I'm Talking About You

I'm Talkin' 'Bout You is a Chuck Berry song, which became popular in the US in 1961. Since John Lennon and Paul McCartney counted themselves amongst Chuck Berry's enthusiastic fans, it was fairly certain that the Beatles would cover I'm Talkin' 'Bout You for their Cavern Club act in Liverpool. (Do not confuse this song with a later rap number by T.I. and a distinct version by Ray Charles, covered by the Animals, all using the same title.)

John Lennon took lead vocals, as was the usual case with Berry covers. The lyrics reflect the "personal" touch the Beatles favored in these early days, with the singer directing the song directly to a young girl, with whom their fans screamingly identified. "Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know . . . she looks so good . . . lovely indeed, that's why she ought to be some way in Hollywood. I'm talkin' 'bout you – Nobody but you baby. I do mean you – I'm just trying to get a message to you."

A sole track, one minute and 47 seconds long, survives on the 1977 release, Live! At the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962, where it appears as track 4 on side 4, just before Sister Kate. A later performance, recorded by the BBC for its 1963 broadcasts of the Beatles, was excluded from the Live at the BBC album (1994), presumably because the recording quality was not up to standard.