The Beatles: Sung but Not Written Quiz

Answer: Anna

"Anna (Go To Him)" written by Arthur Alexander, peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 for him in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

Arthur Alexander was born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA, in 1940. He was a country-soul pioneer and his first single "Sally Sue Brown" was released on the Judd label owned by Jud Phillips, the brother of Sun records owner Sam Phillips. His songs have been recorded by many artists, including "You Better Move On" by The Rolling Stones. Unfortunately he left the business for many years and became a bus driver. In 1990 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He began to perform again in 1993 but a month after signing a new recording/publishing contract he died from a heart attack aged 53.

The Beatles version of "Anna (Go To Him)" was the third track on their first UK album "Please Please Me". It was number one for 30 weeks on the UK album chart in 1963. It was replaced at number one by The Beatles themselves, with their second album "with the beatles".

Answer: George Harrison

"Chains", written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King, peaked at number 17 for The Cookies on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. It peaked at number 50 on the UK singles chart in 1963.

The Cookies were formed in 1954 by Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea and Beulah Robertson. By the time of the recording of "Chains" the Cookies were Dorothy Jones, Earl-Jean McCrea and Margaret Ross. They sang backing vocals on such records as "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka, "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva and "Comin' Home Baby" by Mel Torme. In 1963 The Cookies had their their biggest hit when "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Earl-Jean McCrea left the group in 1965 after having a minor hit as Earl-Jean with "I'm Into Somethin' Good". It peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, just over three months before the version by Herman's Hermits hit the Billboard chart and peaked at number 13.

"Chains" was the first time George Harrison was heard as the lead singer on a song by The Beatles. The song was originally recorded by The Everly Brothers but never released at the time.

Answer: Boys

"Boys" was written by Luther Dixon/Wes Farrell. It was the B-Side of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" which was number one for two weeks for The Shirelles on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart.

The Shirelles were formed in 1957 by four teenage friends from Passaic, New Jersey as The Poquellos. They were Doris Coley (born 1941), Addie Harris (born 1940), Beverly Lee (born 1941) and Shirley Owens (born 1941). They had two minor hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I Met Him On A Sunday (Rhonde-Rhonde)" in 1958 and "Dedicated To The One I Love" in 1959. The later was re-issued in 1961 and peaked at number three, it was also covered by The Mamas and The Papas in 1967 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next record "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" written by Goffin/King, was number one for two weeks. That made The Shirelles the first African-American girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Pete Best, ex-drummer for The Beatles, used to sing the song before he was sacked from the group. Ringo Starr used to sing it when he was the drummer for Rory Storm and The Hurricanes before joining The Beatles.

Answer: John Lennon

"Baby It's You" was written by Burt Bacharach/Barney Williams (Luther Dixon)/Mack David. It peaked at number eight for The Shirelles on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

"Baby It's You" was part of The Beatles' live set in the early '60s. They used The Shirelles' vocal arrangement for their version and it was recorded in three takes for the "Please Please Me" album. They recorded it again for the BBC radio programme "Pop Go The Beatles" on 1 June 1963. This was released on the "Live At The BBC" album in 1994. The live at the BBC version was also released as a single and peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart in 1995. It peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Answer: A Taste Of Honey

"A Taste Of Honey" was written by Scott/Marlow. It was originally a recurring instrumental track written for the 1960 Broadway version of the 1958 British play "A Taste of Honey", later made into a movie of the same name in 1961.

The play "A Taste of Honey" was the first play by the British dramatist and screenwriter Shelagh Delaney. The original London production in 1958 starred Avis Bunnage as Helen, Frances Cuka as Josephine and Nigel Davenport as Peter. The original Broadway cast of 1960 starred Angela Lansbury as Helen, Joan Plowright as Josephine and Nigel Davenport as Peter. The 1961 movie starred Dora Bryan as Helen, Rita Tushingham as Josephine and Robert Stephens as Peter.

The first vocal version was recorded by Lenny Welch in 1962 but did not chart. It was also included on his 1963 album "Since I Fell For You". The Beatles performed this song as part of their act during their time in Hamburg, Germany and recorded it for their 1963 UK album "Please Please Me".

