John Lennon Reviews the Singles of January 1964

[@YesterdaysPapers]

This Blind Date was published about three weeks before the Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

[@9thfloorchaos]

Really a 'calm before the storm' pop-culture wise in America at that point.

[@sableminer8133]

@@9thfloorchaos Was just about to say, this brief dorky era ( look the dude's wear they're bouffant hair that's popular now, 😳) but the music is so corny mostly Look at how they all play guitar like copy cats. Some things never change

[@sableminer8133]

*their

[@paulnolan4971]

@@sableminer8133 No good bands were really formed yet 😁

[@willminkorea2010]

Great dance song by Georgie Fame

[@64north20west]

The Beatles were all over those charts before they got to the USA. January 1964 - to have John Lennon reviewing hits is an incredible historical document.

[@paulcooper8818]

I expected John to be more prickly, but he was very fair in his assessments.

[@Monkforilla]

People think John was prickly just because he was honest , people hate to hear the truth

[@ginjazz2836]

This was before he turned into a prick

[@sratus]

​@@Monkforilla Sometimes he just talked bollocks.

[@harvey1954]

@@sratus Some times he played the guitar and some times he plays the fool.

[@sportmurphy6213]

Yet another brilliantly produced video. Lennon mentions vocal double-tracking, noticing James Burton's guitar solos, the quality of songs artists are given to record... a lot of the perspective that kept him successful, apart from his musical talent. And he does it all frankly, without trashing the other artists. These are such great glimpses into the mindsets of these performers.

[@JohnnybBaseball]

James Burton rocks, Bro Absolutely love him

[@jamesdavies5266]

Which one is burton?!

[@sportmurphy6213]

Burton played guitar on Ricky Nelson's records; Lennon mentioned something about looking forward to the guitar solo.

[@ignatiusjackson235]

James Burton is great, but I prefer Cliff Hetfield.

[@sportmurphy6213]

@@ignatiusjackson235I hear that, but nothing was ever as visonary as Tyler / Perry's "Dude Look Like a Lady"

[@robertmack7116]

Lennon was uncannily spot-on with his observations/comments! He knew what he was talking about.

[@RogerPeet]

This sort of thing is right up John's alley. He was always quick to decide and be honest.

[@alihart]

Lennon doesn't disappoint here. I thought he'd be a bit more chippy, but a good insight into his likes at this point

[@zyxwut321]

He had less to be chippy about at that point. The hurricane was just about ready to land. LOL

[@fede018]

He was always the more unfiltered of the four. The polar opposite of Paul.

[@Kieop]

@@fede018 George is probably the most unfiltered of the four with Ringo second. Paul was the most diplomatic and therefore arguably the most filtered, at least when it came to talking about individuals. He was far less filtered when making generalizations or talking about himself. He could be very unguarded and make rather controversial statements. John was usually more circumspect in his comments, so while he may seem unfiltered because of his irreverence and wit, he actually put more thought into what he was saying than Paul usually did. So I might actually rank John as most filtered. But Paul the least open or forthcoming.

[@grokeffer6226]

These were fair and honest assessments. I remember The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. I'd already been a fan. America was deluged with hit after hit from The Beatles. That was a truly great time for music.

[@hombre1965]

What a blessing to grow up hearing all their songs as they first came out. They had a sound nobody had heard before.

[@grokeffer6226]

@@hombre1965 I was a toddler when they were first getting radio play. They made a big impression.

[@caryheuchert]

I’ve always enjoyed hearing Lennon’s opinion about music and the world. He instinctively knew what he liked and didn’t like.

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

Doesn't everyone?

[@JoaoGabriel-lk9cv]

@@ThisBirdHasFlown actually, no…

[@DJ-bj8ku]

What I’m still impressed with is that John was 24 years old. He and Paul were much older than their years. Many seem to be surprised here by John’s diplomatic approach but every interview with him I’ve watched, he was thoughtful and mature.

[@blackmore4]

He was 23 here. He wouldn't be 24 until October '64.

[@frankieecanales8827]

23

[@DeeckyRizzo]

The Beatles, one way or another, had 9 top singles & albums on the chart that week! That's amazing: -I want to hold your hand. -She loves you. -I wanna be your man. -Twist and shout. -I'm in love. -The Beatles' hits EP. -The Beatles No. 1 EP. -All my loving. -I'll Keep you satisfied.

