Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 1 January 1962
Producer: Mike Smith
Released: 21 November 1995
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: rhythm guitar
George Harrison: lead guitar
Pete Best: drums
Available on:
Anthology 1
One of Paul McCartney's earliest songs, Like Dreamers Do was written in 1957. It was the first song recorded by The Beatles during their audition for Decca Records on 1 January 1962.
The song had actually been performed by The Quarrymen as early as 1958, when McCartney and Lennon were still finding their way as songwriters. As The Beatles' popularity grew in Liverpool in the early 1960s, it was one of the original songs inserted into the group's set to see how it fared.
Like Dreamers Do was one of the very first songs I wrote and tried out at the Cavern. We did a weak arrangement but certain of the kids liked it because it was unique, none of the other groups did it. It was actually a bit of a joke to try your own songs... For you to write it yourself was a bit plonky, and the songs obviously weren't that great, but I felt we really had to break through that barrier because if we never tried our own songs we'd just never have the confidence to continue writing.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Like Dreamers Do was one of three Lennon-McCartney songs to be recorded by The Beatles at Decca. The others were Love Of The Loved and Hello Little Girl.
That's Paul. That was another one that he'd written as a teenager and sort of resurrected and polished up for later on. That's on the audition tape that we sent Decca which is around as a bootleg. I sing To Know Her Is To Love Her and Hello Little Girl and Paul sings Like Dreamers Do. I believe they're all on that.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
By the time they signed to EMI later in 1962, The Beatles had largely forgotten about Like Dreamers Do. It was, however, given to Birmingham group The Applejacks, who took it to number 20 in the UK singles chart in June 1964 - a time when anything written by Lennon-McCartney was likely to become a hit.
Related articles:
- Hello Little Girl
- Take Good Care Of My Baby
- Three Cool Cats
- The Beatles' audition for Decca Records
- The Sheik Of Araby
Roy Orbison was clearly a major influence on Paul at this point.
I just FINALLY hear this song on the Anthology I album and with all my heart I'd say, naively... This is BLOODY GOOD for an original song written while Paul was 15!
When I heard it the first time, I thought it was another one of those Rock n' Roll number that they covered and performed during the Clubbing days. When I learned that it is an original Lennon-McCartney, I was honestly astonished.
I know, some would say it's sucks, but I don't care - I LIKE IT!
Too right! Just to show what an amazing mind paul had already at such a young age! Oh to have a time machine......