Answer: Brian Poole and The Tremeloes

"Twist And Shout" was written by Bert Berns (Bert Russell)/Phil Medley as "Shake It Up Baby". It was a number four hit for Brian Poole and The Tremeloes on the UK singles chart in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

The irony being that Brian Poole and The Tremeloes were at the same audition as The Beatles for Decca records UK. The Beatles did not get a recording contract but Brian Poole and The Tremeloes did.

"Twist And Shout" was first recorded by The Top Notes in 1961 and produced by Phil Spector. The song was not a hit and the songwriter Bert Russell believed Spector had ruined the song. Russell produced The Isley Brothers' version of the song in 1962 and showed Spector how it should have been done. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. It peaked at number 42 on the UK singles chart in 1963 after The Beatles had brought the song to the attention of the British public on their first UK album "Please Please Me".

The Beatles' version of "Twist And Shout" was number one on the UK album chart as part of the "Please Please Me" album and number one on the UK EP chart as part of the "Twist And Shout" EP in 1963. It peaked at number two on the Billboard album chart as part of the "Introducing...The Beatles" album and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

Answer: Tony Sheridan

"My Bonnie", Polydor NH 66833, peaked at number 48 for Tony Sheridan & The Beatles on the UK singles chart in 1963. It was originally released as by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers in 1961. "My Bonnie (My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean)" MGM K13213 peaked at number 26 for The Beatles with Tony Sheridan on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. It was originally released in the US on Decca 31382 as by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers in 1962.

"My Bonnie" is the traditional Scottish folk song "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean". The origin of the song may now have been lost in time. Often suggested as the subject of the song is Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart, (Bonnie Prince Charlie). He was also known as The Young Pretender to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Answer: The Music Man

"Till There Was You" was written by Meredith Willson for his 1957 musical "The Music Man". It was track six on The Beatles' second UK album "with the beatles", which replaced The Beatles' first UK album "Please Please Me" at number one on the UK album chart. It spent 21 weeks at the top.

"Till There Was You" was sung by Barbara Cook as librarian Marian Paroo to Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill in the stage musical "The Music Man" in 1957. The show ran on Broadway for 1,375 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for "Best Original Cast Album".

"The Music Man" was made into a movie and released in 1962. Robert Preston revived his role as Professor Harold Hill but the role of librarian Marian Paroo was taken by Shirley Jones. The first recording of "Till There Was You" to be released came even before the original cast album version in 1958. It was produced by Nelson Riddle and featured his orchestra and 17 year old vocalist Sue Raney. There was an earlier version of the song called "Till I Met You", it was first recorded by Eileen Wilson in 1950.

Answer: Please Mr. Postman

"Please Mr. Postman" was written by William Garrett/Georgia Dobbins/Brian Holland/Robert Bateman/Freddie Gorman. It was number one for one week for The Marvelettes on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. It did not chart in the UK.

"Please Mr. Postman" was number one for one week for The Carpenters on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year. The Boone Family, yes that Boone, released a version in 1974 around the same time as The Carpenters but it did not chart in the US or UK. Both versions however, made it to the South African pop chart at the same time.

"Please Mister Postman" was track seven on The Beatles' second UK album "with the beatles" and had been part of their live act. The Beatles' recording of the song was criticised by our old friend Ian MacDonald, as having a "wall of sound" and for a "general airlessness", whatever that means. Ian MacDonald was best known for his forensic history of the Beatles "Revolution in the Head", save me from Beatles experts.

Answer: Roll Over Beethoven

"Roll Over Beethoven" was written by Chuck Berry. It was a number 29 hit on the Billboard Top 100 and a number seven hit on the Billboard R&B chart for him in 1956. It did not chart in the UK.

Chuck Berry was born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A., in 1926. He had a varied life to say the least; while still in high school he was imprisoned for armed robbery and stealing a car at gunpoint. Sent to the reformatory for young men at Algoa, near Jefferson City, Missouri, he formed a vocal quartet and took up boxing. Released in 1947 he worked as a factory worker at two automobile assembly plants and as a janitor for the apartment building where he and his wife lived. Later he trained as a beautician at the Poro College of Cosmetology.

