The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations

1958 to 1961

Version 2
compiled by Joseph Brennan

The Quarrymen

THAT'LL BE THE DAY [private recording]

basic recording- 1958, Phillips Sound Recording Service, Liverpool
additional recording- none
master- mono disk

  • [a] mono recording. reprocessed 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

One disk was made of this and In Spite of All the Danger (see next entry), and shared among the Quarrymen. Pianist John Duff Lowe found it, forgotten, in a box of his old things in 1981, and it was purchased by Paul McCartney in July of that year. The beginning of this song was played on the BBC TV program "Buddy Holly", 12 Sept 1985, but was faded out under some narration by Paul; the portion was bootlegged many times. Mix [a] is believed to be the entire song, processed to remove noise.

The Quarrymen

IN SPITE OF ALL THE DANGER [private recording]

basic recording- 1958, Phillips Sound Recording Service, Liverpool
additional recording- none
master- mono disk

  • [a] mono recording. reprocessed and edited 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

This was the other side of the disk of That'll Be the Day (see above). For mix [a], about 40 seconds was edited out, removing a repeat of the second verse and middle eight, and it was processed to remove noise. No other version has been leaked.

[ amateur tape recordings ]

basic recording- probably Apr 1960 at Paul McCartney's home.
additional recording- none
master tape- mono
  • segment, Hallelujah, I love her so
    [a] mono recording. reprocessed 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

    Faded early, about half the length found on the known source.

  • segment, You'll be mine
    [a] mono recording. reprocessed 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

    This is complete, just seconds shorter than the known source.

  • segment, Cayenne
    [a] mono recording. reprocessed 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

    Edited and faded early, about half the length found on the known source.

These recordings come from a series of tapes made probably in April 1960 and known as the Quarrymen tapes. Surviving are a few copies of two source tapes, and of a compilation tape selected from those three and at least one more lost source tape. One song was played on German TV in 1966, and Philip Norman describes listening at least one of the tapes in his book "Shout!" (1981), but the contents did not circulate widely until many of the songs, including all three used above, appeared on the bootleg LP Liverpool May 1960 in 1987, and then more appeared on the 2-LP The Quarrymen at Home in 1988. Cayenne was mistitled "Thinking of linking" on the Liverpool May 1960 bootleg.

Paul purchased the compilation tape in 1995, which includes all three songs above and three more heard in part on the video Anthology. However, a source reported to "The 910" that the Anthology versions and the bootlegs share reverb that was not on the originals, as if the bootleg, which also has all six songs, was used as the source. The Anthology versions sound clearer than the bootleg, however.

Tony Sheridan

MY BONNIE [MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN]

basic recording- 22 Jun 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- none
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] (English intro) stereo 22 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 112 My Bonnie 1962.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985, Polydor (Germany) 840 556-2 Tony Sheridan vol. 3.

  • [a1] (English intro) mono made from [a] 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 24 673 "Twist" single 1962, Polydor 46 612 My Bonnie 1962, Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963.
    UK: Polydor 66 833 single 1962, Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963.
    US: Decca 31382 single 1962.

  • [a2] (no intro) stereo made from [a] 1964, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.

  • [a3] (no intro) mono made from [a2] 1964, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 52 273 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 52 273 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964.
    US: MGM K 13213 single 1964, MGM E 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

  • [a4] (no intro) mock stereo made from [a2] 1964, by MGM, USA.
    US: MGM SE 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

  • [a5] (English intro) stereo made from [a] 1995.
    CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

  • [b] (German intro) stereo 22 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 2 801 033 single 1978 CD: Polydor (Germany) 841 141-2 Tony Sheridan vol. 1.

  • [b1] (German intro) mono made from [b] 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 24 673 "Mein Herz ist bei dir nur" single 1961.
    France: Polydor 21 914 Mr Twist (EP) 1962, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.
    Sweden: Polydor 2 230 114 EP 1982.

This song comes with a slow introduction in English (32 seconds) or German (35 seconds) or with no introduction. The two intros are similar musically but slight differences show them to be different takes and not vocals dubbed on the same backing track.

