Beatle Recorded Songs That Were Never Released
The Beatles' as a rock band created so much material in a short period of time it was not uncommon for a completed song to simply fall into the background and forgot about. Sometimes, the song was in its first session take, other times, it was completed and slated to appear on an LP, but did not because a better song they liked was written.
The Beatles gem of a song never released but was slated to be released in 1964 was called, Leave My Kitten Alone. Written by Larry Williams, it was John's vocals that were a stand out. The Beatles did many of his songs, like, Dizzy Miss Lizzy (which did appear on the Beatles 65 LP). Leave My Kitten Alone really is a lost gem that simply got lost after its completion during the hectic time in a recording studio. The recording was lost and forgot about until 1994, when EMI found it in one of their vaults. It has become one of my favorites.
Shout is yet another gem lost. Again, a cover of the old late 50s hit, the Beatles simply vastly improved it with rock. Stand out vocals by all of them. The end of the song is simply a clash of guitars and drums. Their cover of this song has since been copied by anyone doing this song. This song sounds so cool at full volume!
How Do You Do it is a great example of a song not meant for the band. The song was given to them to do by Geroge Martin and Brian Epstein in 1963. Both thought it would give them their first #1 song. The band recorded it and later, John, rejected it stating he could write a better song. He did, Please, Please, Me, which was their first #1. How do you do it was then given to Gerry and the Pacemakers, it was their first #1 song also.
One After 909 was recorded and done in 1964. It was also to have appeared then on their LP. This version is nothing like the sappy version that appears on Let It Be\Get Back LP. This version is a real rocker but was plagued by Paul's tricky bass line that he had a problem with.
I'm In Love was really written by John in 1963. The band only created a rough recording of it. The song's potential was strong had they pursued it. Eventually, it was recorded by Billy Kramer and Dakotas, which gave them their only #1 song.
All Things Must Passby Harrison was recorded by the band in 1968 and slated to appear on the Get Back LP. It never did make it. The song, as done by the Beatles, remains WAY better than what Harrion released on his solo LP in 1970.
I Got a Woman, Soldier of Love, Don't Ever Change are all covers. The only recordings were done while they did a weekly BBC show in 1963. All quite good in their own way with stellar vocals from John and Paul. The Beatles were great because they were versatile, unlike most rock bands even today. They did many covers in their own way, and in almost every case, ended up being better than the original recording!
I'll Be On My Way was penned by them in 1963 and the only recording of the song as a band was done while playing it on the weekly BBC show. Paul wrote it and as usual, it had a catchy tune but like others, they wrote better songs and this was forgotten.
One and One is Two is another 1964 song Paul wrote and recorded in France. The recording is bare bones with a country like sound. Yet, even in this recording, it is clear the song has real potential. John did not like it, so hence, the problem. Very catchy melody.
There are many other songs they wrote, like, Peter and Gordon's, World Without Love and I Go to Pieces, both were #1 songs for them in 1965-66.