John Lennon Reviews the Singles of December 1964

Blind Date with the Beatles' John Lennon. John Lennon reviews the singles of December 1964.

[@guillermo3564]

You hear what people were listening to then and it's ridiculously easy to see how the Beatles took the world by storm.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Roy Orbison and Supremes are primo.

[@Sopmylo]

It's nice they caught John in a good mood =/

[@gfxd621]

This just goes to show how good the Beatles, Stones, and the kinks were all the music here has long been forgotten and their music still is loved and played today

[@thewkovacs316]

they play millie's xmas tune a lot in the uk during the xmas season

[@WELLRESPECTEDAPE]

Beatles, Stones and Kinks dominated the charts then.

[@tynebar]

People have forgotten Cliff, The Shads, Fats Domino, Shirley Bassey and Marvin Gaye??? Really?

[@thewkovacs316]

@sydmccreath4554 really....cuz i stream bbc radio during the holiday season and i have heard it. only way that i know it. they never play it in the states

[@thewkovacs316]

@sydmccreath4554 all of the uk went into deep mourning with millie passed.

[@harrysmusicroom]

"His mom should be proud though" 🤣🤣

[@Weyjx]

Lol so John

[@ovalvox7888]

“Take it off” is the best part of these. 😂

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

"Drop dead" is up there too.

[@paulgoldstein2569]

@@daveconleyportfolio5192 Or with the sake of the old crooners there, RETIRE.

[@Doc_Tar]

Is "mother would be proud of him" the Liverpool equivalent to the Southern "bless his heart?" John certainly knew what he liked and didn't.

[@patgalvez4563]

polite dissing..lol

[@vaseofflowers4619]

Pretty much. Although it is used in other places up north.

[@paulgoldstein2569]

John should have said their GRANDMOTHER would be pleased with them, to imply even more that these particular then-new singles were only for the old grannies, not for the mass market which by then was dominated by the younger generation.

[@lindadote]

It’s a shame he was given so much “Christmas crap” to review but think of all those proud mothers! 🤣 Typical John, witty, funny but invariably honest, he’s a musician I truly miss. As always YP, thank you for a thoroughly entertaining start to my day.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, Linda!

[@SparkyNarwhal]

Christmas Crap is over (if you want it)

[@Kieop]

I didn't hate Christmas Calling, though I've never heard of it or the artist.

[@Harrisonianne]

He said he got The Hollies album for free (and don't like it) 😂 wonder if it was *In The Hollies Style* ? bet he also had "for free"😂 The Hollies *Would You Believe?" too or he didn't know about their version of *Stewball* (with bell those arrangements) coming into a new direction, giving the birth of a Christmas Song 😂🤣 The Hollies were one of those famous Lennon's guilty pleasures as I see... if we can count how many times all through his life he mention The Hollies in an interview 😅 (Allan Clarke also mentions John Lennon a lot in many 80s live concerts)

[@davidellis5141]

😆 Cliff Richard .." He seems to have a record out every day " 😆 🤣

[@jasontorres7756]

'should do well in France' lol The acerbic Lennon wit in full flight!

[@jnagarya519]

John was utterly hilarious. And honest.

[@maurogajardo620]

Love how George Harrison is a fan of Timi Yuro

[@efficiencygaming3494]

John's brutal honesty was one of the most entertaining things about him. He wasn't afraid to make the presenter regret handing him a selection of mediocre singles! I love seeing songs like "She's Not There" and "You Really Got Me" on the American singles charts. I wonder if John would have reacted better to those...

[@ErnestIII83]

"I'd like to die and see how many hits we got extra and come back and claim the money." Interesting statement in hindsight.

[@neilfriedman]

'64 was when most of my favourite bands started making it, Kinks, Pretty Things, Eric Burdon etc. John was his humorous witty self, good comments

[@BrianRoberson-k7g]

To say that John Lennon is snarky is like saying the sun is hot.

[@officalhumblefish565]

Brutally honest John Why I love him so much

[@JoaoGabriel-lk9cv]

Same

[@officalhumblefish565]

@sydmccreath4554 you and me both haha

[@SylentEcho]

This channel is the gift that keeps on giving!

[@avanm420]

I got to remember that line for the holidays "it's that christmas crap again... get it off!" 😂

[@marcbolan1818]

Lennon is spot on as usual and honest

[@MN-bf1me]

B.S.

[@MikeDial]

You don't give someone who can be as caustic as John Lennon a pack of bad songs like this.

