the best performances by the Beatles at the BBC. The 13 tracks of dialogue were added, according to Martin, to give one the feeling that they were listening to a radio broadcast.

Disc one:

  1. Beatle Greetings - This was part of the introduction for a BBC program called "The Public Ear" recorded on October 9, 1963.
  2. From Us to You - A slight adaptation of their third single, this was recorded February 28, 1964 and used for the theme for three subsequent programs. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  3. Riding on a Bus - Brian Matthew interviewing the Beatles November 17, 1964 on "Top Gear."
  4. I Got a Woman - This Ray Charles song was recorded for "Pop Goes The Beatles" on July 16, 1963. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  5. Too Much Monkey Business - Written by Chuck Berry, this song was recorded September 3, 1964 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  6. Keep Your Hands off My Baby - A Goffin/King composition, this song was recorded January 22, 1963 for the program "Saturday Club." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  7. I'll Be on My Way - The only known recording of this Lennon/McCartney song, recorded April 4, 1963. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  8. Young Blood - A song from the program "Pop Goes The Beatles" recorded June 1, 1963, this was the B-side of the Coasters' hit, "Searchin." (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  9. A Shot of Rhythm and Blues - Recorded August 1, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles" (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  10. Sure To Fall (In Love With You) - The first of four times the Beatles would record this Carl Perkins song for the BBC. This version was recorded June 1, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles" (Lead vocals: Lennon and McCartney)
  11. Some Other Guy - A live performance recorded June 19, 1963 for the program "Easy Beat." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  12. Thank You Girl - Recorded at the same performance as "Some Other Guy" also for "Easy Beat." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  13. Sha la la la la! - Introduction to "Baby It's You."
  14. Baby It's You - Recorded June 1, 1963 for the "Pop Goes The Beatles" program, this Shirelles song was included on the Beatles first album, Please Please Me. This BBC version was also released as a single in 1995. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  15. That's All Right (Mama) - Recorded July 2, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles", this was Elvis Presley's first single in America. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  16. Carol - A 1958 Chuck Berry song, this version was recorded July 2, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  17. Soldier of Love - A wonderful cover of Arthur Alexander's original version, this was recorded July 2, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  18. A Little Rhyme - Introduction to "Clarabella."
  19. Clarabella - Also recorded for "Pop Goes The Beatles" on July 2, 1963. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  20. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - Another cover of an Elvis song, this version is from "Pop Goes The Beatles" recorded July 16, 1963. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  21. Crying, Waiting, Hoping - Recorded by Buddy Holly right before his death, the Beatles recorded this version July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  22. Dear Wack! - Introduction to "You Really Got A Hold On Me."
  23. You Really Got a Hold on Me - Recorded July 30, 1963 for "Saturday Club", this Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' song was also recorded for With The Beatles. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  24. To Know Her is to Love Her - Recorded July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles", this song was written by Phil Spector, would would go on to produce the last album released by the Beatles, Let It Be. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  25. A Taste of Honey - From the program "Pop Goes The Beatles", this was recorded July 10, 1963 and also appeared on Please Please Me. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  26. Long Tall Sally - Another from "Pop Goes The Beatles" recorded, July 16, 1963, this Little Richard song was later released on the Beatles' "Long Tall Sally" EP. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  27. I Saw Her Standing There - In front of a live audience, this was recorded October 16, 1963 for the "Easy Beat" program. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  28. The Honeymoon Song - This song was recorded July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  29. Johnny B Goode - This Chuck Berry classic was recorded by the Beatles January 7, 1964 for "Saturday Club." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  30. Memphis, Tennessee - This Chuck Berry number was recorded July 10, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles."(Lead vocal: Lennon)
  31. Lucille - A Little Richard song recorded September 7, 1963 for "Saturday Club." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  32. Can't Buy Me Love - The current Lennon/McCartney single. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  33. From Fluff to You - Introduction to "Till There Was You"
  34. Till There Was You - Recorded February 28, 1964 for program entitled "From Us To You", this song was originally from The Music Man and was released on With The Beatles in 1963.

