A Gift From A Beatle
The Lennon-McCartney songbook is filled with more hits than anyone in the history of the music business. We could spend days listing all of the great songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for The Beatles and their solo careers. But what about the ones they didn't record? What about those songs written by Lennon and/or McCartney that they gave away to other artists? Those are the songs we are looking at here.
Come And Get It: Badfinger
During the recording of Badfinger's (then called The Iveys) first record with Apple Records, Paul McCartney handed a song to them called "Come and Get It", which he wrote and would also produce for the band. The McCartney demo version can be heard on the 1996 Anthology 3 compilation album.
Apple Records, Wikimedia Commons
I'm The Greatest: Ringo Starr
"I'm the Greatest" was the opening on Ringo Starr's third album and not only did John Lennon write it, but he also—along with George Harrison—played on the recording. It was the only time three Beatles recorded together post the break-up of the band and prior to Lennon's death in 1980.
slgckgc, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mine For Me: Rod Stewart
Written by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, "Mine for Me" was recorded by Rod Stewart for his fifth solo album, Smiler, in 1974.
Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Move Over Ms. L: Keith Moon
John Lennon wrote "Move Over Ms. L" and had planned for it to be one of the tracks on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. However, three weeks before the album dropped, Lennon made the call to leave it off. Soon after, Keith Moon recorded it for his only solo studio album—1975's Two Sides of the Moon.
Jim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A World Without Love: Peter And Gordon
Written by Paul McCartney, duo Peter and Gordon took "A World Without Love" to the top of the charts in 1964. It was the first time a Lennon-McCartney song recorded by a non-Beatle broke into the Top 40. It wouldn't be the last time though.
Woman: Peter And Gordon
Curious if a song he wrote could become a hit without the iconic Lennon-McCartney writing credit, Paul McCartney wrote "Woman" under the pen name Bernard Webb. The song did get up to number 14 on the Hot 100, but the secret as to who wrote it also didn't remain secret for long.
Bad To Me: Billy J Kramer With The Dakotas
"Bad to Me" by Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas was a Top 10 hit in America in 1964. John Lennon has been quoted in interviews saying that he wrote the song for Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas while on vacation, but has also said that he and McCartney wrote it together in a van.
Love Of The Loved: Cilla Black
This Lennon-McCartney song (mainly written by Paul) was a song The Beatles recorded for their Decca Records audition in 1962 (they were rejected). The band never officially recorded it for an album, but Cilla Black—who was being produced by George Martin at the time—made it her debut single in 1963. It got as high as number 35 on the UK charts. It wouldn't be the last time Ms Black would record a Lennon-McCartney song either.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Step Inside Love: Cilla Black
"Step Inside Love" was another Lennon-McCartney tune that Cilla Black recorded as the theme song to her musical television show, Cilla.
Goodbye: Mary Hopkin
At one point in 1969, Lennon and McCartney had two songs they'd written at number one and number two on the charts. At number one was "Get Back", and at number two was folk singer Mary Hopkins' "Goodbye".
Hello Little Girl: The Fourmost & Gerry And The Pacemakers
Another song used for their failed Decca Records audition, "Hello Little Girl" became a bit of a hit for The Fourmost (rising up to number nine on the UK charts). Gerry and the Pacemakers also recorded a version of the song.
I'm In Love: The Fourmost
The Fourmost found themselves in the UK charts once again (number 17) with another Lennon-McCartney song, "I'm in Love". Although credited to Lennon and McCartney, reports differ as to whether or not Paul was involved with the writing of this one.
Like Dreamers Do: The Applejacks
Those Decca audition recordings are like the gift that kept on giving to other artists. Written by McCartney, "Like Dreamers Do" was recorded by Decca Records band The Applejacks in 1964.
Songbird In A Cage: Charlotte Gainsbourg
In 2011, Charlotte Gainsbourg had lunch with Sir Paul McCartney and she told him that if "he ever had a song for me, it would be a dream come true". Well, a couple weeks later, he sent her a demo that would become "Songbird In A Cage".