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

If you want a little fun, that's EXACTLY who you give it to. :)

[@michaelr1221]

When you ask someone their opinion and they give it to you it's not caustic , if they tell you what you want to hear it's phony .

[@EddieReischl]

Yeah, he was actually trying to be sort of diplomatic. Most of those songs were vacuous garbage.

[@gregwilliams3120]

Little did he know then that in a handful of years he would produce one of the most enduring Christmas classics of all time. RIP John Lennon.

[@spaceengineer1452]

Actually he ripped it off.....

[@MN-bf1me]

It was crap.

[@rabit818]

The minute Cliff showed - he’s in trouble. “He’s mother would be proud”, sarcasm lol

[@foxbasealpha]

Love the black and white caricatures of the Blind Date musical guests. Any idea who did those and could you do a compilation video showing them all?

[@MrMjp58]

I agree. They’re mostly brilliant.

[@EmeraldWoodArchives]

Jimmy Thomson was his name.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

The caricatures were done by Jimmy Thomson.

[@billkeon880]

Just goes to show you how far ahead the Beatles were from their competition at the time

[@richsackett3423]

The version of “Baubles, Bangs and Beads” I know is by the Kirby Stone Four. My dad won their LP from a radio station call-in.

[@Kieop]

Cliff. I can't believe it. He seems to have a UK number 1 record every decade. His mother should be proud of him.😝

[@JiveDadson]

I was a junior in high school in the US and listened to rock radio every night. I don't remember hearing any those except The Three Bells.

[@mackb909]

Well, it certainly confirms that the Beatle who lived by his public reputation of being the "wry, sharp-tongued one" was always ready to put out his opinions, positive or negative, no holds barred. Things didn't change as time went on (go back and re-read his 1971 Rolling Stone interview if you don[t believe me; he dissed almost everyone on every life-capable planet in the Milky Way, and possibly several other galaxies as well). I always love John but I always know that there's that streak of meanness or sadism or whatever you want to call it, and wherever it came from (absent mum and dad, rough in-the-streets-of-Liverpool upbringing, the usual explanations, or excuses, fodder for every faux-liberal "troubled youth" movie of the '50s, '60s, and '70s) that's always just beneath the surface, perhaps even in his "All You Need is Love"/acid phase. But I loved him and was catatonic with grief for weeks in December 1980 like everyone else. And I got that eerie frisson when he mentioned about dying and coming back to get the money from re-releases. Love you, John. Miss you, John. Always (more than a little) scared of you, John. Will never forget you.

[@sg-yq8pm]

"rough in-the-streets-of-Liverpool upbringing" - no he didn't, he had a sad childhood but grew up comfortably in suburbia.

[@mackb909]

@@sg-yq8pm Mostly true: loving Aunt Mimi (mum Julia's sister) and all that, for whom John bought a new house after he made it big. But the legend was that John was working class, a tough guy in a leather jacket, wounded by his mom's frequent absences and untimely death. None of the Beatles were exactly rich before they hit it big.

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

His 1980 interviews were more civil.

[@traceya9615]

​@@sg-yq8pmSuburbia in Menlove Avenue was ok, but going into the city centre in those days, where The Cavern was was no tea party. And no matter how safe Mimi's house was, any sense of security in life would have been wiped out by what happened to his mum, Julia. Toughness was how he coped then.

[@tt-du6vc]

He was subconsciously thinking of Julia while reviewing those musicians. Too much “his mother should be proud”.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

" No, it's that Christmas crap again.....get it off" Lol. Word. Unfortunately when you're in a store shopping at Christmas time, you can't take it off. IMO his comments on the rather poor songs he was given were spot on. US top 10 songs have a lot of dope ones this week. Thanks as always YP.

[@obbor4]

Yeah, that was a pretty solid U.S. top ten!

[@peterbrown6224]

"Unfortunately when you're in a store " And pubs. It begins in October.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, Willie!

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@YesterdaysPapers Good evening, mate.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@obbor4 Yeah, even with the snore fest Ringo's Theme at the top.

[@mustuploadtoo7543]

Thank you again for another beatles (john/paul/george) melody maker review session! I keep my notifications on for this channel for this exact reason 🙏

[@FawleyJude]

I like his comment about the Cliff Richard song: "It's too smooth. It should do well in France."

[@jacklowe3429]

Jesus, they had John Lennon in to review records---and they gave him a bunch of odds and ends that they should've given for Xmas to their least-favorite cousins. Lennon showed a great amount of humor and tolerance here. Most of this music is rightfully forgotten.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Random artist: "I just made a boringly safe, inoffensive, forgettable record." John: "Your Mum will be proud."