[@ustheserfs]

billy j kramer tune was written by the lennon/mccartney partnership as well

[@DeeckyRizzo]

@@ustheserfs Yes you are right, I don't know how I missed that one. Thanks. I will edit it.

[@WhatIsDeafIsDead76]

I wanna be your man by the Rolling Stones was also written by Lennon and McCartney

[@DeeckyRizzo]

@@WhatIsDeafIsDead76 Yep, I listed it.

[@WhatIsDeafIsDead76]

@@DeeckyRizzo you’re correct, I missed that entry 😅

[@jam6242]

He was a lot more diplomatic than I expected. Really gave some nice constructive criticism instead of just slamming the records he didn't like.

[@fede018]

He got more nasty when he had nothing to lose.

[@Monkforilla]

He was never one to slam others for no reason, he was just brutally honest, people do not like to hear the truth because it hurts

[@michaelcorreira8125]

Kinda Donald Trumpish . . .

[@lindadote]

@@Monkforilla ……exactly!

[@One.Zero.One101]

@@Monkforilla If you hear his interviews when he was with Yoko, they were definitely angry rants. He was bitter, unappreciative, arrogant.

[@Famulus9]

Interesting of John to praise Paul Jones’ harmonica playing, as Jones is widely considered one of the best harp players of the 60s and is currently the president of the National Harmonica League in the UK.

[@jonhillman871]

The fact that there is such a thing as a National Harmonica League is pretty badass.

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

@@jonhillman871 I've got season tickets!

[@Pudgyplumber]

I like how he noted that Ricky Nelson's songs usually have a good solo in the middle... courtesy of James Burton, of course.

[@BritInvLvr]

I’m glad JL liked the Georgie Fame song. Mr. Fame and The Blue Flames can do no wrong in my eyes and ears.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love Georgie Fame as well.

[@nigden1]

He's from Leigh, Lancashire, I'm from nearby.

[@bobtaylor170]

Yeh yeh.

[@mustuploadtoo7543]

Thank you for the Beatles upload! I asked for another one yesterday and I am pleased it happened! The Beatles, more than any other artist that did these discussions, gave the best responses as they were always innovating at a rate more than any other group so i find it curious to think of what they thought of groups that stuck to the norm. It makes my day when I see John, Paul or George review the singles of the month + I hope for more in the near future! 😊

[@sashamoghilla2919]

John Lennon & Yesterday's Papers both are beyond compare!

[@Banningburg]

"...way beyond compare!"

[@brianholihan5497]

I love his fertile mind. He could listen to any song and hear >10x more than most other people could.

[@SmartCookie2022]

"5-4-3-2-1" peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, which was obviously helped by its weekly exposure as the theme tune for the pop music television programme "Ready Steady Go!"

[@NewFalconerRecords]

It's a fun li'l tune. It really cooks.

[@TheTigersfan20]

Andy Partridge was listening to this when he got the the idea for "Senses Working Overtime"

[@tituslawoffice4778]

I love how all of the featured musicians here are so knowledgeable about even rather minor bands and artists.

[@drexlerjohn3822]

Love how the first song in the charts during that time, "5 4 3 2 1", is also the theme song of Ready Steady Go . I wasn't alive during those days but it never fails to make me feel nostalgic for some reason.

[@Sp33gan]

Honestly, with a few exceptions a decent group of singles, though I do generally agree with John. He's right in noting if Helen Shapiro had released a few more Beat style singles, she may have added a little more time to her career. Most likely, her choices in material were dictated by her producer, though. I love that he got a track from old mates Gerry and the Pacemakers. Before the fame, there were nights when the two bands would jump in on each other's stage shows and often party together after separate gigs. Very cool, too, John's recognition of the great Georgie Fame, who deserved a better showing in the charts. Thanks for this Lennon treat, YP!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, Fab Gear! Georgie Fame was a pretty big deal in Britain back then but he seems to be pretty much forgotten these days. That "Do the Dog" track was also on his "R&B At the Flamingo" album. I love that record, sounds raw and full of energy.

[@GreasyBelcher]

Said it before, this channel is underrated. Whoever puts this together does a great job on audio, visuals and the tracks at the end.

[@daveyvane]

What rating system do you refer to?

