Please consider registering
Guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
Suzy's parlour
31 October 2014
9.05pm
Avatar
void
A Beginning
Members
Forum Posts: 1
Member Since:
31 October 2014
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

One of the strangest phenomina in the Beatles’ music to me is the song “Suzy Parker” or “Suzy’s Parlour’. Obviously an ordinary Lennon 12 bar blues rock and rolling standard, yet so different and intense; puzzling as far as lyrics are concerned, concise yet powerfull. Again a basic source turned into a new musical expression.  Again the Lennon genius.  Again: The Beatles.

What strikes me most is that this jewel was created during the Twickenham sessions. 

What is this song? Where does it come from? Is there any background anywhere? As far as I know, nobody mentioned it in any interview or documentary or whatsoever.

I know that Suzy Parker was some sort of model in the sixties. 

But what do we know about its background?

The following people thank void for this post:

sir walter raleigh, Richard
19 May 2017
8.18pm
Avatar
sir walter raleigh
In our yellow (IN OUR YELLOW) submarine (SUBMARINE AHA!)
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5924
Member Since:
26 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I always assumed it was a cover, but it kind of has that Lennon craziness and silliness that shows up in Whats The New Mary Jane or Dig A Pony . I think it is a really good song.

Maybe this could have been a rock and roll song to add to a record earlier in their career, but this late in ends up as a complete throwaway. Its funny because it sticks out to me as a suberb 12 bar blues (not as good as For You Blue , perhaps that’s why it was scrapped) as well as a great sixties lyricism. Had this been an actual song I could see “Suzy’s Parlor” being used similarly “Go ask Alice” from White Rabbit. What exactly does it mean? Something to do with drugs or the Vietnam War? Maybe both? 

That’s how I see it. I actually came across this thread googling the song trying to see if it was another standard cover from the Let It Be rehearsals, only to find virtually no information on the song. 

The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:

William Shears Campbell, Beatlebug

"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl

19 May 2017
8.39pm
Avatar
Ron Nasty
Apple rooftop
Members

Reviewers
Forum Posts: 12534
Member Since:
17 December 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Suzy Parker was a famous American model of the ’50s and early ’60s, the first fashion model to earn $200 an hour and $100,000 a year.

Suzy-Parker.jpgImage Enlarger

She was a Muse to Richard Avedon who also photographed The Beatles.

The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:

sir walter raleigh, WeepingAtlasCedars, Beatlebug, Richard

"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty

To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966

19 May 2017
11.13pm
Avatar
Necko
Earth
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 8047
Member Since:
11 November 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

This song came up on my ipod once. My dad asked “What’s he singing? Suzie’s father?”

I'm Necko.  I'm like Ringo except I wear necklaces.

I'm also ewe2 on weekends.

Most likely to post things that make you go hmm... 2015, 2016, 2017. 

4 February 2019
7.29pm
Avatar
Richard
North of England
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5497
Member Since:
6 May 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

The song was formally copyrighted as “Suzy Parker” with songwriting credit to all four Beatles.

There is some interesting information about the song at the following link:
https://theymaybeparted.com/20…..nd-of-gig/

It’s a great song! Funny, upbeat, tight. And a little raunchy, even, representing a section of Suzy Parker’s home as a den of iniquity where everybody’s not only welcome to come but they get well done, too.

Yet as spontaneous as was the group’s mood, it feels very difficult to consider this song a one-off, impromptu jam. It’s simply too tight, too good, even if it is boilerplate John Lennon 12-bar blues.

But “Suzy Parker” is not necessarily from January 1969 either. The Beatles are in sync to a degree that seems to belie a completely ad-libbed performance, when we have much sloppier performances of other ad-libbed and established songs from these sessions for comparison.

And despite an endless library of film, tape and interviews of the band existing for the entirety of their careers, the Beatles’ career still holds lovely pockets of mystery like this song.