[@Louis42_7]

@0:47 OMG...Classic Lennon. I LOVE YOU GUYS! :). Lennon could go for it, Beatles had the number-one single in England at that time with "I Feel Fine". TWO albums in the top 5 Album charts in England and "I Feel Fine" again in the top 10 in America.

[@craigclaiborne5667]

This is why Yesterday's Papers IS the HIPPEST channel on KZbin :). I agree with Louis, WE LOVE YOU GUYS...every video is a time capsule, and Lennon pulls no punches *lol*.

[@jnagarya519]

"Beatles for Sale" ENTERED the chart at #4.

[@elmolewis9123]

Brutal. And I agree with almost everything he said.

[@theheartofablackbird2109]

Their mothers should all be proud of them all! - John's humour was always the best.

[@jerrywatt6813]

It should do good in France ha ha I totally get that joke ha ha Johnny you've been naughty !!! Thanks Yp Cheers !

[@gregoryfilms9405]

He was given the blandest of the bland and rightly slagged them off.

[@lakrids-pibe]

so much christmas crap

[@sherisworld8552]

He cut down these people but thought Yoko’s contributions was the greatest ever. Like when he and Yoko teamed with Chuck Berry and her screaming made Chucks reaction was hilarious!

[@buzzawuzza3743]

You have the best fuzz bass sound in the whole of KZbin.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@CartersRemasters]

3:47 , you could only imagine John!

[@PeterPan-nh7yx]

Never could imagine to see Helmut Zacharias in the Charts two places ahead The Pretty Things. By the way: love to be remembered on music I never forgot.

[@thedarkdescent2387]

No wonder John Lennon was pissed, all the good records that month were in America

[@kevinatkab5219]

What happened to the intro tune? Always look forward to that. Loved that drawing of Lennon saying "it will probably be a hit, take it off!"

[@akkor6835]

El fastidio y la honestidad brutal de John lo muestran preparado para todo lo novedoso que traería 1965

[@Harrisonianne]

Su personalidad arrasó con todo mientras duró considerado como "el jefe Beatle" 😂

[@madferit5390]

another banger from Yesterday's Papers 🔥🔥

[@KeizerHedorah]

Baubles bangles and beads would later be covered instrumentally by DEODATO and its really great chrck that version fam.

[@Gardosunron]

Sinatra does a good version as well.

[@davidbaise5137]

These a wonderful and honest reactions from Mr Lennon. Thanks. This series is great for boomers.

[@syncout]

I have happily watched loads of these, Lennon rocked it, put that on the back page

[@R_Jackson]

"Tell all the people to drop dead..." Happy Christmas, John! 🎄

[@bipbopboom]

“I’d like to die and see how many hits we got extra.”

[@seanconlon2773]

Meanwhile Jim Reeves, who died a few months earlier, had 2 Top 10 albums in the charts.

[@bipbopboom]

@@seanconlon2773 astute observation!! Thanks for the info!!!

[@VirreFriberg]

3:48 - This comment is morbidly funny considering the singles that were released (and reached no. 1) after Lennon's death.

[@paulgoldstein2569]

Not a very exciting lot, little to represent the rapidly expanding British Invasion scene at the time. But maybe the major acts of that era avoided December, as it was coming up to Christmas. There were still the Christmas records coming out, including one by Millie, best known for sucking lollipops. I bet she had a few more of them for Christmas. That was her daily nourishment. But during the mid sixties, Christmas records had gone out of fashion, to think that The Beatles had four Christmas number ones during the sixties, all with records that had nothing to do with Christmas. And the 1965 Christmas number two in the UK was My Generation by The Who, although Pete Townshend did perform a Christmasy guitar feedback towards the end of the track. But apart from that, it was almost as though Christmas no longer existed. But as John Lennon implied, whenever the old crooners who by then had become old farts still released new records, all the old grannies said they loved them, but by then, they never bought them. Maybe those sort of records that were obviously aimed for the older generation, who were rapidly becoming this ever shrinking elderly generation, were not by then easy to get, as the record shops which were run by younger people would not go through the expense of obtaining them, as they only wanted to stock records that they knew would sell, the ones that were aimed at the then-modern day musical trends, and aimed for the youngsters who had by then become the majority market, known as the mass market. There was the latest single by Cliff who the following year had become a Mod, but had to keep crooning all the time to disguise it. One day he was on stage crooning in front of the old grannies. The next day, he was out in gangs picking fights against the Rockers. But this was from November 1964, and charted that December, so it wasn't new anymore. But I think John was wrong to almost slam the Marvin Gaye/Kim Weston duet single, as that was by far the cherry in the cake here. It was a great double sided single. I Want You Around was the U.S. A side of this single.

[@50scap3]

Could I say once again how quickly I would buy the tunes you compose for your background music? I really love all the stuff it really sets a mood I'd like to wallow in.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@arricammarques1955]

Sharp & quick witted. Dearly, missed.

[@MN-bf1me]

Not by everyone.

[@AlexAlexon3897]

Love the music at the end of the John segment - haunting.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, glad you like it.

[@gregkipp6408]

For most part, I agree with John Lennon. Personally, I think they played John the wrong side of the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston duet single. The American B Side, "I Want You Round" is the one that's a classic in my opinion. I also think Cliff Richard's version of " I Could Easily Fall (In Love With You) is very listenable as well. Other than that, John Lennon was pretty spot on with his reviews of the songs played for him.

[@australianchartentries60sa35]

It’s a drag turn it off! Lennon spot on

[@thelatepetercook]

I love that brutal lad.

[@chasjohn57]

Too bad there weren't any Pizza, Poon & Magpie songs! ( Peter, Paul & Mary) That would have been epic!

[@grokeffer6226]

He has interesting takes on these records. Many of them I'm not familiar with. Downtown and I'm Into Something Good were particular favorites of mine at that point in time. And, of course, I Feel Fine. ❤

[@thewkovacs316]

but the im into something good he got was a cover

[@KingOFuh]

#29 ShangriLas Remember Walking in the Sand. Those chicks were just dreamy.

[@jbranum3087]

I love how into soul music George was. He mentioned George playing Timi Yuro.

[@garyrhone1395]

Hilarious! Caught John at one of his sarcastic days. He had a right to be confident , miles beyond these songs. Although the singles charting were a weak lot, the LP chart was swinging.

[@sqnkk]

Vicious!

[@victorhawkins3461]

I had to laugh...a number of years ago, Buddy Greco had a restaurant/bar/performance space in Cathedral City, CA, just across the street -- literally -- from the town of Palm Springs. W-a-y overpriced food and drink, and the cover for hearing Buddy perform was fairly over the top, too. Beautiful space, though!

[@boomtownrat5106]

Cliff Richard didn’t have an impact here in the States. It wasn’t until the mid to later 70s that his recordings started to get airplay. Career-wise, he shape shifted into a middle-of-the-road / Christian-themed artist. Like all the other performers that were reviewed, I’m sure his mom was proud, though.😊 Referencing Hard Day’s Night… He’s Clean…

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hahaha, I remember that line from the movie.

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@YesterdaysPapers I was only nine years old when the movie was released and being from the States I didn’t understand the reference. To find out, Paul's grandfather in the film is frequently referred to as "clean". The reason being, the actor, Wilfrid Brambell, played a character who was frequently accused of being a "dirty old man" in the UK show Steptoe and Son. Here in the US it morphed into Stanford and Son. I would presume to say that many Americans watching Hard Day’s Night would not get the reference of him being ‘clean.’ This nine year old girl at the time thought it was nonsensical silliness.

[@sg-yq8pm]

Just looked up Cliff, impressive record in the UK - 124 top 40 hits, 68 got to the top10, 14 to No.1.

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@sg-yq8pm I read the same stats, too. So, when John was commenting that he makes a record everyday, he wasn’t kidding.

[@thewkovacs316]

they purposefully gave john boring songs to listen to so that he would go off

[@richsackett3423]

always and with everybody

[@thewkovacs316]

@sydmccreath4554 this is fact. blind date loved it when reviewers said nasty things about records

[@calebsmith2362]

I enjoyed the instrumental rendition of "Terry" at the end. It's one of my favorite British girl-group numbers,

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers!

[@danielbanic3738]

Thats the beauty of John Lennon from 1964 , he woud put down a record with a crazy sense of humor , thats the best way to do it , ha ha

[@deansmith6593]

Brutal honesty, his Mom should have been proud.

[@bobwoolerOriGinal]

Oooooohh

[@Joanna-il2ur]

Except she was dead, like Paul’s mother. If you listen to John Lennon Plastic Ono band there’s a track called My Mummy’s Dead, which he plays on, as I recall, a ukulele. Also Mother on the same album. Primal scream.

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

Much like his appearance on Jukebox Jury. I was hoping for some entertaining put-downs. I'm not disappointed

[@paulgoldstein2569]

In response to a lot of the comments below, it was John Lennon who once said before Rock 'N' Roll, there was nothing. In regards to the previous British scene, he was correct. But in the States, there was Rhythm & Blues, Hillbilly, and Folk, all of which were underground scenes in those days, but made it fairly obvious that something was eventually going to explode. But in the UK, it was like a bolt from the blue. That was when Elvis released Heartbreak Hotel, and his more uptempo follow-ups.

[@CarlDraper]

Lennon's sharp with totally on point here :D

[@doctorrobert1339]

Good god that was a dreadful selection, but it has been one of the funniest ones lmao ''His mom should be proud'' that's such a good insult lol

[@jimwerner9785]

John and Dave Davies are my favs - between the two of them, there is a 98.3% chance of "take it off" at all times!

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Lots of proud mums! Lol.

[@hmarote]

Lennon es implacable, tremendo.

[@MaxRadin]

What's the music playing at the end of the video during the charts? Thanks.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

It's an instrumental version of "Terry" by Twinkle that I recorded.

[@97texascat]

I wish I could hear this in his voice.

[@BobbyGass5]

LOL... Lennon's admiration for the rockers that went before is evident here. The only guy he liked was Fats. LOL... I was at that Lennon Peace festival in 69 here in Toronto with Jerry lee, The Killer, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and the rest that Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band played the first time. Lennon loved the old rockers... We booed Yoko's screeching and John didn't like that much. LOL

[@spockboy]

Loved it. Thanks : )

[@niguel4438]

JL still very much missed.

[@davedee4382]

Your doing these ; well, I just love them. Especially when a Beatle rates them but they are all interesting.

[@miguelangeljuarez6196]

Podrían por favor mostrar algún día los singles de febrero de 1968. Es el año en que nació su servidor, de antemano mil gracias, les envío un abrazo te bien grandote desde Zacatecas, México.

[@epinhervin9355]

1:21 who is the artist that John asked to turn it off? It sounds like The Doors

[@YesterdaysPapers]

A British band called The T-Bones.

[@chrisbacos]

Now I really liked this because John was sarcastic, witty, funny, and a bit nasty. John was up on all the artists. I like his poke at Cliff. I'll confess when I saw Brian Poole and then Buddy Greco I thought John may wanna barf here as I sure did.

[@jackal59]

Good for him knowing "the French one" ("Les Trois Cloches"), I would guess by Edith Piaf and Les Compagnons De La Chanson, which is a transcendent recording that I can't imagine any musican not being moved by: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g36Zh52tfahpgc0si=9Yfrc-rwjUQ51IA_

[@soulfoodie1]

Nice version of 'Terry at end

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@Ivan-om8rk]

Where can we find that instrumental version of Terry at the end???

[@goodiesguy]

Make Him Mine is the one GOOD Susan Maughan tune IMO. I agree that isn't one of Cliff's best, but Cliff's early work is up there with the Beatles rockin' best! I like the Brian Poole and Timi Yuro discs.

[@thecaveofthedead]

I wish I'd known that 'his mother will be proud' insult when I was young. It's devastating to any generation trying not to be like their parents.

[@RussBeatle63]

...sounds like Pride & Joy upside down...(spot on John!) Cliff - he seems to have a record out everyday ....(LOL) Pat Boone?...oh its Brian Poole...(LOL)..it will probably be a hit. get it off. I hate this song...is it Buddy Greco? (LOL) I dont mind buddy greco but I would never buy it. Thanks. John sure didn't hold back..thats why I loved him!

[@_-_Michael_-_]

Do we know what song is John refering as “One way pendulum” by Cliff?

[@doctorbohr1585]

A slew of stinkers given short shrift by the inimitable John Lennon. What's not to like? 😂. Thanks Chief!

[@familydogg1234]

Thanx again. Not too many from 1964

[@pcno2832]

7:40 Lorne Green rapped his way to number 1 ! And I'll bet half the people buying the record thought it was something to do with the Beatles. Anyway, that's a nice variation of "You'd Better Move On" in the background.

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

Man, does anyone know who does the caricatures at the beginning of each one? They're amazing!!

[@MrKeychange]

hahaha John was in a mood

[@maurogajardo620]

Fats Domino never fails...one of the best singers ever

[@DadgeCity]

I know it's a bit of work, but it'd be useful if you let us know what chart position (if any) the songs got to.