Customer Reviews

Lost Songs of Lennon & Mccartney

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What were once antiquated cast-offs come to vivid life in this odd collection of remakes of Lennon & McCartney songs.

This review is based on an advance copy from March, so if things have changed since the April 8th release date, sorry.

"Come & Get It"/Graham Parker - Given to Badfinger; written by McCartney, the Beatles' demo appears on "Beatles Anthology III." Parker gives it the edge its always needed.

"I'll Keep You Satisfied"/Bill Janovitz - A melodic rocker released Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (who were produced by George Martin) in 1963. It hit #30 when issued in the US in August 1964. Janovitz breaths life into it - it could actually be a hit single.

"Bad To Me"/Graham Parker - A very good remake of the 1963 UK hit by Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas. In the US, it was a hit B-side to "Little Children."

"From A Window"/Graham Parker - This 1964 contribution to Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, which did quite well in the US & UK, is a rather weak song in the new millenium, but Parker makes it worth the trip.

"I'm In Love"/Kate Pierson - Recorded by The Fourmost and produced by George Martin in 1963, I was surprised that Pierson could pull of a rather emotional remake of a very bland song.

"I'll Be On My Way"/Johnny Society - Performed by the Beatles on the BBC, but never recorded by them for an official release. Credited to "McCartney-Lennon," it was a UK hit for Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas in 1963. If this were the '60s we'd call Society's version "avante garde."

"It's For You"/Bill Janovitz - A Lennon-McCartney hit for Cilla Black in 1964. Typical of McCartney's cheesey side, this one could have been left in mothballs.

"Love Of The Loved"/Kate Pierson - Originally released by Cilla Black in 1963; among the Beatles' demos recorded for the Decca audition in January 1962, Pierson nails this and brings it into to the 21st century.

"Step Inside Love"/Kate Pierson - Written for Cilla Black by McCartney in 1968; it falls under the "Lennon-McCartney" publishing agreement, but is pure McCartney. I can imagine Pierson performing this one in Vegas.

"Hello Little Girl"/Bill Janovitz - Credited to "McCartney-Lennon" on the 1963 Martin-produced Fourmost release; among the Beatles' Decca audition session tracks. You just can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear on thisd one.

"Goodbye"/Bill Janovitz - Written for Mary Hopkin by McCartney (who also produced and played lead acoustic guitar and bass on the original; Janovitz keeps his version true to the song's genre:

"One And One Is Two"/Graham Parker - Originally recorded in 1964 by the Strangers With Mike Shannon, its never been a strong song - even McCartney's oft-bootlegged demo is a snore - but Parker has made it into quite the pleaser.

"A World Without Love"/Bill Janovitz - Peter & Gordon's first international hit, written by McCartney (who was dating Peter's sister, Jane Asher); published under the "Lennon-McCartney" credit. Janovitz does a good job, considering it's not easy to remake a smash.

"Woman"/Bill Janovitz - Peter & Gordon's 1966 smash hit, credited to Bernard Webb but written exclusively for them by McCartney. And here's proof that it's not easy to remake a smash. Last call for well drinks.

"Nobody I Know"/Kate Pierson - A 1964 Peter & Gordon release. An excellent remake of what was once a forgettable tune - McCartney writing in his "hootenanny" mode.

"Tip Of My Tongue"/Graham Parker - A 1963 UK hit for Pye Records artist Tommy Quickly, and, frankly, an awful song. Why Parker chose to remake it is a mystery (all the others were taken?) but he pulls it off! A phenomenal transformation!

"That Means A Lot"/Robin Zander - A 1965 lounge-lizard-style P.J. Proby single, produced by Ron Richards. The Beatles' more energetic demo - which apparently influenced Zander's version - appears on "Beatles Anthology II."

Now, there are some "lost" songs that remain untouched, so could there be a volume 2 in the works?

Additional Beatles "giveaway" songs of the '60s I'd like to hear updated:

"Penina"/Carlos Mendes - Credited to Paul McCartney and released in 1969.

"Thingumybob"/one of the first releases released on Apple in 1968, this instrumental was performed by The Black Dyke Mills Band. The only remake I've ever heard was George Martin's, for his boxed set in the '90s, and that was rather [bad].

"Cat Call"/released by The Chris Barber Band - Released by Barber in 1967, this instrumental had been titled "Catswalk" on a 1962 Beatles rehearsal tape.

"Love In The Open Air"/recorded by The George Martin Orchestra - Composed for the film "The Family Way" by McCartney; issued as a single in 1966.

"I Don't Want To See You Again"/originally recorded by Peter & Gordon - Released in 1964, this is a fairly catchy song, but didn't show much chart action.

I love Beatle cover records and I am a huge fan of the B-52's and Kate Pierson so I was really excited to hear about this release. As Beatles cover compilations go this one is above average. It is a really pleasant romp through some of the lost songs in the Lennon and McCartney catalog.

