St Louis Blues: Introduction
The 50th anniversary box set of The Beatles’ “White Album,” released in 2018, includes a number of exciting features for fans and collectors. Among the demos on the release is the band’s rendition of “St. Louis Blues.”
The inclusion of tracks like “St. Louis Blues” highlights the diverse range of influences and experimentation that characterized the Beatles during the making of the “White Album.”
In Detail
- Recorded: July 30, 1968
- Released: November 9, 2018 (The Beatles (or, as we all know it, “The White Album”) 50th anniversary box set)
- Written by: WC Handy
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Ken Scott
Performers
- Paul McCartney: vocals, piano
- John Lennon: acoustic guitar
- Ringo Starr: percussion
The “St. Louis Blues” track is obviously a blues standard, and W.C. Handy wrote it. Published in September 1914, it shows that some music can stand the test of time. The Beatles’ rendition, though informal and not as polished as their main tracks on the album, shows their versatility and willingness to explore different musical genres.
It’s more of a playful, impromptu performance, reflecting the band’s mood and experimentation during the period when the band was showing signs of stress. Indeed, this track resurfaced during the “Get Back/Let It Be” sessions of 1969. That was a time when The Beatles were looking back at their youthful start to their careers.
Apart from when the lads are talking, Paul McCartney makes himself sound like he is from New Orleans. But then, Paul was good at trying new styles. Take a listen for yourself:
St Louis Blues: In Conclusion
At the time of recording this track, The Beatles were reflecting on happier times in their lives. Beatlemania had all but gone, and the Fab Four were showing signs of stress. However, they remained upbeat as much as they could.
This track may be a blues number, but you can tell by Paul’s voice that they were enjoying their jamming sessions.
