It’s Friday already, which is my self-established deadline for the Beatles Rarity Of The Week, so here we go. It was on this day in 1958 that 15 year old George Harrison joined The Quarry Men. George had been watching the group and hanging around with them since February of that year and his friend Paul McCartney had already been in the band for over a year. Despite group leader John Lennon’s reluctance over George’s age, Paul insisted that George be “let in” because of his skill as a lead guitarist. George fit in well with the group over the following few years and not only played guitar but sang on many of their performances. It wasn’t established at this point that John and Paul would be the primary vocalists. When they had their big audition with Decca records on New Year’s Day 1962, George sang 4 of the 15 songs, and this week’s BROW was one of them. George was a big Buddy Holly fan and covered Buddy’s Crying, Waiting, Hoping with a vocal flare that equaled or exceeded any of the other performances at the audition. George’s overly cheerful guitar break also brings beaucoup happiness to my ears. Of course, Decca producer Mike Smith turned the band down at the audition saying that groups with guitars are on the way out.

Left to right: Paul McCartney, Pete Best (drummer at the time), George Harrison, John Lennon.

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