[@stephenwalker2924]

I think John was quite fair and surprisingly thoughtful and insightful here. The only thing he got wrong was deciding that 5-4-3-2-1 by Manfred Mann was not going to be a hit. It was a #5 smasharoony thanks to Ready Steady Go. I love it. It's got one of the best harmonica sounds in all of sixties pop thanks to Paul Jones and his dedication to authentic blues. But is it all about The Charge of the Light Brigade or is it all about The Trojan Wars? Don't know. It's all Greek to me and all the better for it.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

John was so young here. I wonder if he had any idea of the legend he would become. Great review and by Lennon standards quite polite 😂 I've always enjoyed Manfred Manns' music. Loving your outro as always, YP 💯💖

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, Sophie! I like Manfred Mann, too. They recorded some good singles in the 60s.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

@@YesterdaysPapers 😘💖

[@deirdre108]

I'm kinda embarrassed to admit that this was the first I'd ever hear of Helen Shapiro. I just listened to some of her music on YT and was amazed at how wonderful a voice she has. That rich, earthy, alto(?) is probably my favorite female voice and I'm going to go deeper and try to find out if she recorded any jazz standards. Thanks again YP for introducing me to an singer who I was not aware of!

[@soulfoodie1]

Helen Shapiro actually moved into Jazz and toured with Humphrey Lyttleton. Hope you manage to find some of these recordings

[@Schteve59]

Lennon and McCartney wrote Misery especially for Helen Shapiro but her producer considered it unsuitable so it went to Kenny Lynch who became the first artist to cover a L-M song.

[@paulhanson5164]

In early 1963 The Beatles were one of the support acts on a tour headlined by Helen Shapiro, for a while she was a huge star. She was only 14 or 15 years old when she became famous.

[@deirdre108]

@@soulfoodie1 I’m looking forward to try to find them. Thank you.

[@deirdre108]

@@Schteve59 interesting to know that about “Misery”. I had always thought that Peter Asher’s single of “World Without Love” was the first of a Beatle song that was covered.

[@Rushmore222]

In the Top 50 singles for Jan 1964, @06:27 is No. 34 At The Palace by Wilfred Brambell, who would later that year appear in "Hard Day's Night" as Paul's grandfather.

[@joshgoldstein3991]

Pretty much agree with everything John Lennon said. Wasn't overly critical and his reasons for liking or disliking something were actually very fair. Liked the Marty Wilde tune, but didn't think it would be a hit, didn't like the Ray Charles tune but essentially said it just wasn't his thing. If anyone could actually say what would and wouldn't be a hit in 1964, it would've been John Lennon.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed. He was wrong about the Manfred Mann song, though. That tune became a major hit.

[@mladen8127]

Your videos are consistently interesting and beautifully produced. Thank you and please keep them coming!

[@lindadote]

A fair and honest assessment from John. Interesting to see The Beatles so prominent in the Charts when they hadn’t yet played The Ed Sullivan Show. I only wish John could have been here to see the subsequent generations of youngsters getting into The Beatles’ music. Another excellent Blind Date YP, thank you.

[@mariuspoppFM]

At least he made it in time to see The Knack, Cars and Cheap Trick climbing up late 70s charts

[@lindadote]

@@mariuspoppFM ……I guess so. I don’t usually mourn the deaths of celebrities but I really miss John, he was special.

[@kamandi1362]

Few in Britain knew who Ed Sullivan was.

[@lindadote]

@@kamandi1362 …..I realise that. I just think it makes the band’s (considerable) chart presence all the more impressive. Once The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, everything really took off with “Beatlemania” which was quickly followed by music from all of the The British Invasion bands. Incidentally, I’m not American but I grew up with The Beatles and all the rest of the fabulous music. We didn’t even have television where I lived.

[@waynej2608]

@lindadote I miss him too. A guy like John comes around once in a lifetime, if you're lucky.

[@chasjohn57]

Very impressed that John knew a lot of the American singers

[@Banningburg]

They were on his juke box!

[@thehighllama8101]

Interesting that he mentioned Bobby Vee twice. Vee's early 60s material is very enjoyable. His songs had great production and engaging use of strings and double-tracking. Vee also had a good ear as far as the songs he decided to cover.