The recollection of engineer Karl Hinze is that the Harburg recordings were made on a portable 2-track deck and mixed live to stereo. This means the mono mixes are all reductions of the stereo mixes, and not separate mixes as they are in the case of nearly all the EMI recordings. The mono and stereo versions therefore should not contain variations, and none has been found.

The order of recording of the eight songs is not known. The master tapes and documentation kept by Bert Kaempfert Produktion were lost in a fire, but the recording dates given to Polydor in 1961-1964 were copied from the now-lost Kaempfert files and should be correct. The first two days' work is shown only as 22 June. My Bonnie and The Saints first appeared in 1961, Why and Cry for a Shadow early in 1962 in France, Sweet Georgia Brown late in 1962, and the rest in 1964. Gottfridsson's book The Beatles: From Cavern to Star-club details the recording and releases.

Hinze refers to the loss of the slow intro to My Bonnie as an edit, which would mean the English intro is part of the recording and the German intro uses an edit piece. We know that the test pressing record the Beatles brought to England on July 2 had the English intro. But it still may be that both intros are edit pieces added to a recording of the song only.

Single 24 673 was issued in two versions but with the same number, the German intro in Oct 1961 and the English intro in Jan or Feb 1962. They have the same sleeve, except that the English intro version has the word "Twist" in a large box on the front, and the German intro version has the subtitle "(Mein Herz ist bei dir nur)" shown on the back and on the label. The "Twist" English intro was used for the UK and US singles in 1962, for Tony Sheridan's first album in 1962 (in mono and stereo), and again on an EP in 1963.

The German intro is much the rarer of the two, and was used again after 1961 only on a French EP and again on a 1964 French LP, after which it has been used only on special releases. It finally appeared in stereo on a 1978 German single, a limited pressing but at least for sale to the general public. The German lyric is by Bernd Bertie, whose name sometimes appears on labels for versions with the English intro or no intro-- a "variation" of sorts.

Starting with reissue singles of 1964, the no-intro version became standard on all releases. From 1978, the stereo English intro again became standard and is for example on the CD.

The modified mix [a5] for the Anthology has the English intro crossfaded with unrelated spoken word, obscuring the first line of the vocal, and an edit occurs at the end of the intro, after which the stereo image is reversed. The sound balance has also been altered, possibly to emphasize the Beatles' role, but the bass is less convincing. This was probably done at EMI, London. The reversal adds weight to the idea the intro is a separate edit piece, but EMI may have separated it from the body as they worked on the crossfade for Anthology.

Tony Sheridan

THE SAINTS [WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN]

basic recording- 22 Jun 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- none
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo, 22 Jun 1961.
    Germany: Polydor 237 112 My Bonnie 1962, Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 24 673 single 1961, Polydor 46 612 My Bonnie 1962, Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 273 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 66 833 single 1962, Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 273 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964.
    US: Decca 31382 single 1962, MGM K 13213 1964, MGM E 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.
    France: Polydor 21 914 Mr Twist (EP) 1962, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.

  • [a2] mock stereo made from [a1] 1964, by MGM, USA.
    US: MGM SE 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

Tony Sheridan

WHY (CAN'T YOU LOVE ME AGAIN)

basic recording- 22 Jun 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- none
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo 22 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1961, Germany.
    France: Polydor 21 914 Mr Twist (EP) 1962, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.
    Germany: Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 275 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 275 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964.
    US: MGM K 13213 single 1964, MGM E 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

  • [a2] mock stereo made from [a1] 1964, by MGM, USA.
    US: MGM SE 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

The little-known first release was on the French "Mr Twist" LP.

CRY FOR A SHADOW

basic recording- 22 Jun 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- none
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo 22 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 237 622 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985, Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1963?, Germany.
    France: Polydor 21 914 Mr Twist (EP) 1962, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.
    Germany: Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 275 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 21 610 (EP) My Bonnie 1963, Polydor 52 275 single 1964, Polydor 46 422 Let's do the Twist 1964.
    US: MGM K 13213 single 1964, MGM E 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

  • [a2] mock stereo made from [a1] 1964, by MGM, USA.
    US: MGM SE 4215 Beatles with Tony Sheridan 1964.