Travelling to Chicago in 1955 he contacted Leonard Chess of Chess Records at the suggestion of Muddy Waters. Berry's version of an old country and western recording by Bob Wills entitled "Ida Red" got Chess's attention and "Ida Red" became "Maybellene". With Willie Dixon on bass, Jerome Green on maracas, Johnnie Johnson on piano and Jasper Thomas on drums, it sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies. It was number one on the Billboard R&B chart and number five on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart in 1955.

The Beatles' version of "Roll Over Beethoven" was released in the US on "The Beatles' Second Album" which was number one for five weeks on the Billboard album chart. It was released by Capitol of Canada and peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was released on the EP "Four By The Beatles" which peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. All of these releases were in 1964. How many copies "Roll Over Beethoven" was credited with selling, is anyone's guess but I think Chuck Berry would have been quite happy with the royalties cheques. If you have the album, single and EP in mint condition, you might just be able to retire early.

Answer: The Miracles

"You Really Got A Hold On Me" was was written by William Robinson as "You've Really Got A Hold On Me". It was a number eight hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Miracles in 1963. It did not chart in the UK.

Smokey Robinson was born William Robinson Jr. in Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., in 1940. Singer/songwriter/producer/record executive Smokey Robinson was the founder and lead singer of The Miracles. They were formed as The Five Chimes in 1955. He was one of the top songwriter/producers before Holland-Dozier-Holland arrived at Motown. He penned such songs as "My Guy" for Mary Wells, "My Girl" for The Temptations, "Don't Mess With Bill" for the Marvelettes and "I'll Be Doggone" for Marvin Gaye.

"You Really Got A Hold On Me" by The Beatles was the third track on side two of their second UK album "with the beatles". The lead vocal was shared by John Lennon and George Harrison with Paul McCartney on harmony vocals. The Fab Four recorded the song on four occasions for BBC radio in 1963, one of which was released on the "Live At The BBC" album in 1994. A live version recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, also in 1963 was released on the "Anthology 1" album in 1995. In 1969 the song was recorded again during the "Let It Be" recording sessions and is featured in the 1970 documentary film "Let It Be".

Answer: Devil

"Devil In Her Heart" was written by Richard Drapkin as "Devil In His Heart". It was released by The Donays on the Correc-tone record label in 1961. It was re-released on the Brent record label as "(There's a) Devil in His Heart", the B-side of "Bad Boy" in 1962. Neither release made the US or UK charts.

The Donays, a girl group from Hamtramck, Michigan, U. S. A., never had any chart hits at all. The lead singer of The Donays, Yvonne Vernee Allen, joined the reformed Elgins to tour the UK in 1971. The original lead singer, Saundra Mallett Edwards, had refused to rejoin the group. The Elgins toured the UK to promote their 1966 US hit "Heaven Must Have Sent You" which was re-issued and peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1971.

The Beatles' version of "Devil In Her Heart" was track five on side two of The Beatles' second UK album "with the beatles". Not only did George Harrison sing lead vocal on "Devil In Her Heart", he also took the lead on "Roll Over Beethoven" and the self penned "Don't Bother Me". The latter was also his first original composition on a Beatles' album. Only two original Beatles' albums "with the beatles" and "Revolver", feature three lead vocals by George Harrison.

Answer: Money (That's What I Want)

"Money (That's What I Want)" was written by Berry Gordy/Janie Bradford. It was a number 23 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard R&B chart for Barrett Strong in 1960. It did not chart in the UK. It was the first US hit for Motown and was licensed to Anna Records.

Singer/songwriter Barrett Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, U. S. A., in 1941. "Money (That's What I Want)" was the only hit on the Billboard Hot 100 that he achieved. As a songwriter he wrote or co-wrote such hits as "I Can't Get Next to You", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations. He also wrote "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Gladys Knight & The Pips and Marvin Gaye and "War" by Edwin Starr.

