Till There Was You - Decca Tapes, the Beatles

[@briandelion49]

Pete had no swing. He sounded like a freight train running through the song, with the band running alongside trying to hop aboard! Thank God they found Ringo.

[@someoned188]

fr fr, the best thing that happened to the beatles was ringo

[@janicekociol7702]

I agree. It was a race to the finish.

[@johnburns4017]

@@someoned188 Not really.

[@someoned188]

@@johnburns4017 yea for sure

[@johnburns4017]

@@someoned188 _"He was a genius. You could sit Pete Best on a drum kit and ask him to play for 19 hours and he'd put his head down and do it. He'd drum like a dream with real style and stamina all night long, and that really was The Beatles' sound, forget the guitars._ _I was amazed when they replaced him. I even thought about learning guitar so he could be the drummer in my band. The Beatles didn't hate Pete Best, but they didn't want to be outshone by their drummer. Ringo was a good drummer but he was more ordinary."_ -- Chris Curtis, drummer of _The Searchers._

[@The59thHooh]

You can tell Paul was a bit nervous, but even then sounds better than 90% of singers today.

[@george43harrison54]

True

[@dr40002]

George guitar was perfect

[@5tone_10]

it sounds so angelic I was wondering if this was really Paul

[@wrightchix]

Said to have been recorded in an unheated school gymnasium.

[@joeoconnor5400]

Pete Best wasn't wholly to blame for this audition.

[@n1night635]

I kinda prefer how George plays the chords in a strumming pattern instead of walking down the chords. And that second solo is wonderful. I don’t think anybody would complain if they kept the last part in.

[@Dannyfqe]

Simply beautiful

[@Helsinki40268]

Christ I’m not even that poor of a drummer, I’m glad we have ringo, everyone sounds utterly terrified without a good base of tempo, Paul sounds thin and George playing sounds like he’s shaking

[@societalrevival1218]

they were all nervous let’s be fair to Pete

[@johnburns4017]

@@societalrevival1218 Through the whole Decca tape Pete performed quite well considering they were half drunk and hung over, and also with screens isolating him from the others.

[@societalrevival1218]

@@johnburns4017 true

[@ramroshan417]

@@johnburns4017 what screens?

[@johnburns4017]

@@ramroshan417 Sound screens.

[@Y3AR1Y]

This version gives me a haunting feeling, I love it.

[@helenaferreira1235]

Poor George, no luck with Pete! Now I understand why he took a punch standing up for Ringo!!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@merlesalmorin4101]

+I just love this version too!

[@CaseyVan]

This was cut to acetate and given to EMI which ended up on George Martin's turntable. This was the flip side to 'Hello Little Girl'. This could have been crucial to their career.

[@killval849]

wait really? that's wild. It's interesting to know what may have been George Martin's initial first hearing.

[@chryssoraidy9838]

Damn, i didn't even notice the tempo mess, but i DID notice Paul being cherkie when he sings "there was mu-siKKK...". On the later release, he leaned heavily on the R sound at the end of "saw", which never entered into his normal pronunciation. So something going on there. 😂

[@maccamydear]

Paul still doing that with words ending with “g”. He says “Youngk” (instead of “young”), goingk (instead of going) a lot.

[@Sandra73159]

Paul sounds as Elvis here

[@LaMYsteriosa87]

Oh he does. 💛 🌷

[@WPM_in_ATL]

That makes sense. Elvis was the KING at the time of this demo. You are listening to four lads from Liverpool who had yet to find their voice.

[@oliverprince2100]

Awesome upload

[@sav7568]

This is one of the few Decca tracks on which Pete's drumming can be heard clearly. Not good. It's out of time and he makes no tempo changes driving the tune into monotony. Paul does a fine job for someone not used to studios.

[@aunch3]

Yea he sounds like an amateur for sure

[@aunch3]

It’s funny to think he’s made a ton of money throughout his life for his stint with the Beatles

[@sav7568]

@@aunch3 It wasn't a ton of money. He was only paid for his role on the Anthology album which was 1/4 of whatever the artist's royalties might have been.

[@TheGroovySideOftheTube]

You just have to A/B this song and compare it to the "Till There Was You (Live At The BBC For "Pop Go The Beatles" / 30th July, 1963)" version with Ringo on the traps... so much better.

[@GuajoloteGonzales]

Always when some stupid conspiracy theorist fan comes with the stupid "paul was envious of pete" or something like that, i must say that he clearly didn't heard the Decca tapes, Pete was a dreadful drummer, that's why he was fired and Ringo took his place.