Kate Pierson singing "I'm In Love" sounds is very B-52ish. Bill Janovitz's take on "I'll Keep You Satisfied"lacks the pop sweetness of the Billy J. Kramer version which is the essence of this song's charm. "From A Window" by Graham Parker has an instrumental backing that sounds like the Hollie. This is one of the really great lost Lennon and McCartney songs.

"Step Inside Love" features Kate Pierson and Johnny Society with Kate also doing background vocals. This is fun but doesn't hold a candle to the Cilla Black version. "It's For You" by Bill Janovitz is one of the outstanding tracks on this CD. He sounds like Elvis Costello on this. "Bad To Me" performed by Graham Parker is fun. This is another one of the real gems among the lost songs but I prefer the Billy J. Kramer version.

"That Means A Lot" performed by Johnny Society and Robin Zander features a really strong vocal performance. This one of the real standout songs on this release.
On "Hello Little Girl" by Bill Janovitz he does the impossible: he takes one of the least memorable songs ever written by Lennon and McCartney and turns it into a gem. He does this as a new wave rave a la Elvis Costello and the Attractions in the early days when they were making listenable music. This is fun, snappy, and completely blows away the version by the Fourmost.

"Love of the Loved" by Kate Pierson has a jazzy instrumental backing, but lacks the essential sparkle of the Cilla Black version. "Tip Of My Tongue" by Graham Parker is given a reggae flavor. This would have been more fun if it had been done at snappier tempo. "Goodbye" by Bill Janovitz is one of the best songs that Lennon and McCartney gave away. This is a great performance of a great song.

"Come and Get It" was the most memorable song ever done by Badfinger. Graham Parker's version is fun, but doesn't come close to the Badfinger recording. "World Without Love" by Bill Janovitz has a bluesy feeling with a great harmonica instrumental break in the middle.

"One And One Is Two" by Graham Parker is an upbeat rocker.
I love Kate Pierson but her stripped down version of "Nobody I Know" just goes to show how turly brilliant the Peter and Gordon recording truly is. "Woman" by Bill Janovitz has a simple arrangement featuring a wonderful vocal.

"I'll Be On My Way" by Johnny Society is another great lost song. This is done Buddy Holly style and the arrangement is brilliant but I would have loved it if they had added a slide guitar break in the middle.

This is a really fun, solid release. I would highly recommend it to fans of Kate Pierson or Graham Parker and to collectors of Beatles covers. These songs are essential to any true collection of Beatles tunes but any one who doesn't have the original versions should seek them out.

David Hartman's review is BS, frankly. I listened to half these songs some 40 years ago. These versions are better. This album/CD kicks major ass. Nice going all

Being a huge fan of the great Graham Parker, I picked this CD up at my local Borders Books & Music yesterday. This is an amazing collection of very strong songs with great vocal treatments by Kate Pierson (B-52) & Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom) All of the seventeen tracks are very well produced, and do total justice to Lennon & McCartney in 2003. If you are 12-72 you will dig this great new CD release.

Any Beatles fan will appreciate this collection. It's a lot of fun to listen to Kate Pierson do "Step Inside Love" and her other contributions turn out to be the most fun of the bunch. But both Graham Parker and Bill Janovitz infuse great nuance to songs you may or may not have heard before. Throughout you hear the Lennon/McCartney melodies and songs that, although are considered throwaway Beatles tunes, represent very strong material that is better than 99% of what is out in today's music. Seriously consider picking this one up if you want to be pleasantly surprised. A true find that has been unfortunately ignored by Beatles fans. GP's rendition of "BAD TO ME" is amazing!

Wow! This album is fantastic! I think this album would make the Beatles proud. The vocals and musical production are top notch. All the songs are keepers, not a bad one in the bunch. Buy it.

Amazing CD! Any Beatles fan needs to own this one. Kate Pierson sounds fantastic on "Step Inside Love" The production is top notch. What a find!

This album was made for artists that are bigger than the usual charts ones.They love the songs they sing, there is a real feeling on these musics, and this album is a gift to us, people that love the Beatles legacy, as they prove in these songs they offer to us.Excelent artists, playing beautiful songs in a marvelous album.Indispensable, truly.I wish that records like this wouldn't be so rare.

It's hard to imagine how these `lost' songs could have been afforded more respectful or more imaginative treatment. Obviously the musicians on this album cared very deeply for their mission. This is a must-have adjunct to any Beatles collection. If you're making a CD-R set of the best of the material that John, Paul and even George gave away to other artists rather than record or finish recording themselves, you can easily fill more than half the first CD-R with tracks from this `Lost Songs' album. Sometimes they transform iffy material into classics such as `Step Inside Love' and `Hello Little Girl'. Bravo to everyone involved in this project, a job spectacularly well done and an honour to the the greatest songwriting team of the 20th century. Highest possible recommendation.

Whether you like the Beatles or not, in the hands of these performers, this collection of songs sounds as contemporary and maddeningly catchy as anything currently being caned by your fave radio station.

Each song is given the rocky-side-up work out it deserves. Some are adventurously re-imagined, transforming some of the more fluffy pop hits written by Lennon and McCartney for other acts, into surprisingly poignant gems.

Highly recommended....