Written by: Trad. arr. Tony Sheridan
Recorded: 22 June 1961
Producer: Bert Kaempfert
Engineer: Karl Hinze
Released: 21 November 1995
Tony Sheridan: vocals, lead guitar
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Pete Best: drums
Available on:
Anthology 1
My Bonnie, The Beatles' first commercially-released record, featured English singer Tony Sheridan on lead vocals and was recorded in Hamburg in 1961.
The Beatles had performed with Sheridan at the Top Ten club in Hamburg. They came to the attention of German bandleader Bert Kaempfert, who suggested that they recorded some songs together.
The recording took place on 22 June 1961, on a converted stage at Hamburg's Friedrich-Ebert-Halle school. The group were the backing band for Sheridan, who took lead vocals, and together they recorded My Bonnie and The Saints, the latter a rocked-up version of When The Saints Go Marching In.
It's just Tony Sheridan singing, with us banging in the background. It's terrible. It could be anybody.
Anthology
My Bonnie had been chosen because of its popularity with Hamburg's sailors; it was part of The Beatles' live set for the same reason. The Love Me Tender-style introduction was sung by Sheridan in the song's traditional waltz arrangement, before a tempo- and key-change took the song into the realm of rock 'n' roll.
Following the recording, the group - minus Sheridan - recorded two songs of their own choosing: Ain't She Sweet and Cry For A Shadow.
My Bonnie was released as a single, with The Saints, on the b-side, in October 1961. Credited to Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers, it reached number five in the German singles chart. It was released in Britain on 5 January 1962, as Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.
We did a recording with Tony Sheridan, My Bonnie, for Bert Kaempfert, a band leader and producer. It was actually 'Tony Sheridan und die Beat Brothers'. They didn't like our name and said, 'Change to The Beat Brothers; this is more understandable for the German audience.' We went along with it - it was a record.
Anthology
In addition to being The Beatles' first commercially-released disc, My Bonnie played a more pivotal role in their fortunes: it brought them to the attention to Liverpool record shop owner Brian Epstein. A local fan named Raymond Jones is said to have requested the song in his NEMS store, setting events in motion which led to Epstein becoming The Beatles' manager.
A kid had gone into Brian's record store and asked for My Bonnie by The Beatles. Brian had said, 'No it's not, it's by Tony Sheridan,' and he ordered it. Then Brian heard that we were playing 200 yards away. So he came to the Cavern and the news got to us: 'Brian Epstein is in the audience - he might be a manager or a promoter. He is a grown-up, anyway.' It was Us and Grown-ups then.
Anthology
Lyrics
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
Yeah, bring back my Bonnie to me
Yeah, bring back, ah bring back
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Oh bring back, ah bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me
Well, my Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea
Yeah, my Bonnie lies over the ocean
Whoa, I said bring back my Bonnie to me
Yeah, bring back now, ah bring back
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Oh bring back, ah bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me
Related articles:
- Recording: My Bonnie
- The Saints
- Tony Sheridan
- The Beatles' first contract to be auctioned
- Ain't She Sweet
I never thought the backing vocals on this song sounded like any of the Beatles. Did Tony Sheridan overdub his own backing vocals?
You've got Tony Sheridan and George as both playing lead guitar. Is that correct? Did they both play the solo?
It's one or the other on the solo, though I think it's probably Tony Sheridan. The flourishes at the start are said to be Harrison. There are some little fills later on in the song which I presume are Harrison too. Anyone else know for sure?
The fills are by Harrison in the main , but the solo is Sheridan . At that time there was no way that the young George could have played that powerfull a solo , complete with jazz touches . The same way that he couldn't be playing " Cry For A Shadow " either , which obviously has 2 lead guitars plus Lennon on rythm .
I have the 45 of My Bonnie minus the record sleeve-Are there many of those left?