Misery: Beatles song.

Misery: Introduction

“Misery” is a Beatles’ song from their 1963 album, “Please Please Me.” Kenny Lynch covered the song in the same year. Since it is a Beatles song, this became the first time that another artist covered a Lennon-McCartney composition.

  • Release Date: March 22, 1963 (UK), January 10, 1964 (US)
  • Recorded: February 11 & 20, 1963
  • Genre: Pop rock
  • Track Duration: 1:47
  • Record Label: Parlophone
  • Songwriters: McCartney-Lennon
  • Producer: George Martin
  • Engineer: Norman Smith

While The Beatles were on tour with Helen Shapiro in late January 1963, they discovered that she was looking for new material for a country and western album. Record producer Norrie Paramor, who was also Shapiro’s artist and repertoire manager, said that she would record this in Nashville, Tennessee. With this in mind, he asked The Beatles to compose a suitable song for her.

At the time, The Beatles had not yet released their first album, of course. However, they had chart success with the singles “Love Me Do” and “Please Please Me.” Helen Shapiro was only 16 and already the UK’s most successful female singer. During her UK tour then, The Beatles were fifth on the bill!

On January 26, before The Beatles took to the stage at King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, they began writing the song. However, not having spent much time on it there and then, they finished it off at Paul McCartney’s home, 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool.

“It was our first stab at a ballad and had a little spoken preface. It was co-written. I don’t think either of us dominated on that one; it was just a job; you could have called us hacks, hacking out a song for someone.”

Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

Despite their efforts, Norrie Paramor declined the song.

On the same Helen Shapiro tour was singer Kenny Lynch, who took up the song offer and then released it as a pop record. This was the first time that another artist was to cover a Lennon-McCartney composition. However, Lynch failed to chart with the song, and The Beatles decided to cover it themselves.

While on the tour bus, Lynch once criticised the band’s ability to compose music after offering his help to write a song. After The Beatles disbanded, Paul McCartney created the band Wings, and in 1973 they released the album “Band On The Run.” Kenny Lynch appears on this cover; he is the second from the left.

The Beatles began recording the song “Misery” on February 11, 1963, for their first album, Please Please Me. Moreover, on this day, they recorded most of the album in one long recording session. They recorded 11 takes of this particular song with George Martin overdubbing his piano piece on February 20.

Just to point out that all the album tracks on the Please Please Me album, including “Misery,” have the credits going to McCartney-Lennon. However, they corrected that after this album.

Finally, click play and listen to the song. Furthermore, let us know your opinions about it below.

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