[@xx_4x0l0tl_xx9]

I love the way Paul sang in this one. He did sound nervous but overall it sounded amazing. It felt like Pete Best was rushing a bit.

[@carlosanayamantilla7154]

Solo con oír esta canción tú sabes porque George Martin les dijo a John, Paul y George que necesitaban un nuevo baterista, pero uno de verdad. Las formas quizás no fueron las correctas al despedirlo, pero gracias a Dios lo hicieron sino la pérdida que hubiera experimentado el mundo hubiera sido irreparable.

[@ShaNaNa242]

This is the best version of this song in my opinion, but it's definitely more of a "granny" style. But I like old music, so.

[@my3952x]

i disagree. the 2/2 or 4/4 isnt the right beat. the drums seem to lag and disconnect off and on. the parlaphone version is really well-polished - great production with a perfect beat.

[@citeriorcf]

The Beatles is my favorite band ever but yeah, the performance here is not good. It’s clear they were nervous and probably a little hangover (it was recorded on January 1st).

[@raymondhartmeijer9300]

Yeah not a fair representation, they booked the session indeed on new years days, when it probably was cheaper, and they had to crank as much songs on there within an hour.. so no time to do something twice

[@eudesmoreira7891]

Beatles é uma união de 4 forças criativas... muitos pensam em Beatles como Lennon e McCartney, mas eles eram os melhores compositores, mas de longe o som dos Beatles é impulsionado por Harrison/Ringo. Essa versão de Till There Was You mostra como a bateria de Pete Best era "sem graça", Ringo trouxe vida para a música dos Beatles... e o talento de George era único, como são belos seus solos e sua guitarra... ele arrasa nesta canção.

[@chansonsfrancaises1503]

Pete best destroyed the decca audition

[@jasperchance3382]

Lucky us

[@c.syde65]

In a weird way, Pete Best joining them was a blessing in disguise. Because if he hadn't joined, they might not have had a reason for wanting Ringo Starr to join.

[@Satoshi9801]

Why couldn't Pete settle on a tempo?

[@markterrell4441]

I think that's becuase Pete Best is not keeping great time.

[@Satoshi9801]

@@markterrell4441 Yeah. Not that I could do any better if someone asked me to play the drums.

[@_-_Michael_-_]

He was mediocre drummer. That is one of the things mediocre drummers do. That separates them from the good ones.

[@c.syde65]

@@_-_Michael_-_ He actually thought he was a better drummer than Ringo Starr.

[@steveshattah]

What a great drummer.

[@carlosanayamantilla7154]

In your dreams obviously.......

[@steveshattah]

@@carlosanayamantilla7154 can you imagine what a Beatles stadium show would have been like with Pete on drums?

[@mickcarlon8147]

Irony in action.

[@marguskiis7711]

Sarcasm

[@Nozickfy]

Best not even can’t keep the tempo. Thanks God they fired him.

[@jamesduclos2545]

The only song from a Broadway show recorded by the band.

[@DaisyIsKing]

What about "A Taste Of Honey"?

[@aunch3]

Paul is definitely nervous here, over pronouncing his words (musickkkk!)

[@LaMYsteriosa87]

But he always did, even when speakinG. Part of the way he spoKe. 😊 I quite like unique traits like that which make us who we are. Billy has learnt and copied that trait quite well, to seem even more like Paul/get into character.

[@azypy]

BR?

[@Theparadoxband]

I can see why they sacked Pete

[@my3952x]

too monotonous. sometimes, he loses steam.

[@maxfrudd7666]

And no life, soul,drive...boring,like is personality too, sadly that's why he finally got the boot, bored of Pete and his Drumming, lovely man that he is,at least he got money rewards later on👍🥁

[@joestarr05]

1:28 "And there was muuuusiiiccc" That part though, kinda weird.

[@lifeisnice23]

Scouse accent at its best!

[@AaronEddieHYo]

There are a lot of Paul's

[@simonthompson9067]

In fairness to Pete Best the recording engineers on the session took away half of his drum kit because it was too loud but its not great drumming.

[@danielwarren3138]

Pete's drumming is absolutely awful, all he has to do is quarter notes on the hi hat and he can't even do that on time.

[@danielwarren3138]

Eighth notes not quarter lol

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@danielwarren3138 Actually it's correct this is a rather good Electric version.

[@TheIgnatzz]

And he speeds up.

