Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Gluttony and Some Set Lists

Early July, 1963

Pop Go the Beatles on BBC radio is a big success and a further run of 11 weeks is agreed to.  On July 2nd, the Beatles tape the first show of the second set, to be broadcast on July 16th.  Here's what they played:
  That's All Right, Mama (Elvis cover)
  There's a Place (L&M original)
  Carol (Chuck Berry cover - influence of the Stones and thinking "We can do that, too"?)
  Soldier of Love (Arthur Alexander cover)
  Lend Me Your Comb (Carl Perkins cover)
  Clarabella (Jodimars cover)
  Three Cool Cats (Coasters cover - not broadcast)
  Sweet Little Sixteen (Chuck Berry cover - not broadcast)
  Ask Me Why (L&M original - not broadcast)

The Beat Show, another BBC offering, record a Beatles performance at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester on July 3rd.
  From Me to You (L&M original)
  A Taste of Honey (Broadway show cover)

They haven't forgotten their roots as a great cover band.

Meanwhile back in London, Brian Epstein, trying to avoid looming overexposure, is beginning  to cancel some previously agreed to appearances on various BBC programs.  On the 4th, George Martin mixes the mono verion of "She Loves You" and the Beatles show up to check out the new competition, The Rolling Stones, in performance at The Scene, a club in Soho.

Then, on the 10th, in the morning, the Beatles record for another edition of Pop Go the Beatles.
  Sweet Little Sixteen
  A Taste of Honey
  Nothin' Shakin' But the Leaves on the Trees (Eddie Fontaine cover)
  Love Me Do (L&M original)
  Lonesome Tears in My Eyes (from Johnny Brunette and his Rock 'n Roll Trio)
  So How Come No One Loves Me (Everly Brothers cover)

Thank goodness the recordings have survived. You can hear lots of these on the Beatles Live at the BBC Recordings.

In the afternoon, they open a stint of six nights in one place, two shows each night.  The shows take place at the Aeolian  Hall in London.  (After the incessant travel, that must have been a huge relief.)
  Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry cover)
  Thank You Girl (L&M original)
  Chains (Goffin and Carol King cover)
  Please Please Me (L&M original)
  A Taste of Honey (Broadway)
  I Saw Her Standing There (L&M original)
  Baby, It's You (Motown cover)
  From Me to You (L&M original)
  Twist and Shout (the old Isley Brothers standby)

I love how they are keeping things interesting by resurrecting so many of their old mainstays.

On the 16th, they show up at BBC Paris Studio in London and record for three (count 'em) more episodes of Pop Go the Beatles to be broadcast in August.  Do you think these guys liked making music? They are gluttons for punishment!

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