The Beatles recorded their version of the song in seven takes in July 1963 and it became the last track on their second UK album "with the beatles". According to an anecdote attributed to George Harrison, The Beatles found a copy of the original song by Barrett Strong in one of Brian Epstein's record shops NEMS (North End Music Stores), in Liverpool.

The version by British group Bern Elliott and The Fenmen peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

Answer: It was the only UK chart entry solely by The Beatles on which Pete Best played drums

"Ain't She Sweet" was written by Milton Ager/Jack Yellen in 1927. It peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart for The Beatles in 1964. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

As with "My Bonnie", "Ain't She Sweet" was never classed as an official Beatles' record in the UK. Both records were released on the Polydor record label in the UK and had been recorded in Germany in 1961. Both records were obviously re-released to cash in on The Beatles' new found fame. The Beatles official original UK single releases from "Love Me Do" to "Lady Madonna" (17), were released on the Parlaphone label. Their records from "Hey Jude" to "Let It Be" (5) were released on the Apple label.

Pete Best was the drummer for The Beatles for two years from 1960 to 1962. He was fired by Brian Epstein with the approval of the other three members of the group and missed out on the fame and fortune that the others enjoyed. He once worked loading bread in delivery vans and then became a civil servant for 20 years. After The Beatles' "Anthology 1" was released in 1995 containing tracks with him on drums, it is estimated that he received between £1 million and £4 million in royalties. Just maybe he got some of what he deserved at long last, better late than never.

Answer: Sally

"Long Tall Sally" was written by Robert Blackwell/Enotris Johnson/Richard Penniman (Little Richard). It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 for Little Richard in 1956. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1957.

Little Richard was born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, U. S. A., in 1932. His love of performing came after Sister Rosetta Tharpe invited him to sing on stage during a concert at the Macon City Auditorium in 1947. His first recordings were made in 1951 for RCA. His first hit was "Tutti Frutti" which peaked at number two on the Billboard R&B chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1956. It peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart in 1957.

The Beatles released the E. P. "Long Tall Sally" in the UK in 1964, it peaked at number one on the UK E. P. chart. It was their fifth official E. P. and the first to contain tracks that had not been previously released on singles or albums. In 2009 the four tracks on the E. P. were released on the remastered "Past Masters" CD.

Answer: Slow Down

"Slow Down" was written by Larry Williams. It was the B-Side of "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" which peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Larry Williams in 1958. It did not chart in the UK.

Larry Williams was born Lawrence Eugene Williams in New Orleans, Louisiana, U. S. A., in 1935. He died of a gunshot wound to the head in 1980 aged 44. Even though there was much speculation, his death was deemed to be a suicide. No one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with his death. His biggest hit and only Top Ten entry was "Short Fat Fanny" which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. It peaked at number 21 on the UK singles chart the same year. His biggest hit on the UK singles chart was "Bony Moronie" which peaked at number 11 in 1958. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957.

The Beatles' version of "Slow Down" was the first track on side two of the "Long Tall Sally" E. P. released in the UK in 1964. My least favourite music critic, the late Ian MacDonald, said this of The Beatles version of "Slow Down" in his book "Revolution In The Head". "One of the Beatles' least successful rock-and-roll covers, lacking bottom, drive and basic cohesion". He also stated that "The guitar solo is embarrassing and the sound balance a shambles" I couldn't care less what any music critics say, "Slow Down" remains one of my favourite Rock and Roll covers by The Beatles.

Answer: Ringo Starr

"Matchbox" was written by Carl Perkins. It was the B-Side of "Your True Love" which peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Carl Perkins in 1957. It did not chart in the UK.

Carl Perkins was born Carl Lee Perkins in Tiptonville, Tennessee, U. S. A., in 1932. He died after a series of strokes in 1998 aged 65. "Blue Suede Shoes" was his only Top 20 hit when it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1956. Called "The King of Rockabilly", he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I don't know how true this is but Paul McCartney once stated that "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles".

