Famous Beatles Outtake Songs

[Steve M.]

Most Beatles songs were released during the group's existence, but some weren't released until the Anthology series. Here's a list of Beatles songs recorded for intended places on albums but dropped. A couple of these songs actually did get out during the sixties, either as remakes or as remixes. So here we go!

Please Please Me LP:

"Hold Me Tight" - Originally recorded during the February 11, 1963 session that produced the Beatles's first album, it was dropped from Please Please Me and the tape was destroyed. The Beatles taped a remake for the next album.

"Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" - A cover of the Little Eva song was allegedly recorded on February 11, 1963, but there is no evidence or documentation of it.

A Hard Day's Night LP:

"You Know What To Do" - This George Harrison song is likely the intended fourteenth song for the Beatles's third album. The June 3, 1964 session for that fourteenth song was derailed by Ringo's sudden tonsilitis, so "You Know What To Do" was taped on this day as a demo only. A demo of "No Reply" was also taped, but it was strictly for Epstein recording artist Tommy Quickly and not intended for any immediate album. . . until Beatles For Sale. (Quickly in fact never recorded "No Reply.")

Beatles For Sale LP:

"Leave My Kitten Alone" - Recorded during the Beatles For Sale sessions, it was left out of the running when the master tape for the album was compiled.

Help! LP:

"If You've Got Trouble" - A song written for Ringo to sing, one take was recorded and it went no further. The Beatles realized it was a crappy song!

"That Means A Lot" - After several takes of this song, the Beatles gave up on it and gave it to pop singer P.J. Proby.

"Wait" - Recorded during the Help! sessions, it was shelved, then revived with overdubs and remixing for Rubber Soul.

Rubber Soul LP:

"12-Bar Original" - A stab at an original blues instrumental, the Beatles likely recorded it for a workout, as it never really was seriously intended for Rubber Soul.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP:

"Only a Northern Song" - George Harrison's composition was taped for Sgt. Pepper but left off the record. It was used for the Yellow Submarine film soundtrack and album.

Magical Mystery Tour EP:

"Shirley's Wild Accordion" - An instrumental produced by John Lennon for the Magical Mystery Tour film. It made it into the film but not on the soundtrack EP set.

The Beatles LP:

"What's The New Mary Jane" - A make-it-up-as-you-go piece by John, it was dropped from the White Album at the last minute. John tried but failed to put out the recording in 1969 as a Plastic Ono Band B-side.

"Not Guilty" - After 102 takes, George Harrison gave up on this song, remaking it with an acoustic arrangement (as opposed to the "Mr. Soul"-type arrangement for the White Album) for his self-titled 1979 solo album.

Let It Be LP:

"Mailman Bring Me No More Blues" - This was a Buddy Holly song covered during the Apple Studio sessions from January 1969.

"The Walk" - Another Let it Be cover outtake.

"Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle, and Roll / Blue Suede Shoes" - Recorded on January 26, 1969, and seen in the Let It Be film, it was not on the album.

"All Things Must Pass" - George's song was first debuted here before becoming the title song of his debut solo album.

"Teddy Boy" - A song offered up by Paul, it was eventually dropped. Paul re-recorded it for his debut solo LP.

"Oh! Darling" - First presented by Paul in the Let It Be sessions, it was remade for Abbey Road.

"She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" - Ditto.

(Actually, it would probably take a couple of weeks to account for all of the outtake songs from Let It Be, but those are the highlights. )

Abbey Road LP:

"Ain't She Sweet" - Casually recorded during the Abbey Road sessions, in a gentler style from the June 1961 recording with Pete Best, it was never seriously considered for inclusion on the Beatles's last album.

[musicradio77]

Here are are just a few songs that were Beatle outtakes. This one was from the "White Album":

1. "What's the New, Mary Jane?"
2. "Goodbye"
3. "Not Guilty"
4. Medley: "Step Inside Love"/"Los Paranoias"

These are the songs that they were recorded outside of the "White Album" but it was also included in "Anthology 3" and even in a number of Beatles bootlegs.

