Dizzy Miss Lizzy: Introduction
“Dizzy Miss Lizzy” is a Beatles’ song that is on their 1965 album, “Help!”
In Detail
- Release Date: June 14, 1965 (US Beatles VI), August 6, 1965 (UK Help!)
- Recorded: May 10, 1965
- Studio: EMI, London
- Genre: Rock and roll
- Track Duration: 2:54
- Record Label: Parlophone (UK) Capitol (US)
- Songwriter: Larry Williams
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
Performers And Instruments
- George Harrison: double-tracked lead guitar
- John Lennon: double-tracked vocal, rhythm guitar, Hammond organ
- Paul McCartney: bass guitar, electric piano
- Ringo Starr: drums, cowbell
Where To Find “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”
You can still get a hold of the song if you buy the following albums:
**If you want the original version of this song, buy the 1965 album.
Dizzy Miss Lizzy: Background
Larry Williams originally released the song as a single in 1958. Together with the B-side, “Slow Down,” the record got to number 69 in the American charts. The Beatles also recorded both songs and they are commercially available. However, the Beatles’ version drops the comma from the title.
This song became part of The Fab Four’s live act almost as soon as the band got hold of the song. The Beatles would often cover songs such as this one, as they loved the raw rock and roll feel to them. Obviously, The Beatles thought highly of their version of “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” because it became the last track on their 1965 album, “Help!” after Paul McCartney’s song, “Yesterday.”
While listening to the song, many people believe that there is a distinct similarity to Little Richard’s “Good Golly Miss Molly.” Of course, The Beatles were big fans of his too and their rock and roll style incorporates a lot influence from those early American rockers.
This was one of two tracks on the “Help!” album that are non-Beatles’ songs, with the other being “Act Naturally.” Obviously, this was a period of time when Beatlemania was at its absolute peak and the band was so busy.
Indeed, they were recording, touring, filming, and doing a whole host of other things. It does seem a little strange that they would revert back to old rock and roll like this song, so perhaps it was just to fill the album.
Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording “Dizzy, Miss Lizzy” on May 10, 1965, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 8.00 p.m.–11.30 p.m. session. They recorded 7 takes on the day together with “Bad Boy” (takes 1-4). Take 7 was suitable enough to become the master rhythm track and for overdubbing, which they did the same day.
Not only did they add this track to their new album, but they recorded it for BBC Radio. In fact, this would be the last time that The Beatles would record for the BBC like they did in the past three years on so many occasions for radio shows such as “Top Gear” and “Pop Go The Beatles,” etc.
They recorded the track along with six other songs at the BBC’s Piccadilly Studios in London on May 26, 1965. This recording session was for a BBC Radio programme going by the name of “The Beatles Invite You to Take a Ticket to Ride.”
This was to air on June 7, 1965. And so the curtain was to close on their BBC Radio performances on this, their 52nd and final show. As a result, this track appears on their 1994 album, “Live At The BBC.”
Take A Listen
Leave us a comment below once you hear the song.