The Beatles' version of "Matchbox" was track two on side two of the E. P. "Long Tall Sally" released in the UK in 1964. Ringo Starr took the lead vocal on the song. "Matchbox"/"Slow Down" was released as a single in the US; "Matchbox" peaked at number 17 and "Slow Down" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

Answer: Samba

"Rock And Roll Music" was written by Chuck Berry. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 for Chuck Berry in 1957. It did not chart in the UK.

Chuck Berry was born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A., in 1926. After his release from prison in 1947 where he'd been for armed robbery, he took a number of ordinary jobs. In May 1955 he met Muddy Waters in Chicago and on his advice contacted Leonard Chess at Chess records. By August the same year the million selling "Maybellene" had entered the Billboard Hot 100 then peaked at number five. It also entered the Billboard R&B chart where it reached number one. It did not chart in the UK.

The Beatles' version of "Rock And Roll Music" was track four on side one of The Beatles' third UK album "Beatles For Sale". John Lennon sang lead vocal on "Rock And Roll Music" with these lyrics:

"Don't care to hear them play a tango
And in the mood they take a mambo
It's way to early for the congo
So keep a' rocking that piano"

Answer: Mr. Moonlight

"Mr. Moonlight" was written by Roy Lee Johnson. It was the B-Side of "Doctor Feel-Good" a number 66 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Dr. Feelgood and The Medics, aka Piano Red. It did not chart in the UK.

Piano Red was born William Lee Perryman in Hampton, Georgia, U. S. A., in 1911. He died of cancer in 1985 aged 73. He made his first recordings for Vocalion Records in Georgia in the mid '30s but they were never released at the time. In 1950 he recorded "Rockin' With Red" and "Red's Boogie" again in Georgia but for RCA Victor. They were both Top Ten hits on the Billboard R&B chart.

In 1963 The Merseybeats may have been the first British group to record "Mister Moonlight". It was the B-Side of "I Think Of You" which peaked at number five on the UK singles chart in 1964.

The Beatles' version of "Mr. Moonlight" (very close to the original) was track six on side one of their fourth UK album "Beatles For Sale". It was number one for 11 weeks on the UK album chart in 1964/65.

Answer: Kansas City

"Kansas City" was written by Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller in 1952. It was first recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year. Wilbert Harrison had the biggest hit to date with the song when it was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It did not chart in the UK.

In 1955 Little Richard recorded two versions of the song, the first of which would not be released until 1970. The second reworked version included a refrain from his own composition "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey (Goin' Back To Birmingham)". "Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!" became the version that The Beatles covered on the UK album "Beatles For Sale". Little Richard's version peaked at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 26 on the UK singles chart in 1959.

When "Beatles For Sale" was first released in the UK the song was listed as written by (Leiber - Stoller). After the attorneys for Venice Music complained, it was amended on later issues to read (Leiber - Stoller) (Penniman). I don't know if it was the policy of The Beatles or their record label at the time but unfortunately no singles were released from the album in the UK. If they had, a nailed on certain UK number one hit would have been "Eight Days A Week". It was however released as a single in the US and spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

Answer: Words Of Love

"Words Of Love" was written by Buddy Holly. It was released as a single in 1957 but did not make the charts in the US or UK. It was included on Buddy Holly's debut solo album the eponymous "Buddy Holly" in 1958, which also did not chart in the US or UK. The 1993 album "Words Of Love" by Buddy Holly & The Crickets was a number one hit on the UK album chart.

The Beatles were big fans of Buddy Holly & The Crickets. "Words Of Love" however, was the only song written by Buddy Holly that they recorded and released before the group disbanded. It was track two on side two of The Beatles fourth UK album "Beatles For Sale" which was number one for 11 weeks on the UK album chart in 1964/65.

Recordings of other songs written by Buddy Holly were included on later compilation albums. "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" recorded in 1963, was on the "Live at the BBC" album released in 1994 and "That'll Be The Day" recorded in Liverpool in 1958 was on the "Anthology 1" album released in 1995.

Answer: painting the town

"Honey Don't" was written by Carl Perkins. It was the B-Side of his only Top Ten hit in the US & UK "Blue Suede Shoes".

