- Chains (song)
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"Chains" Single by The Cookies Released November 1962 Format 7" single Writer(s) Gerry Goffin/Carole King "Chains" Song by The Beatles from the album Please Please Me Released March 22, 1963 Recorded February 11, 1963 Genre Rock and roll Length 2:23 Label Parlophone Writer Gerry Goffin/Carole King Producer George Martin Please Please Me track listing 14 tracks - Side one
- "I Saw Her Standing There"
- "Misery"
- "Anna (Go to Him)"
- "Chains"
- "Boys"
- "Ask Me Why"
- "Please Please Me"
- Side two
"Chains" is a song composed by the Brill Building husband-and-wife songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was a major hit for Little Eva’s backing singers, The Cookies (#17 U.S. Pop, #7 R&B),[1] and later covered by The Beatles.
Contents
The Beatles' version
The single by the Cookies was a popular cover song for Liverpool bands after its release in November 1962,[2] and was included briefly in The Beatles' live sets.[3] They recorded it on February 11, 1963 for inclusion on their British debut, Please Please Me.[4] Music critic Ian MacDonald criticized The Beatles' performance, writing that it was "slightly out-of-tune" and "lacked spontaneity."[3]
Personnel
- George Harrison – lead vocal, lead guitar
- Paul McCartney – harmony vocal, bass guitar
- John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar, harmonica
- Ringo Starr – drums
- George Martin – producer
- Norman Smith – engineer
- Personnel per MacDonald[3]
The Beatles played the song live on a number of BBC radio shows, including Side by Side, Here We Go and Pop Go the Beatles (though none of these performances were included on the 1994 compilation Live at the BBC).[2]
Notes
References
- Harry, Bill (2000). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Revised and Updated. London: Virgin Publishing. ISBN 0-7535-0481-2.
- Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-844-13828-3.
Please Please Me Related articles Songs Side one: I Saw Her Standing There · Misery · Anna (Go to Him) · Chains · Boys · Ask Me Why · Please Please Me
Side two: Love Me Do · P.S. I Love You · Baby It's You · Do You Want to Know a Secret · A Taste of Honey · There's a Place · Twist and ShoutPlease Please Me · With The Beatles · A Hard Day's Night · Beatles for Sale · Help! · Rubber Soul · Revolver · Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band · Magical Mystery Tour · The Beatles (White Album) · Yellow Submarine · Abbey Road · Let It Be Categories:- 1962 singles
- Songs produced by George Martin
- Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin
- The Beatles songs
- Songs written by Carole King
- English-language songs
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