Disc two:

  1. Crinsk Dee Night - Introduction to "A Hard Day's Night."
  2. A Hard Day's Night - This version, recorded July 14, 1964 for the program "Top Gear", features an obvious edit of the piano part from the released version. (Lead vocals: Lennon and McCartney)
  3. Have a Banana! - Introduction to "I Wanna Be Your Man."
  4. I Wanna Be Your Man - Recorded February 28, 1964 for "From Us To You", this Lennon/McCartney song was given to The Rolling Stones for their first hit. (Lead vocal: Starr)
  5. Just a Rumour - Introduction to "Roll Over Beethoven."
  6. Roll Over Beethoven - This Chuck Berry song from With The Beatles was again recorded February 28, 1964 for "From Us To You." (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  7. All My Loving - A Lennon/McCartney song released on With The Beatles, this version was recorded February 28, 1964 for "From Us To You." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  8. Things We Said Today - Another Lennon/McCartney song recorded July 14, 1964 for "Top Gear", this song appeared on A Hard Day's Night (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  9. She's a Woman - Recorded November 17, 1964 for "Top Gear", this Lennon/McCartney song was originally the flip side of "I Feel Fine." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  10. Sweet Little Sixteen - Originally a Chuck Berry song, this was recorded July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  11. 1822! - A funny intro by John to "Lonesome Tears In My Eyes."
  12. Lonesome Tears in My Eyes - Recorded July 10, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles", this song was originally released by Johnny Burnette and his Rock 'n' Roll Trio in 1957. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  13. Nothin' Shakin' - This Eddie Fontaine number was recorded for "Pop Goes The Beatles" on July 10, 1963. (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  14. The Hippy Hippy Shake - Recorded July 10, 1963, again for "Pop Goes The Beatles", this song was written and recorded by Chan Romero in 1959. (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  15. Glad All Over - A 1957 Carl Perkins song, this version was recorded July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  16. I Just Don't Understand - Another "Pop Goes The Beatles song recorded July 16, 1963. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  17. So How Come (No One Loves Me) - An Everly Brothers song recorded July 10, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocals: Lennon and McCartney)
  18. I Feel Fine - With the feedback opening, this Lennon/McCartney song was recorded November 17, 1964 for the "Top Gear" program. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  19. I'm A Loser - Another Lennon/McCartney song from "Top Gear", this was also recorded November 17, 1964. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  20. Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby - A song also found on Beatles For Sale, this Carl Perkins song was recorded for "Saturday Club" on November 25, 1964. (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  21. Rock and Roll Music - The Beatles recorded this Chuck Berry song on November 25, 1964 for the "Saturday Club" program. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  22. Ticket to Ride - This Lennon/McCartney song from Help! was recorded for a special program entitled "The Beatles Invite You To Take A Ticket To Ride." The song was recorded May 26, 1965, the last BBC apperance by the Beatles. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  23. Dizzy Miss Lizzy - Also recorded May 26, 1965, this Larry Williams song is also found on Help! (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  24. Medley: Kansas City / Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey - Preceding the medley on Beatles For Sale, this version was recorded July 16, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  25. Set Fire to That Lot! - Introduction to "Matchbox."
  26. Matchbox - Ringo singing lead on this Carl Perkins song, recorded July 10, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Starr)
  27. I Forgot to Remember to Forget - This cover of the Elvis song was recorded May 1, 1964 for "From Us To You." (Lead vocal: Harrison)
  28. Love These Goon Shows! - Introduction to "I Got To Find My Baby."
  29. I Got to Find My Baby - The Chuck Berry song was recorded June 1, 1963 for "Pop Goes The Beatles." (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  30. Ooh! My Soul - The Beatles recorded this Little Richard number August 1, 1963 for "Pop Goes the Beatles." (Lead vocal: McCartney)
  31. Ooh! My Arms - Introduction to "Don't Ever Change."
  32. Don't Ever Change - Originally recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, this version was recorded for "Pop Goes The Beatles" August 1, 1963. (Lead vocals: Lennon, McCartney and Harrison)
  33. Slow Down - The only time the Beatles recorded this for the BBC was for "Pop Goes The Beatles" on July 16, 1963. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  34. Honey Don't - Recorded August 1, 1963, this version features John singing lead, unlike the Beatles For Sale version which features Ringo. (Lead vocal: Lennon)
  35. Love Me Do - This was recorded July 10, 1963, one of the nine times the Beatles recorded their first single for the BBC. (Lead vocals: Lennon and McCartney

 

  Available on:
(UK) Live at the BBC (1994)
(US) Live at the BBC (1994)