On March 21 1956 after a show in Norfolk, Virginia, the Perkins Brothers Band were heading to New York City, for a March 24 appearance on NBC-TV's Perry Como Show. Their car hit the back of a pickup truck and ended up in a ditch containing water. Carl Perkins was thrown from the car and landed face down in the water. The band's drummer W. S. "Fluke" Holland rolled him over and probably saved him from drowning. Perkins suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a broken collar bone, a severe concussion and lacerations all over his body. The driver of the pickup truck, a farmer named Thomas Phillips aged 40, died after being thrown forward into the steering wheel. Carl's brother Jay had a fractured neck and severe internal injuries. He died of a brain tumour in 1958.

The Beatles' version of "Honey Don't" was track three on side two of The Beatles' 1965 album "Beatles For Sale". It was the first of two songs on the album written by Carl Perkins but the only one sung by Ringo.

Answer: Half past four

"Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" was written by Carl Perkins. It was a track on his 1957 album "Dance Album of Carl Perkins". The album made no impact on the US or UK charts when it was released on the Sun record label owned by Sam Phillips. Carl Perkins had already left Sun Records by this time and joined Columbia Records. He had two minor hits for Columbia on the Billboard Hot 100, "Pink Pedal Pushers" peaked at number 91 in 1958 and "Pointed Toe Shoes" peaked at number 93 in 1959.

"Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" was the seventh and final track on side two of The Beatles' 1965 UK album "Beatles For Sale". It was the second Carl Perkins song on the album and George Harrison was on lead vocal duty which was processed with the STEED effect. The STEED effect (send tape echo echo delay), is a magnetic tape sound recording technique used to apply a delay effect using tape loops and echo chambers. It was developed by recording engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott at the Abbey Road studios in the early '60s, supervised by engineer/producer Norman Smith.

Answer: Buck Owens

"Act Naturally" was written by John Russell/Vonnie Morrison. It was a number one hit on the Billboard Country chart for Buck Owens and The Buckaroos in 1963. The songwriter John Russell could not get anyone to record the song for two years. Vonnie Morrison who worked for Buck Owens got a songwriting credit on the record for introducing it to Buck Owens. Nice work if you can get it.

The Beatles' version of "Act Naturally" was the first track on side two of their 1965 album "Help!". They had recorded a different song for Ringo's contribution to the album but were not satisfied with the result, "If You've Got Trouble". I fully agree with them, it was an awful song. It was eventually released on "Anthology 2" in 1996.

As usual at this time the UK version of the album is different from the US version. In the UK, track one to seven on side one were from the movie and side two contained seven new songs. In the US the album only contained the songs from the movie plus the incidental music.

Answer: Help!

"Dizzy Miss Lizzy" was written by Larry Williams. It peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Larry Williams in 1958. It did not chart in the UK.

"Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" was the last Billboard Hot 100 hit for Larry Williams until the minor hit "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" with Johnny Watson in 1967. His career came to a sudden halt in 1960 when he was convicted of dealing narcotics and jailed for three years. In the late '60s besides his brief return to the Billboard Hot 100 he produced two albums for Little Richard, in 1966 and 1967. He took up acting and appeared in the movies "Just For The Hell Of It" (1968), "The Klansman" (1974) and "Drum" (1976). By 1977 he was living in Los Angeles and addicted to cocaine and heroin. One time he pulled a gun on and threatened to kill Little Richard over money he was owed for drugs. Little Richard paid up and later returned to Christianity and the ministry.

The Beatles' version of "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" was the seventh and final track on side two of their fifth UK album "Help!". It was number one for nine weeks on the UK album chart in 1965. I will leave the last words to my favourite (not) music critic, the late Ian MacDonald. In his book "Revolution in the Head", (his critical history of the Beatles), he said this about "Dizzy Miss Lizzy". "An unprepossessing shambles of ersatz hysteria and jumbled double-tracking" and "Little better than Williams' drab twelve-bar boogie original". I wondered why it is not one of my favourite Beatle songs, now I know.