Some songs John Wrote alone, some Paul wrote along, but most of them were collaborations. Not cessarily pure collaborations where they sat down and wrote a song together, but often one would come up with an idea and play for the other, and the other would make suggestions or write a bridge or something like that. They’d kick the idea back and forth and a song would come out.
“Dig It” is the one I couldn’t think of.
What’s the other? (Hint: MMT)
A perfect example, arguably one of the most famous in the history of collaborative songwriting is “A Day in the Life”. The bridge, after the wake up alarm, is Paul - followed by John’s lovely bridge back into the main song.
Another is “The Ballad of John and Yoko” - neither George nor Ringo played on that track at all apparently. Paul’s harmonies and drumming and bass were as pivotal to the outcome of the song as John’s melody and lyrics were.
Also, I’m pretty sure that Paul played drums on “Come Together” as well. The combination of Paul’s drum fills and his sliding bass lines were really important to the outcome of that particular masterpiece.
Going from memory here, but I think “You Know My Name, Look Up the Number” is credited to all four.
Well, my book of scores is at home, but I believe it is the instrumental Flying off of Magical Mystery Tour.
I actually like the song alot.
If you want to be ‘technical’ about it, Flying is an instrumental, not a song as such (at least in the usual sense of the word).
No, that’s Ringo. Paul played drums on “Back In The USSR”, “Dear Prudence”, and “The Ballad Of John And Yoko”.
What Goes On is a curiosity credited to Lennon/McCartney/Starkey. I wonder if The Boy Of The Rings really sat with L&M suggesting bits of lyrics or music (my apologies to Ringo).
Nobody has stated very clearly one benefit of crediting two songwriters even when only one of them wrote a particular song: It alleviates resentment over royalties. By agreeing to always credit both of themselves for songs either wrote for the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney guaranteed that they would always receive equal royalties as Beatles songwriters.
In interviews done by the BBC in 1964, Paul did not think the performing was going to last very long. Before the Beatles became famous, they were the opening act for several late 50’s acts that were past their prime. He thought, as he got older, he and John would focus more on songwriting. He was thinking about maintaining a career in the music industry.
Paul really underestimated the staying power of the Beatles.
Also-SRobinson wrote “You Really Got…” not George. IMO “My Sweet Lord’ was never passed on by Lennon-McCartney. Their 1st concert in the US-Wash DC,Feb11,1964 had the Chffons(He’s So Fine ) & Tommy Roe. That probably cost George $600,00 for"unconsciously”-the judges’ words-lifting the tune for My Sweet Lord. Certainly John & Paul & George Martin would have seen the plagiarism. The Beatles AFAIK were never sued successfully-except by CBerry for lifting the line about “old flaptop grooving up slowly” in Come Together, while George was sued for his 1st & IMO best solohit.
Paul said it(though I don’t think he was the first to)… Good musicians borrow, great musicians steal.
Harrison did NOT sing “You Really Got A Hold On Me” That would be Lennon. George could never belt out a song the way Lennon or McCartney could.
IMHO George was just as good a songwriter as the others even at the beginning.
His problems were
1)Lennon/McCartney was MUCH more prolific.
- George, being quieter (as well as younger), usually gave in to John and Pauls decisions as far as song selection, instrumentation, etc.
Chris W
Well, according to this
http://www.thebeatlesongs.com/you_really_got_a_hold_on_me.htm
and several other sites, he did. Along with Lennon.