[@revrotunda3206]

Lennon’s assessments very nicely done without overtly critiquing. Most of these songs I’m not familiar with-never had any of those records so it would have been interesting to hear what he had to say about songs I had bought during that timeframe. Looks like many of these were on the English charts. Us kids weren’t buying Ray Charles for example although we obviously knew who he was & grew up to like his hits. And Ricky Nelson was before I started buying records in 1963 but I was never big on his music. I favored Lennon’s songs over McCartney’s so if I knew these songs, I would probably agree with him. I did agree with what he said about a ballad dragging as even his slower laments as in No Reply had a great step to that song. It’s a gem. It’s all subjective though.

[@stevepotocin9501]

Boy he nailed those!

[@97texascat]

Thanks for making these videos - such an interesting way to show the history of music

[@richsackett3423]

"The Bruisers don't sound like anyone... except Bobby Vee. The Gerry and the Pacemakers song really does sound like "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes".

[@jeffclement2468]

Wow. Rough time for anyone on the charts that wasn't The Beatles. I counted 4 Beatles records in top 20. Lennon sounds pretty savvy here (good taste)...but we knew that already. 😻✌

[@dwodo21]

What I find fascinating (aside from Lennon’s Blind Date) is the juxtaposition of Melody Maker’s chart at that time, with that of the U.S. Cashbox chart. What a wild difference in popular music pre-British invasion. …and the U.S. music-buying public’s affinity for goofy light novelty-type songs. I suppose historically, it was a dark time here…perhaps that was the reason. …and we were totally primed for what was coming next.

[@bobtaylor170]

Those first three or four years of the 60s were an odd time for the US charts. A lot of novelty songs, as you mention, but also terrific, unclassifiable things like "Sally, Go 'Round the Roses." How do you classify Barbara Lewis? A terrific talent, Motown - like, but not exactly Motown. All sorts of interesting things like "The End of the World," "Scotch 'n' Soda," "A House is Not A Home," and, of course, early Motown. Carole King's songs for a lot of people. "Watermelon Man." As I say, an interesting period, and underrated.

[@dwodo21]

@@bobtaylor170 Wow! Holy cow! Yes, indeed!! Just listened to "Sally, Go 'Round the Roses" (what an ambience!) and then Barbara Lewis' "Hello Stranger", an absolute classic. Thanks!

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@bobtaylor170 Barbara Lewis Hello Stranger is simply wonderful.

[@bobtaylor170]

@@dwodo21 , yeah, it's never made sense to me that rock critics wrote of the early 60s as a wasteland, a dead zone. I liked a lot of people from that period: Dion, Bobby Vee, Mary Wells. It was odd and eclectic. I mean, come on, recordings like "Big John." But there was a lot of great stuff, also.

[@bobtaylor170]

@@willieluncheonette5843 , isn't it? If I'm not mistaken, she made that when she was 17.

[@pcno2832]

4:48 I'd never heard of Lorne Gibson, so I looked up his obituary. Seems that from the time he heard Hank Williams on a jukebox, he was determined to do country music, but faced some barriers being from the UK. Paul, being more interested in the genre, might have liked this record better; the Beatles and the Lorne Gibson Trio did end up sitting in on each other's sessions at one point. PS: Yes, he took the name Lorne partly because of Bonanza and Gibson after the Guitar brand.

[@andykrykant5378]

Excellent! Keep them coming! Your work is much appreciated!

[@nigden1]

Great hearing Lennon's views here, I was 14 at the time.

[@richardbanker3910]

This series of videos gives fascinating perspectives of those on the beat scene turning reviewer. John is well up to standard and very fair and insightful.

[@jerrywatt6813]

I've gotta say I agree with John thanks YP ! FAB !

[@davidellis5141]

Marty Wilde was decent & passed along his talent to his daughter Kim who had an up & down career with more ups then downs. Singing about East California .. on Kids In America.

[@deirdre108]

Yeah, I remember when I first heard "Kids in America" when I was living in LA. We all laughed at the line about "East California", a term no one else had ever used.

[@PERFECTGINGERBASTARD]

Marty Wilde in the 70s when he was called Zappo with Rock and Roll Crazy.

[@neilfriedman]

Manfred was too fast and Ray was too slow, John seemed to be waiting for the Goldilocks beat😂

[@Monkforilla]

You gotta remember it’s all in the context of the songs , haha Goldilocks beat

[@paulmarsh8974]

The cheek of Lennon... What does he know about writing songs??

