Bad Boy

John Lennon sings Bad Boy, a song written by Larry Williams. On May 10, 1965 the Beatles covered two Larry Williams songs in one recording session. The other was Dizzy Miss Lizzy. The recordings were made for the US audience, and released the following month on Capitol's Beatles VI album. Because Capitol had so hacked up the previous Beatles' UK releases, holding back songs, replacing others and rearranging track order, the Beatles VI album was needed to "catch up" on songs well-known in Britain, but previously unreleased in the States. Into this mix of outcasts from Beatles for Sale, Help! and Ticket to Ride (the b-side: Yes it Is), came Bad Boy. The song was not released in the UK until 18 months later, in A Collection of Beatles Oldies.

Bad Boy is pure Rock and Roll. The Beatles had been performing this song for several years, and were very familiar with it. In fact, after laying down three rhythm tracks in the studio, they recorded the base track in just one take. Overdubs added Lennon's hoarse vocal, an additional lead guitar from George, Paul's piano and a tambourine from Ringo.