MAY 21

Roll Over Beethoven

Written by: Berry
Recorded: 30 July 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 November 1963 (UK), 10 April 1964 (US)

Available on:
With The Beatles
Live At The BBC
Anthology 1
On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2

Personnel

George Harrison: vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
John Lennon: rhythm guitar, handclaps
Paul McCartney: bass, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps

Originally a hit for Chuck Berry in 1956, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ was sung by George Harrison on The Beatles’ second album.

The Beatles were huge fans of Berry’s music; between 1957 and 1966 they covered more songs written by him than by any other writer.

If they want things like ‘Sally’ and ‘Beethoven’, we can do that standing on our ears.

John Lennon, 1964
Anthology

The vast majority of The Beatles’ Chuck Berry covers were sung by Lennon. Indeed, he sang ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ until 1961, when Harrison took over on lead. It remained in the group’s set until the end of their US tour in September 1964.

It became one of three vocal spots for Harrison on With The Beatles, the others being ‘Devil In Her Heart’ and his own ‘Don’t Bother Me’.

I sang ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ for With The Beatles – it was a song I liked. I had the Chuck Berry record and I used to sing it in the clubs.

George Harrison
Anthology

‘Roll Over Beethoven’ opened the second side of With The Beatles, the group’s second UK LP, which was released on 22 November 1963. In America it opened The Beatles’ Second Album, released on 10 April 1964.

Today, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ is something of a curiosity; for many young listeners, the music of Berry and The Beatles is as far removed in time as the great classical composers. At its time of writing, however, the song neatly summarised the ‘us and them’ attitude of teenagers towards their parents’ music.

In the studio

‘Roll Over Beethoven’ was recorded in five takes on 30 July 1963, after which The Beatles added overdubs and the final guitar chord, which was edited in on 21 August.

The Beatles also recorded ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ seven times for BBC radio. The first was on 24 June 1963 at the Playhouse Theatre, London, and was first broadcast five days later on the Saturday Club programme.

The final radio version, recorded on 28 February 1964 and first broadcast on 30 March on From Us To You, was released on 1994’s Live At The BBC.

A live performance, from The Beatles’ 24 October 1963 show at the Karlaplansstudion in Stockholm, Sweden, was included on Anthology 1 in 1995.

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