“Lucille” is a Little Richard rock ‘n’ roll classic from 1957 that The Beatles kept in their live set for years. They never made an Abbey Road studio master, but they did record it twice for BBC radio in 1963, and those performances are now officially available on the BBC albums.
The key appeal is simple: this is Paul McCartney leaning hard into the Little Richard vocal style, with The Beatles playing it like a stage number rather than a carefully “produced” record. If you like the early band at full throttle, “Lucille” is exactly that.
Key Facts
- Original Artist: Little Richard
- Original Release: February 1957 (Little Richard single, Specialty Records)
- Songwriters: Al Collins, Richard Penniman (Little Richard)
- BBC Recording 1: 3 September 1963 (for Pop Go The Beatles; broadcast 17 September 1963)
- BBC Recording 2: 7 September 1963 (for Saturday Club; broadcast 5 October 1963)
- First Official Beatles Release: Live At The BBC (1994)
- Additional Official Release: On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2 (2013)
Performers And Instruments
- Paul McCartney: lead vocal, bass guitar
- John Lennon: rhythm guitar, backing vocal
- George Harrison: lead guitar, backing vocal
- Ringo Starr: drums
Where To Find “Lucille”
You can still find this track on the following official releases:
- Live At The BBC (1994; Saturday Club version, broadcast 5 October 1963)
- On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2 (2013; Pop Go The Beatles version, broadcast 17 September 1963)
Lucille: Song Background
Little Richard’s original is pure 1950s urgency: short, sharp, and built to be shouted across a noisy room. That made it perfect Beatles material in the club-and-ballroom years, and it sits in the same lane as other Little Richard staples they performed, such as Long Tall Sally and Ooh! My Soul.
The Beatles’ BBC versions matter because they preserve the live-band arrangement rather than a studio rebuild. You get the “working set” Beatles: fast changes, no decoration, and McCartney pushing his voice to cut through like a frontman in a packed room.
The Two BBC Recordings
The Beatles recorded “Lucille” twice for BBC radio in September 1963. The earlier version (3 September) was for Pop Go The Beatles and was broadcast on 17 September 1963. The second version (7 September) was recorded for Saturday Club and broadcast on 5 October 1963.
If you want a quick comparison test, start with the released versions: Live At The BBC uses the Saturday Club performance, while On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2 uses the Pop Go The Beatles performance. Listen for feel rather than tiny details: both are “live in studio”, but the performances do not land exactly the same way.
Take A Listen To “Lucille”
Have a listen to the BBC performance, then leave your thoughts in the Beatles Fan Club Forum: which version hits harder for you, the Pop Go The Beatles take or the Saturday Club take?
Prefer not to accept optional cookies? Open this video on YouTube.
Sources And References
- The Beatles – “Lucille” song page and original song details.
- The Beatles – Live At The BBC album page and release context.
- The Beatles – On Air: Live at the BBC, Volume 2 context.
- The Paul McCartney Project – BBC recording and broadcast dates.
BeatlesFan.Club operates independently and does not affiliate with The Beatles, Apple Corps, or any official rights holders.