The stereo image was reversed for Anthology for no known reason, and the sound quality sounds slightly different.

As with Why, the little-known French EP "Mr Twist" was the first release, strange in this case since it was credited only to Tony Sheridan when he does not even play on it.

Tony Sheridan

NOBODY'S CHILD

basic recording- 22 June 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- none
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo 23 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1964?, Germany.
    France: Polydor 21 965 (EP) 1964, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.
    Germany: Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.

  • [a2] mono made from [a1] 1964, by Atlantic, USA. edited.
    US: Atco 6308 single 1964, Atco 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.

  • [a3] mock stereo made from [a2] 1964, by Atlantic, USA.
    US: Atco SD 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.

Gottfridsson did not find any original documentation at Polydor dating this song. The 1985 CD set puts it as 22 Jun.

Atlantic edited 58 seconds to bring [a2] to a still long (for 1964) 2:54, losing most of the second verse and, stranger, two guitar chords just at the end (but keeping the last bass note).

Polydor 52 906, a 1964 German Tony Sheridan single of Sweet George Brown, has a different recording of this song with just Tony solo, no bass and drums.

AIN'T SHE SWEET

basic recording- 22 June 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- 1964, USA
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo 24 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor (Japan) POCP-2306 Beatles Oldies 1994 [also POCP-9064 in 1996], Polydor (Germany) 840 556-2 Tony Sheridan, vol. 3.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1964?, Germany.
    France: Polydor 21 965 (EP) 1964, Polydor 45 900 Les Beatles 1964. Germany: Polydor 52 317 single 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 52 317 single 1964.

  • [b] mono based on [a1] 1964, by Atlantic, USA.
    US: Atco 6308 single 1964, Atco 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985, Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.

  • [b1] mock stereo made from [a2] 1964, by Atlantic, USA.
    US: Atco SD 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.

Atlantic's new mono master [b] is a mix of the original mono [a1] mix plus added drums. For reasons unknown, this [b] version went back to Polydor in Germany, and appeared years later on the standard CD release from Polydor Germany and then on Anthology 1 in 1995. Only a Japanese CD single (P1OP 30006) and album have it in stereo, and maybe they are using a tape sent there years ago. The stereo mix is easily identified, with John vocal left, rhythm guitar center, and lead guitar, bass and drums right.

One r.m.b. reader reports the original German pressing of the CD under the title "The Beatles' First" does have the song in stereo.

Tony Sheridan

TAKE OUT SOME INSURANCE ON ME

basic recording- 22 June 1961, Friedrich-Eberts-Halle, Hamburg-Harburg
additional recording- 1964, USA
master tape- 2 track

  • [a] stereo 24 Jun 1961, Germany.
    Germany: Polydor 237 632 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 236 201 Beatles First 1967.
    US: Polydor 244 504 Circa 1960 In the Beginning 1970.
    CD: Polydor 823 701-2 Early Tapes 1985.

  • [a1] mono made from [a] 1964?, Germany.
    France: 21 965 (EP) 1964, 45 900 Les Beatles 1964.
    Germany: 52 317 single 1964, Polydor 46 432 Beatles First 1964.
    UK: Polydor 52 317 single 1964.

  • [b] mono based on [a1] 1964, by Atlantic, USA. edited.
    US: Atco 6302 single 1964, Atco 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.

  • [b1] mock stereo made from [b] 1964, by Atlantic, USA.
    US: Atco SD 33-169 Ain't She Sweet 1964.

Atlantic's mix [b] is an edit of [a1] and mixed with new guitar, drums and harmonica. The edit removes "some goddam" from the line near the end where Tony sings "ooh some goddam insurance on me baby".

The title shown above is based on the earliest recording of the song, by Jimmy Reed. It was called "If you love me, baby" on the earliest Polydor pressings apparently because no one recognized the song, but changed after a short time to the almost correct "Take out some insurance on me, baby". Atco for some reason used "If you love me, baby".

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