Los Paranoias: Introduction

“Los Paranoias” is a Beatles’ jamming track from 1968 and has been commercially available since 1996.

In Detail

Release Date: October 28, 1996 (Anthology 3) November 9, 2018 (White Album 50th Anniversary Edition)
Recorded: September 16, 1968
Genre: Folk rock
Track Duration: 3:58 (full version)
Record Label: Apple Records
Songwriters**: Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Ken Scott

Performers And Instruments

Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar
John Lennon: percussion
Ringo Starr: shaker

**George Harrison was not present at the time, but all band members get credit for “Los Paranoias.”

Where To Find “Los Paranoias”

Anthology 3 (1996)
White Album 50th Anniversary Edition (2018)

Los Paranoias: Background

This is The Beatles in Latino mode, messing about during an impromptu jam session. The track has complete nonsense lyrics but the “song” is hilarious and pleasurable at the same time.

“When we came to sing it, to make them different, we started joking, saying ‘cuando para mucho.’ We just made it up. Paul knew a few Spanish words from school, so we just strung any Spanish words that sounded vaguely like something. And of course we got ‘chicka ferdi’—that’s a Liverpool expression; it doesn’t mean anything, just like ‘ha ha ha’. One we missed: we could have had ‘para noia,’ but we forgot all about it. We used to call ourselves Los Para Noias.”
John Lennon
Anthology

Although the band was never likely to develop the song further, it demonstrates The Beatles’ creative side.

The song repeats the phrase “Come on and enjoy us, Los Paranoias” with a sprinkling of words and warbles from the band. They also extend the last “S” as in sssssssss. They really let their hair down with this one, but it is yet another “song” for the Beatles discography.

There doesn’t appear to be any meaning in the song because it is all improvised.

Recording Studio

While working on the 1968 double album, simply called “The Beatles,” aka “The White Album,” the band spontaneously sang this song. This occurred in Studio Two at the EMI Studios in London during the 7.00 p.m.–3.00 a.m. session. There was only ever one take, but it is now commercially available.

Paul McCartney sings “Step Inside Love” for around one minute and twenty seconds before they burst into “Los Paranoias.” Although not serious by any means, this spontaneous moment captures a relaxed and humorous atmosphere from that period, which we can all enjoy. These songs may be included in the articles “Beatles Giveaways” or “Incomplete Beatles Songs.”

On their 1996 album, “Anthology 3,” the song is part of the “Step Inside Love/Los Paranoias” medley, but we only get to hear just over a minute of it there. However, in November 2018, “The Beatles (White Album) 50th Anniversary Edition” gave us the full version, which lasts almost 4 minutes.

Also on this day, The Beatles recorded takes 1–67 of “I Will.” In fact, it was during take 35 of those that The Beatles sang this medley. They also recorded “Can You Take Me Back?” and “Blue Moon” as well as “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Take A Listen

Here, you can listen to the lads from Liverpool letting loose while taking a little time out. So, have a listen and share your thoughts below.