The 1822 speech track – officially titled 1822! – is a 10-second Beatles BBC dialogue snippet released on Live At The BBC in 1994. Spoken by John Lennon, it serves as a joking introduction to “Lonesome Tears in My Eyes” and takes its title from his throwaway line about the band’s “very first LP in 1822!”
Key Facts
- Recorded: 10 July 1963 (Aeolian Hall, London)
- Broadcast: 23 July 1963 (BBC radio show “Pop Go The Beatles“)
- Release: 30 November 1994
- Label: Apple
- Spoken by: John Lennon
- Duration: 10 seconds
- Album producer credit: George Martin
Where To Find This Track
You can hear 1822! on Live at the BBC (1994), including later reissues and digital versions of the album. It appears as a separate dialogue track on the two-disc release.
1822 Speech Track
This track lasts only ten seconds. Lennon introduces the next song, Lonesome Tears in My Eyes, and jokes that it was recorded on the band’s “very first LP in 1822!” The band laugh, and then the music begins.
On the original two-disc track listing, 1822! is placed as track 12 on disc 2, immediately before Lonesome Tears in My Eyes, which is why it is worth listing as its own separate item.
Take A Listen
Here is a quick YouTube reference so you can hear the spoken intro. If you enjoy these BBC moments, share your thoughts on the Beatles Fan Club Forum and tell us your favourite BBC-era Beatles line.
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Sources and references
- The Beatles – official 1822! track page.
- The Beatles – Live At The BBC album page.
- The Beatles Store – 2CD track listing showing disc 2 sequence.
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