[@marguskiis7711]

Best sounds hopeless, like some one off replacement guy from the crowd.

[@DannerPlace]

Pete's drumming is very pedestrian. George's guitar is wonderful, the kid was 19 years old. Paul was trying to be Elvis, LOL.

[@YeetTheSlavs]

It's good. Pete kinda fucced up the solo but I can forgive that

[@javierserrano9395]

estaban afónicos?

[@ivaneduardo1248]

Nerviosos xd

[@paulyoung9279]

A Roy Orbison tribute?!

[@UnknownPersonX39]

Pete Best was the best Beatles Drummer

[@joseespinozajurado9048]

Con razón a Pete lo mandaron alv.

[@weksheddweller]

As a drummer, pete Best's constant rushing and inconsistent beats is so triggering X_x

[@anthonimachadonaeletrica9247]

Secund song solo guitar george harrison

[@timtoner1411]

They weren't ready for the big time yet. Why were just doing covers. They sound like a garage band. They definitely needed work & a good producer.

[@societalrevival1218]

They weren’t garbage jus kinda nervous and not fully realized, but I get where you’re coming from

[@richardreffy4550]

I think Paul sings beautifully here. Difficult song

[@JorgeRojas-yy7ru]

Muy buena melodía muy buena ejecución de batería por parte del gran Pete Best que a mí parecer dicho sea con todo respeto mucho mejor baterista que Ringo STARR viva Pete best

[@Nozickfy]

La batería es una basura y una vergüenza. Ringo era el batería que necesitaban los Beatles,

[@linus82]

Opinión con una percepción de la realidad completamente alterada

[@johnwilson9483]

Quien canta??

[@johnwilson9483]

@@eugeneus_zeryou2952 Gracias

[@jaimeperezmoreno6561]

Paul

[@mamadordetravecos9254]

Ringo

[@victorherrera558]

Paquita

[@isaacdebroux-slone]

Pete😂

[@ngog17]

Oh dear, very nervous singing from Paul and awful drumming from Pete Best. Apparently Brian Epstein had chosed the songs that the group were to perform at The Decca audition but in hindsight he should have left that decision up to the group.

[@Slavatoremondo]

I like the fact that there’s no Ringo. I’ve never liked him as a drummer. He was not much better than Pete, but they were ulterior motives for removal. I feel personally. Not really because he wasn’t a good drummer 🥁

[@c.syde65]

Is that a joke? If Ringo Starr was half the drummer he was, he'd still be better than Pete Best.

[@Slavatoremondo]

@ well this is your opinion, and you are entitled to it.

[@c.syde65]

@@Slavatoremondo Even if Pete Best was as good as Ringo Starr, Ringo was still the final wheel of the car that the others were looking for. It wasn't just about the drums. But also the chemistry.

[@Slavatoremondo]

@ you are entitled to your opinion, sir I understand just as we all are, but we respect one another.

[@c.syde65]

@@Slavatoremondo True.

[@talrasha1985]

George faltered a bit in the first solo, but it was okay, Paul didn't sing well, but they really had potential, they were just nervous. If they were given one more chance, they would have done great job. But the drums are terrible..

[@geoffauldfield4664]

I love the Beatles, but this is just not very good. And that's fine, because it is a very early recording. But to say Paul's singing is better than singers today simply isn't true. He is struggling with the notes. He just about stays in tune but is weak on the high notes. George too is struggling. To reiterate: they are the greatest band, but this isn't it.

[@societalrevival1218]

I agree 100%

[@puckf17]

Yeah he's really weak. I find there's 2 camps, one that really loves Paul and one that really loves Billy.

[@themarioschannel7553]

The drum sound really out of the line

[@ruggerobelloni4743]

Paul too soft and Presley influenced, fake American accent on all the "er" words. Came into his own not much later. George has cold hands. Still a 50's sound at this audition and the Sheik and Besame mucho ,well.... Please please me in the near future Come on!

[@MillieJohnston-oo2ku]

Pete adds nothing to this song ringo played way better on it if they kept Pete in then I don’t think they would be there best the legends they are now

[@Charlie-hp2oh]

lousy old fashioned recording production : "now guys, dont play too loud, we want the voice in front". Surely they did not play like this on stage.

[@C.O.G.]

@Charlie-hp2oh, these were studio demo recordings, made when the Beatles were trying out a song to see how good it would sound. Their stage performances were so good. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3XbdJpno92IodEsi=jfTry3QJqksiOwEH

[@ramroshan417]

The guitar is not great here, is it?