Released by The Strangers with Mike Shannon in May 1964, ‘One And One Is Two’ was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon-McCartney.

That’s another of Paul’s bad attempts at writing a song.
John Lennon, 1980
All We Are Saying, David Sheff

A demo of ‘One And One Is Two’ was likely recorded in Paris in early 1964, with McCartney singing to an acoustic guitar and piano backing. It was recorded, at publisher Dick James’s request, at the George V Hotel during The Beatles’ residency at the Olympia Theatre.

‘One And One Is Two’ was originally intended for Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, who also recorded the Lennon-McCartney songs ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’ and ‘Bad To Me’, and ‘I’ll Keep You Satisfied’.

The song was also offered to The Fourmost before it eventually ended up with The Strangers with Mike Shannon. Clearly a lesser McCartney composition, the demo session reportedly contained Lennon exclaiming: “Billy J is finished when he gets this song”.

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