early songs from the GET BACK SESSIONS
An invaluable reference point is the bulky audio document which comes from the 1969 Get Back sessions. Many Lennon-McCartney oldies were run through, with much of the project being recorded on tape. In some cases these performances constitute the only evidence of particular early compositions.
The story behind these sessions is well-known. For much of January 1969, the group were playing in front of the cameras for a planned film about the rehearsing and preparation of a proposed live concert. The Get Back philosophy, plus the direct interaction it forced on the group, clearly suggested a return to the old days. Consequently, they were repeatedly reminded of early songs and at least 15 Lennon-McCartney oldies were captured on tape during the month, one of which, “One After 909”, even made the final album.
Author Doug Sulpy has meticulously trawled through all the available audio, mostly through leaked tapes and the consequent bootlegs. His book, Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image talks us through all the recordings day-by-day. Its thoroughness is matched by an incredible 83-CD set called A/B Road, which contains all of the audio.
Sulpy has helpfully assigned a code number to every scrap of audio. All the recordings were made in January, and the reference numbers start with the date, followed by the track number for the day (so DDSI.3.65 means January 3, track number 65). We use Sulpy’s DDSI numbers below for reference, rounding up all the early songs which are available from the sessions (in order of appearance):
The story behind these sessions is well-known. For much of January 1969, the group were playing in front of the cameras for a planned film about the rehearsing and preparation of a proposed live concert. The Get Back philosophy, plus the direct interaction it forced on the group, clearly suggested a return to the old days. Consequently, they were repeatedly reminded of early songs and at least 15 Lennon-McCartney oldies were captured on tape during the month, one of which, “One After 909”, even made the final album.
Author Doug Sulpy has meticulously trawled through all the available audio, mostly through leaked tapes and the consequent bootlegs. His book, Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image talks us through all the recordings day-by-day. Its thoroughness is matched by an incredible 83-CD set called A/B Road, which contains all of the audio.
Sulpy has helpfully assigned a code number to every scrap of audio. All the recordings were made in January, and the reference numbers start with the date, followed by the track number for the day (so DDSI.3.65 means January 3, track number 65). We use Sulpy’s DDSI numbers below for reference, rounding up all the early songs which are available from the sessions (in order of appearance):
- One After 909 (DDSI.3.65, and around 25 more instances)
- Because I Know You Love Me So (DDSI.3.66)
- I’ll Wait ’Til Tomorrow (DDSI.3.68)
- Thinking of Linking (DDSI.3.70; DDSI.29.51)
- Won’t You Please Say Goodbye (DDSI.3.71)
- When I’m Sixty-Four (DDSI.7.69; DDSI.7.70)
- Too Bad About Sorrows (DDSI.8.21; DDSI.21.46)
- Just Fun (DDSI.8.21; DDSI.8.22)
- Please Please Me (DDSI.23.83; DDSI.25.61)
- Fancy Me Chances With You (DDSI.24.42)
- Hot As Sun (DDSI.24.63)
- Catswalk (DDSI.24.64)
- I Lost My Little Girl (DDSI.25.18)
- Suicide (DDSI.26.27)
- Love Me Do (DDSI.28.40)