[@Mirokuofnite]

This was a good episode. The calm before the storm in America and in the UK it was in its transitional period. Neat to see Louie Louie and Surfin' Bird in the top ten in America. I would like to see a chart that has the top three songs from the same week but over the course of the 1960s to really see how music shifted. Like the third week of August.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

The storm was already raging in the UK and Europe before America

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Kind of thought he was being kind to some of those weak records. The Beatles made almost every singer or band here look old fashioned then.

[@michaelrochester48]

For some reason John Lennon is very much like Keith Richards in that any song that features James Burton was a song that he liked. Both Ricky Nelson and later on, Elvis Presley used a lot of James Burton on their records

[@joelake7986]

If Burton had played on nothing else besides Dale Hawkins' "Susie Q", he would STILL have been a legend to me.

[@Banningburg]

Wait, Keith Richards was featured on a Yesterday's Papers Blind Date? I'm gonna have to look that up!

[@michaelrochester48]

@@Banningburg Keith Richards has said in many interviews that he was not a Ricky Nelson fan nor an Elvis fan, he was a James Burton fan

[@jean-marcknight8816]

I feel less alone not being a fan of Georgia On My Mind now 😎 Charles was born to shake his tail feather She Loves You by Peter Sellers is a hell of a fun (as well as Can’t buy me love and a Hard day’s night)

[@goplad1]

It's interesting that the Dave Clark 5 "Glad All Over" kept "I Want To Hold Your Hand" out of the number one spot for at least a week. It's no wonder that Tottenham quintet was considered the the most viable threat to the Beatles popularity at that time. Didn't last long though did it?

[@waynej2608]

No, it did not.

[@lhcarter]

They had A LOT of hits.

[@stevelibby6852]

This is great content, the sort KZbin was made for. Well done.

[@katbela3971]

Love love love. I love ''She loves you''. For me, it is a wonderful song. I used to listen to it in my childhood, rediscovered it in my teens, and still love it today. It's funny to hear John slyly understate his own work when he say ''this isn't for my record collection''(1:13). He was like that, and I love it! I love his wacky personality. I love his way of being, ultra sincere, almost insulting. Thanks, Yesterday's Papers.😀😀😀

[@fshoaps]

John always loved to write his own stuff off.

[@akkor6835]

muy profesionales comentarios, no por casualidad fue tan prolífico en esos días.

[@oreally8605]

John & Paul such genius songwriters. I think when you're young ( Jam nod there) you write your best tunes. But for John & Paul that was the case all through the 60's and 70's. When you've reached the ceiling and broken through- outer space is all that's left..

[@goodiesguy]

The B-side of Marty Wilde's single is one of his best IMO, it shows that Lennon was correct when he said Marty could do beat material well, shame it wasn't the A-side, it could've been a hit.

[@xmillion1704]

The man was up to date on his pop culture, being able to identify so many of the artists, unlike the one I watched featuring David Gilmore.

[@frogface66]

That “ do the dog” cover looked pretty naughty lol.

[@BigSky1]

Good old John.

[@soulfoodie1]

Helen Shapiro had nothing but good things to say about touring with the Beatles. Amazing to think she was a pop veteran at the age of 16

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

One of the (many!) great things about these videos is the fascinating run through of the charts at the end. I think the Americans had the better ‘Top Ten’ that week, just for having the legendary Louie Louie by the Kingsmen at #1 & the equally mad/superb Surfin’ Bird by The Trashmen at #7!

[@deementia6796]

"Louie Louie" AND "Surfin Bird" in the US Top 10 at the same time? You could tell that the times were changing just a few weeks later!

[@EddieReischl]

Looking at the charts, it's too bad we didn't get to find out in his reviews if John had heard about the bird. I'd heard that everybody heard about the bird.

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

Lol underrated comment

[@waynej2608]

The bird is the word!

[@currawongs]

Takes me back to the days when I couldn’t wait for NME, Creem and Rolling Stone to appear at my local newsstand.

[@waynej2608]

And Crawdaddy.

[@davidbain701]

Well Jonh Lennon , just simply one of the great musical minds . Still music is one's own business .,So what ever gets you through the night ,everything has it right .

[@jfjoubertquebec]

3:21 GOAT album cover.

