"Boys" - the Beatles covered this original by The Shirelles
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Artist:
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Album:The Scepter Records Story Vol. 1
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Track:
Consider this a reverse SUTC. Those more familiar that I with early Soul (you can put your hand down, Cody B!) may remember this, but for 45 years, I've only known the Ringo-sung version from the early Beatles records. After hearing it, I think I prefer the original.
I've been a long-time subscriber to Beatlefan for obvious reasons. But the latest issue contained what I consider its greatest article, limning the links to soul music, both the covers and the sound-alikes. It immediately inspired the purchase of 13 original tracks. I know that Rhino put out some kind of Beatles Covers compilation years ago, but that's probably long out of print.
If you like this, lemme know and I'll post some more.
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MOG it up!
Comments (22)
I think Michael Jackson should record his version.
Some of my earliest musical memories are of the Beatles, and to this day, when I try to put my finger on what made their early sound so unique, one of the things that always comes up is the rhythm of the bass. Kind of a pumping, rhythmic "beat," as opposed to broad looping lines. "I Saw Her Standing There" is a good example. I hear that same style in this Shirelles song, which is very interesting and gives me something to think about! Yeah, please post some more; this "roots" stuff is always fascinating. Thanks!
Somehow, the song doesn't quite seem as awkward to my ears when sung by women.
I've always enjoyed the Beatles cover of this song. Goes to show how much you can do with only minimal tinkering. You're so right about the beat. You can hear Ringo playing in this style on their early live recordings. It so revealed the best qualities of those songs. The Boys certainly could pick a good song and play the heck out of it. (I recall working on this song with the band I was in for a short time in high school. Yeah, we were all boys. Go figure.)
This rendition has all the power that could be mustered on a studio recording at the time, and hints at how compelling it must have been live.
It's always good to hear the originals!
thats great, thanks for the info
yeah i heard this version before the beatles one actually
i always thought it was weird hearing the beatles do it
hahahaha
I said this the other day about the Beatles: They taught Americans that they liked American music. Bless 'em
so damned true!
The Beatles covered a number of girl-group songs. In addition to the Shirelles' "Boys," they covered The Cookies' "Chains" (written by Brill Building stalwarts Gerry Goffin and Carole King), the Shirelles' "Baby It's You," The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman," and The Donays' "Devil in His Heart." For an interesting set of original American hits returned to U.S. shores as British Invasion covers, check out the CD American Roots of the British Invasion.
The comp that Hyperbolium mentioned above is an excellent CD that should be a part of any Beatles fan's musical library.
Dermahrk, I must admit that I'm surprised that you've never heard the original before. I sort of envy you making that cool musical discovery for the first time.
:=)
In addition to the British Invasion volume, there's a seven volume grey market series called Before They Were Hits that explores the original versions of songs with hit covers. For those who've never heard this one, here's the original version of "This Diamond Ring" by Sammy Ambrose. Its chart action was cut short by Gary Lewis' #1 single.
Nice. Gary's version had the light sound of the British invasion while Sammy's is more R&B. Thanks for posting this.
:=)
"This Diamond Ring" was written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass and Irwin Levine ostensibly for The Drifters. So the R&B vibe of Sammy Ambrose's version is what the writers had in mind. Gary Lewis' producer, Snuff Garrett, apparently heard a demo and reworked it to the lighter pop sound that became a hit.
Didn't Leon Russell have something to do with it too?
HyperB, I loved that version - it makes Gary Lewis sound even more like white bread. And I just spent 20 minutes looking through the Before They Were Hits collections. Warning: Amazon does not list the tracks, but other sites like AllMusic do.
Indeed, Leon Russell served as arranger on Gary Lewis and the Playboys' hits, and co-wrote several of the group's songs. There's a great two-CD set coming out from Collectors' Choice on Tuesday that pulls together all of the group's singles for Liberty.
This reminds me that "I'm Into Something Good" as originally recorded by Cookies member Earl-Jean McCrea (peaked at No. 38 in 1964) is better than Herman's Hermits cover version, who remade it (changing "he" to "she") as their debut single (reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 13 in the US later that year).
UC, thanks! Never heard this original.
I was always mystified why the Beatles recorded "Mr. Moonlight" until I heard the original by Dr. Feelgood and the Interns, which is terrific:
Another original unheard by me until today. You are right - this explains the magic they were trying to recapture.
Great post, dermahrk! "Boys" is similar to "Money." I like how "I'm into Something Good" is a twelve-bar blues.