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I Call Your Name

Your rating: None Average: 4.5 (4 votes)
By: 
The Beatles
Lyrics: 
I Call Your Name Lyrics
Lead vocals: 
John Lennon
Songwriter(s): 
Lennon/McCartney
First released on: 
The Beatles' Second Album
U.S. release date: 
April 10, 1964
U.K. release date: 
June 19, 1964
Length (≈): 
2:09
Label: 
Capitol
Label: 
Parlophone
Produced by: 
George Martin
Recording date(s): 
March 1, 1964
Musicians : 
  • John Lennon – vocal, rhythm guitar
  • Paul McCartney – bass
  • George Harrison – lead guitar
  • Ringo Starr – drums, cowbell
Album(s): 
The Beatles' Second Album, The Beatles' Long Tall Sally, Past Masters, Mono Masters, Rarities (Parlophone), Rock 'n' Roll Music, Rock 'n' Roll Music, Vol. 1

John was the composer of I Call Your Name and he wrote it even before the Beatles were formed, though per custom it was credited to Lennon-McCartney.

Instead of recording the song, John gave it to Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, another group from Liverpool that George Martin had signed to a recording contract with Parlophone. Kramer ultimately released I Call Your Name on the b-side of Bad to Me, another Lennon-McCartney song.

John Lennon didn't like the Kramer arrangement or the fact that it was shunted to the b-side of the release.

The Beatles recorded the song on March 1, 1964. In the Beatles' version, only John sings vocals. Ringo plays a cowbell in addition to the drums. Some think the cowbell kept the song off the A Hard Day's Night album because of its similarity to You Can't Do That.

The Beatles version first appeared on The Beatles' Second Album in the US, and subsequently on the EP Long Tall Sally in the UK.

The song is noteworthy as the Beatles' first try at ska (the guitar solo in the middle eight). The most recent release of the song is found on Past Masters, Volume One.

For our money, this song is a classic of The Beatles' early period and boasts a clean Lennon vocal in which fans get a clear listen to his characteristic voice.

Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas' Version

I call your name but you're not there

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admin's picture

I have to wholeheartedly

admin - 2012-06-04 23:28

I have to wholeheartedly agree with John Lennon on this one. Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas' version was pretty weak. They were pretty weak generally though they did have a few songs that still work, I like "I'm in Love".

"A leaky house can fool the sun, but it can't fool the rain." - A Haitian Proverb

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