[@elrabeechum5180]

Love how McCartney later said he thought of Ray Charles ballads while working on ‘the Long and Winding Road’, and here John is saying how much he hates plodding Ray Charles ballads…

[@darwinblinks]

Don't think he dug it much when Paul did it either

[@elrabeechum5180]

@@darwinblinks Exactly lol. Shows why his bass-playing on that was so half-assed.

[@spurv]

"Imagine" was pretty dragging as well, but several years later of course.

[@elrabeechum5180]

@@spurv So true! ‘Mother’, ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘Imagine’ and plenty of other Lennon songs have that piano-ballad quality, so who knows….I ‘imagine’ he did enjoy doing a simple piano ballad, as long as HE had written it haha. Beyond that, I always wondered if the old McCartney-Lennon competitiveness was triggered after ‘Let It Be’ (the song) was such a huge success…did Lennon write his OWN ‘simple-yet-moving-showstopper-piano-song-about-the-hard-times’ in response? ‘Let It Be’ vs. ‘Imagine’…Probably not, but it’s a thought.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

Helen Shapiro was on an early tour of the Beatles and had a HUGE crush on John.

[@waynej2608]

Yep, you can see it in the way she looks at him.

[@fallenshallrise]

Every channel that features vinyl has the same record turning animation where somehow there is a lamp in the room circling around the record player at 33 1/3 RPM. In the real world the reflection from the light would stay in the same place only the grooves and label would move.

[@carmengiaa65]

Good old Ron Nasty, not pulling punches

[@waynej2608]

This was right around the time he wrote Out of Me Head, which would be published and be a best seller within a few months.

[@yuhgftp7925]

This is awesome thanks 🙏👌

[@KieroUnasBotasAGoGo]

John Lennon descubriendo a The Pirates, (? Pero les dió like, ahora entiendo por qué The Hollies y The Kinks estaban en un universo/dimensión paralela a The Beatles :D

[@JoaoGabriel-lk9cv]

How so?

[@theheartofablackbird2109]

So interesting hearing his perspective from this time...damn, he was harsh in such a good way.

[@johnfeer9609]

Apparently Georgie Fame is still performing, I wish John Lennon had time to review more chart-toppers, his opinions are inevitably interesting and drawn from experience.

[@stephendavis5530]

I was surprised that I hadn't heard of most of these groups as I consider myself pretty clued up on 60s music, but obviously not to the extent I thought. I was a bit disappointed on his opinion of 5-4-3-2-1 by The Manfreds. I'm sorry but I happen to like that one. He says he likes the harmonica at least. It was throwaway and catchy, but rather memorable. I think I first heard it on my uncle's Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder donkey's years ago!

[@ericwinnert]

I agree with him that Paul Jones is a great harmonica player.

[@terrythekittieful]

Be interesting to know if he reviewed any singles later in the 60's, say '67 onwards. I know he was very fond of 'Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procol Harum and 'Wonderboy' by the Kinks. He was spot on here with his verdicts,...nothing really good stood out, though I was surprised with his criticism of Ray Charles, it wasn't a nasty criticism but Ray's voice is always a standout.

[@miger1824]

I can't say I disagree with any of it, even now. John was respectful and honest about them all.

[@foxbasealpha]

Marty Wilde’s daughter has had more hits than all of the Beatles’ offspring combined.

[@sylvainguillemettte2800]

This isn't for my record collection but then, neither is She loves you really... but I want to hold your hand is! Brutal and honest as always.

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Lennon could have been the world's greatest A&R man.

[@barbarakirk3064]

Re: Millicent Martin's In The Summer Of His Years. I recall my mum telling me about the TW3 episode this was first featured on at the time of Kennedy's assassination and she said everyone was wearing black in the studio. I'm also thinking the Lee in the composing credits is Dave Lee of I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again fame.

[@wyliesmith4244]

One look at the American charts and it is OBVIOUS how desperately we needed the Beatles to make radio listenable. While 'Louie Louie' was good, it was so simple that it was the quintessential frat rock song that any band could play. And 'Surfin Bird' bordered on novelty, but at least it was rock. Shirley Ellis had the only 'Nitty Griity' song in the top ten. No wonder we all ate up Motown. Here in the US we missed on Johnny Kid and the Pirates completely and Manfred Mann only came to light with 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy.' I finally heard 'Cock a Hoop' and '5-4-3-2-1' on Manfred's albums - which were consistently better than 98% of the other long players. You reminded me of what I owe to the Beatles. Think I'll go to the altar and burn some incense.

