Written by: Collins-Penniman
Recorded: 3, 7 September 1963
Producer: Bernie Andrews
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
Available on:
Live At The BBC
On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2
Personnel
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: rhythm guitar
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
The Beatles recorded Little Richard’s 1957 hit ‘Lucille’ twice for BBC radio.
The song was first released in February 1957, and became an international hit for Little Richard. It was co-written by blues musician Albert Collins.
The Beatles shared a bill with Little Richard at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey, on 12 October 1962, and again at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre on 28 October. He also performed alongside the group at Hamburg’s Star-Club in November 1962, during the group’s fourth trip to Germany.
We used to stand backstage at Hamburg’s Star-Club and watch Little Richard play. Or he used to sit and talk. He used to read from the Bible backstage and just to hear him talk we’d sit round and listen. It was Brian Epstein that brought him to Hamburg. I still love him and he’s one of the greatest.
The Beatles first recorded ‘Lucille’ on 3 September 1963, for the 14th edition of the Pop Go The Beatles radio show. The performance took place at the Aeolian Hall in London, and was first broadcast on 17 September. It was released in 2013 on the album On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2.
They performed it one more time for BBC radio, on 7 September 1963. This version, recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London for the Saturday Club programme, was first broadcast on 5 October, and was included on 1994’s Live At The BBC.
I could do Little Richard’s voice, which is a wild, hoarse, screaming thing, it’s like an out-of-body experience. You have to leave your current sensibilities and go about a foot above your head to sing it. You have to actually go outside yourself. It’s a funny little trick and when you find it, it’s very interesting. A lot of people were fans of Little Richard so I used to sing his stuff.
The Beatles recorded ‘Lucille’ twice during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in early 1969, at London’s Twickenham Film Studios. They played the song on 3 January, the second day of filmed rehearsals, and again four days later.
Paul McCartney recorded a solo version of the song in 1987, which was released the following year on Choba B CCCP.
Lyrics
Lucille, baby do your sister’s will
Lucille, baby do your sister’s will
Well you ran off and married
But I love you still
Lucille, baby satisfy my soul
Lucille, baby satisfy my soul
Well you know I love you baby
I’ll never let you go
Well I woke up this morning
Lucille was not in sight
I asked her friends about her
But all their lips were tight
Lucille, please come back where you belong
Well I’m talking to you baby
I’ll never do you wrong
Well Lucille, baby do your sister’s will
Ooh Lucille, yeah baby do your sister’s will
Well you ran off and married
But I love you still
I just heard the track on “Live at the BBC”, where the announcer introduces it as “Paul McCartney paying tribute to the Everlys” – hilarious!
,who had been on the program earlier and also covered the song. 🙂
Who plays the solo part? It doesn’t sound Harrison at all.
It certainly does for that time period.
It sounds very George circa early to mid-60s.
I’m pretty sure it’s John Lennon who plays the lead guitar solo on this one. Sounds pretty frantic, and George wouldn’t have utilized his guitar’s vibrato bar that much.
I’ve read detailed articles about the Beatles’ stage equipment, and from what I understand, when John changed the tailpiece on his ’58 Rickenbacker to a Bigsby, the vibrato (tremolo) arm sounded a little “off” when used, so maybe it is John playing lead guitar on this.
I definitely believe it is John on lead. Sounds so much like him. More frantic than George.