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The Beatles (Apple Corps Ltd.)
A BBC documentary on "The Songs the Beatles Gave Away" is now available to hear on its website.
It describes that while the Beatles were stacking up hits of their own, they were also helping out other artists with songs that were both hits and misses. Those artists included Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, Mary Hopkin, The Foremost, Cilla Black, Jackie Lomax, and Doris Troy.
And there were rarities: the theme song for a TV series starring Stanley Holloway and music from a Boulting Brothers film called "The Family Way." The program also tells how Frank Sinatra requested Paul McCartney write him a song; and George Harrison telling how the song "Badge," which he co-wrote for Cream, got its name.
Other interviews in the program include Mary Hopkin talking about recording in the studio with Paul McCartney; Billy Hatton of The Fourmost discussing "Hello Little Girl," and Billy J. Kramer admitting he turned down a song that would eventually become one of the most performed works in recorded history. Also featured are new interviews with Sir George Martin and Cilla Black.
You can hear it on the BBC's website for six more days as this is written.
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Comments
I heard it - it was very interesting! It was the first time I'd actually heard a lot of these songs!
There are several new interviews in there that are really worth hearing. Paul, first of all, but also George Martin and the story about how he had to get Paul to write "Love in the Open Air" for "The Family Way." Mary Hopkin's comment about recording with Paul in the studio was interesting, too. It's a great show.
Gosh, I wish they would re-release on CD or as download the album of the same name, it was one of my favorites!
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