[@francoispedro3694]

Really in the eye of the cyclone, here we have a song about Kennedy, and soon will come the time to watch the Ed Sullivan Show... Amazing time capsule...

[@stepheng8779]

Surprised he didn't know what 54321 was when it was the theme tune of Ready Steady Go, which The Beatles had been on.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

It became the RSG theme a few months later. Lennon reviewed this single the week it came out.

[@johnnypoker46]

I have to say I like 'I'm the One' best of these, maybe the Bruisers next (which I've never heard before)? On the chart, Dusty's 'I Only Want to Be With You' might be my favourite song ever, and 'Baby I Love You' by the Ronettes isn't far off. Cliff Richard strikes gold with 'Don't Talk to Him' too. 'Glad All Over' and 'She Loves You' are best of the rest, but I have a soft-ish spot for 'You Were Made for Me'

[@ricmcmix5203]

Nice work on The Honeycombs "Have I the Right" recorded and produced by the great Joe Meek

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@delbertstringbreaker7686]

Hmm, didn't get the Manfred's right, in spite of some very insightful comments on other artists - 5,4,3,2,1 got to Number 5 in the UK charts.

[@stephencurran5429]

What’s interesting is that John was on the panel of Jude box jury in 1963 were he gave is honest opinions on songs and did not hold back his comments

[@spurv]

Surprised how much focus John Lennon has on whether or not the song is a potential hit. Very hit focused. Yeah, I know. Beatles had a lot of hits. Maybe it was later in life, that John opened his mind a little.

[@johnpritchard5410]

spot on!

[@crisprtalk6963]

The Ray Charles critique surprised me.

[@karlsinclair9918]

Shoot, I love the pirates..never heard this one. Got that nice jagged gtr.. fabulous!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Love them, too. Mick Green was an amazing guitar player.

[@karlsinclair9918]

@@YesterdaysPapers oh, so much better a player than wilko Johnson, who got the acclaim, but at least gave mick his props. You can see the live 77, 78 stuff how sharp, frenetic and energetic ..and influential..his gtr style was. Really special.

[@igorb2908]

Yep!

[@RonMcKenzie-bw7iq]

I remember Millicent Martin and thinking what the hell is that noise.

[@BigBri550]

Love it! I agreed with John's assessment of everything but "Hang Up the Phone." It wasn't that bad.

[@MsAppassionata]

Aww. He didn’t like “For You” by Rick Nelson? 😢 That was the first single I ever bought. My record collection was populated by lots of Beatles songs shortly thereafter. I also disagree about Ray Charles, but that’s another story.

[@thedarkdescent2387]

I can’t believe he trashed in the summer of his years. Such a beautiful song

[@Monkforilla]

People have different tastes man , I’m not too fond of it either

[@thedarkdescent2387]

@@Monkforilla yeah I know, I just thought I’d anyone Lennon would dig a hippie folk song like that

[@Monkforilla]

@@thedarkdescent2387 lel

[@drutgat2]

I am incredibly interested in why John thought 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' was more of his kind of single than 'She Loves You', because 'She Loves You' is a much better written song, although I love both equally.

[@johnp515]

Yeah, I thought that was fascinating. It is backed up by some other comments the members have made. John, much later looked back on IWTHYH as one of his favourite early songs, and one he would love to remake and Paul has said that none of them were particularly fond of SLY. I think that despite changing the arrangement, John still probably thought of it as the crummy call and response song, which is how it started.

[@DaveintheD-p4s]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@barbarakirk3064]

For 'The Three Monics', see The Three Monarchs - a comedy trio from the 50s and 60s.

[@chriskroll4166]

John was being brutally honest as John always was. I was surprised on his comment about Ray Charles. I never heard of Ray Charles song I didn't love. But he is more selective. And it was funny how he said there was no James Burton guitar solo in the Ricky Nelson song but he was talking right through it. For a young guy he certainly knows his music. I can see why he got lots of hits because he was in tune with what was going on.

[@AcumbaWumba]

At around 1:45 ish, where did you find that footage of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. Big Pirates fan here, but I didnt think any footage of them survived before the reform in the 70’s. Thank you!!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

That footage was featured on a Wilko Johnson documentary called "The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson". If you dig Johnny Kidd, check out this mini-documentary I made about Johnny Kidd a few months ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaWaqYSkebyepJI