The Songs Lennon, McCartney and Harrison Gave Away

The Songs Lennon & McCartney Gave Away LP from 1979 on EMI.

“The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away” was a conceptual compilation album containing the original artist recordings of songs composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the 1960s that they had elected not to release as Beatles songs. The original album was released in the UK on EMI’s mid-price Music for Pleasure label in 1971. The album was reissued by EMI in 1979 with a 1973 Ringo Starr track added.

At least, that’s what Wikipedia says. However, I have not come across that earlier, 1971 release of the album, and can only find references to the 1979 LP on the internet. (Update: We found that album)

Earlier in 1979, the Swedish chapter of EMI released an album which dealt with the same subject, called “Northern Songs” (Cat. no. EMI 7C 038-06829). The album contained: “Bad to me”, “I’ll keep you satisfied”, “From a window” and “I’ll be on my way”, all by Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, “It’s for you”, “Love of the loved” and “Step inside love”, all by Cilla Black, “I don’t want to see you again”, “World without love”, “Nobody I know” and “Woman”, all by Peter & Gordon, “I’m in love” and “Hello little girl” by the Fourmost.

Northern Songs LP, EMI Sweden 1979

All the songs from the 14 track “Northern Songs” album were repeated on the 20 track “The Songs Lennon & McCartney Gave Away” later that same year.

“The Songs Lennon & McCartney Gave Away” LP was released in several countries, including the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan. The album has never been reissued as a CD, so here’s a project for you, Universal/iTunes!

Track list:

Side 1

1. Ringo Starr: I’m The Greatest

2. The Strangers With Mike Shannon: One & One Is Two

3. Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas: From A Window

4. Peter And Gordon: Nobody I Know

5. The Applejacks: Like Dreamers Do

6. Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas: I’ll Keep You Satisfied

7. Cilla Black: Love Of The Loved

8. Peter And Gordon: Woman

9. Tommy Quickly: Tip Of My Tongue

10. The Fourmost: I’m In Love

Side 2

1. The Fourmost: Hello Little Girl

2. P.J. Proby: That Means A Lot

3. Cilla Black: It’s For You

4. Carlos Mendes: Penina

5. Cilla Black: Step Inside Love

6. Peter & Gordon: World Without Love

7. Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas: Bad To Me

8. Peter And Gordon: I Don’t Want To See You Again

9. Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas: I’ll Be On My Way

10. The Chris Barber Band: Cat Call

It’s not a complete collection, since a few of the songs these composers gave away to other artists are missing (see below).

Here now is a collection of samples from “The Songs Lennon & McCartney Gave Away” compilation album and more, including some songs George Harrison gave away, plus the original versions played by the Beatles.

This is just to give an idea of how the songs written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison sound like, by the artists who recorded the songs.

If you want to listen the complete songs, you have to look for them yourself! Here are the titles and artists in order of appearance.

1. “I’m the Greatest” (John Lennon) · Ringo Starr · 1973

2. “One and One Is Two” · The Strangers with Mike Shannon · 1964

3. “Like Dreamers Do” · The Applejacks · 1964

4. “Tip of My Tongue” · Tommy Quickly · 1963

5. “Bad to Me” · Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas · 1963

6. “I’ll Be on My Way” (McCartney–Lennon) · Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas · 1963

7. “From a Window” · Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas · 1964

8. “I’ll Keep You Satisfied” · Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas · 1963

9. “I’m in Love” · The Fourmost · 1963

10. “I’m In Love” · Billy J Kramer · 1963

11. “Hello Little Girl” · The Fourmost · 1963

12. “Hello Little Girl” · Gerry and the Pacemakers

13. “That Means a Lot” · P.J. Proby · 1965

14. “It’s for You” · Cilla Black · 1964

15. “Love of the Loved” · Cilla Black · 1963

16. “Step Inside Love” · Cilla Black · 1968

17. “Penina” · Carlos Mendes · 1969

18. “Penina” · Jotta Herre · 1969

19. “I Don’t Want to See You Again” · Peter and Gordon · 1964

20. “Nobody I Know” · Peter and Gordon · 1964

21. “A World Without Love” · Peter and Gordon · 1964

22. “Woman” · Peter and Gordon (by Bernard Webb alias Paul McCartney) · 1966

23. “Catcall” · The Chris Barber Band · 1967

24. “Sour Milk Sea”(Harrison) · Jackie Lomax · 1968

25. “Goodbye” (McCartney) · Mary Hopkin · 1969

26. “Come And Get It” (McCartney) · Badfinger · 1969

27. “Badge” (Clapton/Harrison) · Cream · 1969

28. “My Dark Hour” · Steve Miller (Paul Ramon alias Paul McCartney:backing vocals, drums and bass guitar) · 1969

29. “Thingumybob” · Black Dyke Mills Band · 1968

30. “Thingumybob” · George Martin Orchestra · 1968

This collection is from songs the Beatles wrote for others but never recorded themselves with the purpose of releasing them for themselves. All of the Beatles’ performances here were unpublished until they appeared on bootlegs and Anthology albums.

From an idea of the Facebook page “The Beatles FanClub Italia”

Video edited by Sam Mecis Caria (AKA Area Musicale) for the Sgt.Pepper’s Channel (Weekly videos)