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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Welcome to this week’s BROW. As most of you know, over the years since the Beatles’ break-up, Ringo Starr has had a few compositions given to him by his former bandmates to pepper up his solo career. I came across this early take of I’m The Greatest in my collection this week and decided I’d share it. John Lennon wrote most of this song as early as 1970 but knew he could never get away with releasing a song with such a pompous title, yet it would be “great” for Ringo. Ringo’s well-known performance of it opens up his hit album in 1973 simply titled Ringo which also contains a few other tracks written or co-written by former Beatles: Photogragh (co-written with George), Sunshine Life For Me (written by George) and Six O’Clock (written by Paul & Linda). This version of I’m The Greatest was a rehearsal labeled take 1 and has a guide vocal by John. It was recorded sometime in early April 1973. It’s apparent that the words were not firmly established at this point and John was just improvising with new on-the-spot vocals as he often did, because the lyrics are quite different here. Enjoy.

Ringo album cover art, 1973

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? Then let me hear from you. Read about more Beatles rarities and suggest one for me to post. You can begin by searching for different versions of specific tracks right here.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Welcome to this week’s Beatles Rarity Of The Week. A couple weeks ago I featured a b-side by Ringo Starr and decided to do one this week too from the George Harrison catalog. This short little ditty was recorded near the end of the sessions for George’s Dark Horse album during September and October 1974. It was released not on the album, but only as the b-side to the supporting U.S. single Dark Horse on November 18, 1974. In the UK it was the b-side to the Ding Dong Ding Dong single from the same album. This track has not been on any official George Harrison album or CD.

George Harrison on tour, 1974

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? Then let me hear from you. Read about more Beatles rarities and suggest one for me to post. You can begin by searching for different versions of specific tracks right here.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Welcome to the weekend and to this weeks BROW. This recording was made on August 22, 1962 at one of The Beatles’ infamous Cavern Club gigs in Liverpool, only four days after Ringo Starr joined the band and less than two weeks before recording their first single Love Me Do. It was a Ritchie Barrett hit from the previous April and The Beatles covered it in their stage act often during this period as well as a few months later when they were guests on the BBC. Due to the subsequent rise of The Beatles’ popularity in the UK, the performance was televised in Britain the following November. The sound quality of this leaves much to be desired due to the acoustics of The Cavern and the prehistoric nature of the recording equipment. After all, it wasn’t recorded by anyone at EMI, just by some other guy.

The Beatles at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, UK in 1962

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? Then let me hear from you. Read about more Beatles rarities and suggest one for me to post. You can begin by searching for different versions of specific tracks right here.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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