The following people thank Richard for this post:

sir walter raleigh, Von Bontee, WeepingAtlasCedars

And in the end

The love you take is equal to the love you make

 

uk-flag-v-small-3.png

7 February 2019
5.02pm
Avatar
meanmistermustard
Thankfully not where I am.
Moderator
Members

Reviewers


Moderators
Forum Posts: 25136
Member Since:
1 May 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

It’s a fabulous fun song of total nonsense but with plenty of great strong sexual inference. 

Give me this over ‘Teddy Boy ‘ any day. 

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

7 February 2019
6.49pm
Avatar
sir walter raleigh
In our yellow (IN OUR YELLOW) submarine (SUBMARINE AHA!)
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5924
Member Since:
26 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Sounds like a tinpan alley tune. I love it. 

"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"

-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"

-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl

9 February 2019
1.52pm
Avatar
Von Bontee
496 km NW of the '69 Toronto Rock n Roll Revival
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5586
Member Since:
14 December 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I don’t like this too much, myself, mostly because of John’s lead vocal – I’m not sure if he was trying to replicate a certain singer, or if he was maybe trying to sound hillbilly-ish or whatever…anyway, I just don’t care for the result. But who cares, it’s not as though any great thought was put into it. As far as we know. 

Regardless, I hope this song is made commercially available in 2020 as part of the Get Back /Let It Be audio/video reissue extravaganza!

Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.

         

6 January 2020
2.45pm
Avatar
meanmistermustard
Thankfully not where I am.
Moderator
Members

Reviewers


Moderators
Forum Posts: 25136
Member Since:
1 May 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Can anyone else hear Quagmire (he who is in ‘Family Guy’) sing this, especially the quick-fire backing ratatat vocal part?

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

6 January 2020
3.07pm
Avatar
vonbontee
Northern Ontario Inside Von Bontee's mind
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5584
Member Since:
1 December 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hmm yeah, I can see that. It seems like he’s done that kind of singing before, maybe, but I quit regular viewings several years back. As far as American animated TV family sitcoms go, I’m a “Bob’s Burgers” loyalist, myself.

Quagmire seems like he’d be a Beatles fan, and own the Beatles catalog on vinyl, and treasure it. apple01apple02

GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty. 

         offtopic-1.png

https://rateyourmusic.com/~Myo.....Von_Bontee

6 January 2020
3.39pm
Avatar
meanmistermustard
Thankfully not where I am.
Moderator
Members

Reviewers


Moderators
Forum Posts: 25136
Member Since:
1 May 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

vonbontee said
Hmm yeah, I can see that. It seems like he’s done that kind of singing before, maybe, but I quit regular viewings several years back. As far as American animated TV family sitcoms go, I’m a “Bob’s Burgers” loyalist, myself.

Quagmire seems like he’d be a Beatles fan, and own the Beatles catalog on vinyl, and treasure it. apple01apple02

  

The mid-seasons so from 3 to about 8 or 9 are watchable, the rest are dreadful. Kind of similar to ‘Red Dwarf’ (tho that’s from 3 to 6 with 8 being ok).

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

Forum Timezone: Europe/London
Most Users Ever Online: 2057
Currently Online: Jolly Jimmy
Guest(s) 174
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Starr Shine?: 16105
Ron Nasty: 12534
Zig: 9827
50yearslate: 8759
Necko: 8047
AppleScruffJunior: 7585
parlance: 7111
mr. Sun king coming together: 6394
Mr. Kite: 6147
trcanberra: 6064
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 88
Members: 2909
Moderators: 5
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 3
Forums: 44
Topics: 5552
Posts: 383578
Newest Members:
MiCaelasgt, collinsbm, tupaknows, lisajprgbub, Hello Poppet
Moderators: Joe: 5711, meanmistermustard: 25136, Ahhh Girl: 22606, Beatlebug: 18221, The Hole Got Fixed: 8410
Administrators: Joe: 5711