LIST OF SONGS, 1959
In 2020, a written list came to light, detailing many songs from the group's then current repertoire, under the sub-headings, Paul, George and Instries [instrumentals]. Given these sub-headings, and what we know of the songs, the names refer to the lead singer.
The list was first pictured in a re-issue package of Paul's Flaming Pie album, and includes several original Beatles compositions among the famous hits, as well as a few which we cannot identify either way.
We have typed the full list out below, but our interest is particularly with the following entries:
1. Recognisable Beatles originals:
- Thinking Of Linking
- Catswalk (Catcall)
- Looking Glass
- George's Instr
- Winston's--Stuart
2. Possible Beatles originals (no confirmed songs could be identified by these names):
- Monday Morning Blues
- Catalina
- Padola
- Weekend
From these songs, the first three are known from elsewhere as Beatle originals.
"George's Instr" and "Winston's--Stuart" are not otherwise known. "Winston's--Stuart" might be "Winston's Walk" with a note that Stuart is to somehow take centre stage - or it might not.
It's also interesting that "Catswalk" has its alternative name, "Catcall", right from the start. It was named "Catcall" when eventually recorded in 1967, but here is proof that the name was not new at that point.
The remaining four tracks are titles which we could not identify, and so there is a possibility they are originals. There are numerous songs with the word 'Catalina' in the title, and this might be one of them.
Below is the entire list, typed out, with the source originals noted. By checking the vintage of the other songs we can date the list to the second half of 1959, since the latest hit recordings are Crying Waiting Hoping (Buddy Holly) and Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny), both released in August of that year.
Paul
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George
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Instries
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[note 1] There's no such song as "Since My Baby Left Me". Elvis recorded "My Baby Left Me", but also had a hit with "Hearbreak Hotel", which starts with the phrase 'Since my baby left me', so this could be a reference to either song. It's worth noting that when Lennon recorded a solo version of "My Baby Left Me" in the 1970s, it was incorrectly released as "Since My Baby Left Me" (see Menlove Avenue), suggesting that's what the Beatles may have called it all along. Either way, both songs were released in 1956.
[note 2] There is an old song by this name, but it's not clear how McCartney would have known it. Probably the first recording was by Mississippi John Hurt, done in the 1960s. Therefore, we consider this a possible Beatles original.
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- Mean Woman Blues – Elvis Presley (1957)
- Whole Lotta Shaking [Going On] – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
- Honey Don't – Carl Perkins (1956)
- I'll Never Let You Go – Little Richard (1958)
- Baby Let's Play House – Elvis Presley (1955)
- I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine – Elvis Presley (1954)
- Thinking Of Linking
- That's All Right – Elvis Presley (1956)
- Blue Moon Of Kentucky – Elvis Presley (1954)
- Any Place Is Paradise – Elvis Presley (1956)
- Since My Baby Left Me – Elvis Presley [note 1] (1956)
- Love Of My Life – Everley Brothers (1958)
- Halleula! [Hallelujah I Love Her So] – Ray Charles (1956)
George
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- Glad All Over – Carl Perkins (1957)
- Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry (1956)
- Matchbox – Carl Perkins (1957)
- Midnight Shift – Buddy Holly (1958)
- Say Mamma – Gene Vincent (1958)
- Keep A Knockin – Little Richard (1958)
- Money Honey – Elvis Presley (1956)
- Looking For Someone [To Love] – Buddy Holly (1957)
- That'll Be The Day – Buddy Holly (1957)
- Crying Waiting Hoping – Buddy Holly (1959)
- Honky Tonk Blues – Hank Williams (1952)
- That's Right – Carl Perkins (1957)
- Just Because – Elvis Presley (1956)
Instries
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- Catswalk (Catcall)
- Monday Morning Blues [note 2]
- Big Bill Blues: Big Bill Broonzy (1958)
- Harry Lime: Anton Karas (1949)
- Blue Comet B[lues]: Bill Haley & His Comets (1956)
- Looking Glass
- George's Instr
- Guitar Boogie: Arthur Smith And His Crackerjacks (1945)
- Winston's--Stuart
- Catalina: Unknown (could be one of a number of songs with the word in the title)
- Padola: Unknown
- Weekend: Unknown
- Son Of Honky: The Ted Taylor Four (1958)
- Sleepwank [Sleepwalk] – Santo & Johnny (1959)
- September Song: Standard/various artists
[note 1] There's no such song as "Since My Baby Left Me". Elvis recorded "My Baby Left Me", but also had a hit with "Hearbreak Hotel", which starts with the phrase 'Since my baby left me', so this could be a reference to either song. It's worth noting that when Lennon recorded a solo version of "My Baby Left Me" in the 1970s, it was incorrectly released as "Since My Baby Left Me" (see Menlove Avenue), suggesting that's what the Beatles may have called it all along. Either way, both songs were released in 1956.
[note 2] There is an old song by this name, but it's not clear how McCartney would have known it. Probably the first recording was by Mississippi John Hurt, done in the 1960s. Therefore, we consider this a possible Beatles original.