Christian Bertrand, Shutterstock
If I Take You Home Tonight: Diana Krall
Diana Krall appeared on Paul McCartney's mostly covers album, Kisses on the Bottom. One song that didn't make it on that record was an original McCartney tune called "If I Take You Home Tonight". As Krall explained it: "At home in Vancouver I found it on my piano and I asked him if it was OK to do it on my record and he said sure".
Tip Of My Tongue: Tommy Quickly
The Beatles did do a number of takes of this one during a 1962 recording session, but George Martin wasn't happy with the results and those sessions have never been released. Tommy Quickly recorded the single in 1963.
That Means A Lot: PJ Proby
"That Means a Lot" was recorded by The Beatles in 1965 but not officially released until the 90s. Beatles business manager Brian Epstein was also PJ Proby's manager—and gave him the song to record in 1965.
On The Wings Of A Nightingale: The Everly Brothers
McCartney wrote this song specifically for The Everly Brothers and even played guitar on the 1984 recording—which rose up to number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the highest The Everly Brothers had been since 1970.
Let's Love: Peggy Lee
While Peggy Lee was performing in London in 1974, she had dinner with Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, one night. The couple brought her a gift of this song they'd written. Paul would also go on to arrange and produce the track.
General Artists Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
One And One Is Two: The Strangers With Mike Shannon
McCartney originally offered the song to Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas, but they declined. He brought it to The Fourmost but it didn't work for them either. Eventually, The Strangers with Mike Shannon made it their debut single, but it didn't go anywhere. Maybe Lennon was right when he said, of the song, "This is another one of Paul's bad attempts at writing a song".
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
I'll Be On My Way: Billy J Kramer With The Dakotas
While they said "no" to that last song, it would appear that Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas didn't say "no" to Lennon and McCartney very often. In fact, their debut single was a cover of The Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret". And on the B-side of that one was the Paul McCartney-penned "I'll Be on My Way".
I Don't Want To See You Again: Peter And Gordon
It's starting to look like they should've been called Peter and Gordon and Paul with how many McCartney tracks this duo found success with. "I Don't Want to See You Again" reached as high as number 16 on the Hot 100 in the United States and number17 in Canada. It didn't chart in the UK though.
It's For You: Cilla Black
Paul presented Cilla Black with a demo for "It's for You" in 1964—and as she describes it: ""That was some session...John and Paul joined me and George Martin. We made one track and then everyone had a go at suggesting how they thought it should be recorded. George said it should be one way, John and Paul another and I just added my suggestions while they were thinking of what else they could do with the composition".
Penina: Carlos Mendes
One night in the late 60s, while on vacation in Portugal, Paul McCartney returned to his hotel after a few drinks and ended up playing drums with the band playing at the hotel. To quote McCartney: "The hotel was called Penina, I made up a song with that name, someone made inquiries about it and I gave it to them. And, no, I shouldn’t think I’d ever record it myself!"
Jotta Herra was the band that night and they were offered the song. As was Carlos Mendes—and they both put out versions of the track in the summer of '69.
Gorupdebesanez, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fame: David Bowie
Okay, so John Lennon didn't write "Fame" and give it to Bowie, they wrote it together—but we thought this was a pretty cool one to mention even if it didn't quite fit our criteria. Some reports credit Lennon more than others in regards to his contribution to the song.
I Wanna Be Your Man: The Rolling Stones
When "I Wanna Be Your Man" showed up on The Beatles' album With the Beatles, there were probably those who thought they were doing a cover of a song released just a few weeks prior by The Rolling Stones. And we guess they kind of were. Except that it was Paul McCartney (with a little help from John Lennon) who originally wrote the song and gave it to Mick Jagger and the band (it was the Stones' first Top 20 hit in the UK). They would then give it to Ringo Starr to sing on With the Beatles.
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