[Steve M.]

Originally Posted by musicradio77

Here are are just a few songs that were Beatle outtakes. This one was from the "White Album":

1. "What's the New, Mary Jane?"
2. "Goodbye"
3. "Not Guilty"
4. Medley: "Step Inside Love"/"Los Paranoias"

These are the songs that they were recorded outside of the "White Album" but it was also included in "Anthology 3" and even in a number of Beatles bootlegs.

Oh yeah. . . .

"Goodbye," which was given to Mary Hopkin, is not on Anthology 3 but is certainly somewhere on a bootleg.

[Penny Lane]

My very first Beatles album was Meet The Beatles. "Hold Me Tight" was on it. I am very familiar with it! I wore that album out!

[musicradio77]

Originally Posted by Steve M.

"Goodbye," which was given to Mary Hopkin, is not on Anthology 3 but is certainly somewhere on a bootleg.

That was from a bootleg album I have called "The OFF White Album". I have it on cassette. Paul McCartney sang it on a piano while he was rehearsing before the song was given to Mary Hopkin to record. That was not in "Anthology #3". Mary Hopkin was the only singer who had a one hit wonder called "Those Were the Days".

[Steve M.]

Originally Posted by musicradio77

That was from a bootleg album I have called "The OFF White Album". I have it on cassette. Paul McCartney sang it on a piano while he was rehearsing before the song was given to Mary Hopkin to record. That was not in "Anthology #3". Mary Hopkin was the only singer who had a one hit wonder called "Those Were the Days".

Not to be confused with the "All In the Family" theme song!

[Steve M.]

And of course, we can't forget the outtakes from sessions meant to produce singles only! (Most singles were recorded concurrently with LP's.)

"Love Me Do" single:

"How Do You Do It?" - A safe pop song given to the Beatles for their debut EMI single (not the follow-up to it, as had once been believed), this was the only occurence in which the group recorded the original version of a song composed by someone else. "How Do You Do It?", written by Mitch Murray, was an obvious number-one hit but the Beatles lobbied heavily for its rejection in favor of their own material. They won their case, and even though "Love Me Do" only got to number 17, they won the confidence of George Martin. And what of "How Do You Do It?" Gerry and the Pacemakers recorded it, using the Beatles's version as a demo, and had a number-one hit with it in the U.K. It didn't do too badly here, either. It was actually peppier than the Beatles's recording!

The Beatles's version was released on Anthology 1.

"Please Please Me" single:

"Tip of My Tongue" - Recorded as a possible B-side for "Please Please Me," it was rejected and given to follow Brian Epstein artist Tommy Quickly.

"From Me To You" single:

"The One After 909" - Recorded as a possible B-side to "From Me To You," the Beatles gave up on it after five takes, putting the song on ice until the Get Back/Let It Be sessions.

"Lady Madonna" single:

"Across the Universe" - John's mystical song, which included female backing vocals, was contention for the Beatles's spring 1968 single; "Lady Madonna" was chosen instead. The Beatles donated the recording to British comedian Spike Milligan's charity album for the World Widlife Fund album (which, despite the appearance of the Bee Gees, the Hollies and Lulu, and perhaps because of the appearance of names virtually unknown here - Milligan, fellow Goon Harry Secombe, Cilla Black, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Micky and Tich - was not released in the United States). George Martin mixed in wildlife sound effects for "Across The Universe." Three months after the album's release, Phil Spector produced a remixed version with the track slowed down, the sound effects and original bakcing vocals omitted, and a choir and orchestra added.

[Steve M.]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Let It Be LP:
"All Things Must Pass" - George's song was first debuted here before becoming the title song of his debut solo album.

Oops! Correction: "All Things Must Pass" was never recorded during the Let It Be sessions. George recorded it a month alter as a demo in Abbey Road.