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The songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, usually referred to as Lennon/McCartney (sometimes McCartney/Lennon), is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations of all time. A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, In an agreement reached early in their partnership, the pair agreed to use the shared credit Lennon/McCartney on all songs written alone or in tandem for The Beatles. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Their output constitutes the bulk of The Beatles' catalogue.

Lennon, with his cynical edge and knack for introspection, and McCartney, with his storytelling optimism and gift for melody, complemented each other. Lennon and McCartney formed a critically acclaimed and commercially successful partnership writing songs for The Beatles and other artists. [1]

Contents

The working partnership

Lennon's and McCartney's first musical idols were the Drifters, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly and they learned many of their songs and imitated their sound. The Drifters were a long-lived American Doo wop / R&B vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1962 though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. [2] Their first compositions were written at McCartney's home (20 Forthlin Road), at Lennon's aunt Mimi's house at 251 Menlove Avenue, or at the Liverpool Institute. See also Jim and Mary McCartney 20 Forthlin Road is a National Trust property in south Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Mary Elizabeth "Mimi" Smith (née Stanley) (1903 – 6 December 1992 is best known as the maternal Aunt and parental guardian of the English musician 251 Menlove Avenue, named Mendips, is a National Trust property the childhood home of John Lennon, singer and songwriter with The Beatles The Liverpool Institute High School for Boys was an all-boys Grammar school in the English port city of Liverpool. [3] They often invited friends such as George Harrison, Nigel Whalley, Barbara Baker, and Lennon's art school colleagues to listen to performances of their new songs. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author Art movement Art school is a colloquial term for any educational institution (whether elementary secondary post-secondary/undergraduate or graduate/postgraduate with a primary focus [4]

A common misconception of Lennon and McCartney is that each of the duo composed his own songs alone and simply credited them to the partnership. While each of them did often write independently — and many Beatles songs are primarily the work of one or the other — it was rare that a song would be completed without some input from both. In many instances, one writer would sketch an idea or a song fragment and take it to the other to finish or improve; in some cases, two incomplete songs or song ideas that each had worked on individually would be combined into a complete song. Often one of the pair would add a so-called middle eight or bridge section to the other's verse and chorus. The thirty-two-bar form, often shortened to AABA, is a Musical form common in Tin Pan Alley songs later popular music including rock and This article is about a bridge section in a piece of popular or classical music [5] Lennon called it "Writing eyeball-to-eyeball",[5] and "Playing into each other's noses". [6] This approach of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting team — with elements of competitiveness and mutual inspiration as well as straightforward collaboration and creative merging of musical ideas — is often cited as a key reason for the Beatles' innovativeness and popular success.

The pair wrote songs together from 1958 until 1969. As time went on, the songs increasingly became the work of one writer or the other, often with the partner offering up only a few words or an alternate chord. "A Day in the Life" is a notable and well-known example of a later Beatles song that includes substantial contributions by both Lennon and McCartney, where a separate song fragment by McCartney ("Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. "A Day in the Life" is a song by the British rock band The Beatles, written by John Lennon with the middle eight by Paul McCartney . . ") was used to flesh out the middle of Lennon's composition ("I read the news today, oh boy. . . "). "Hey Jude" is another example of a later Paul McCartney song that was improved by relatively minor, but significant, input from Lennon. " Hey Jude " is a song by the English rock band The Beatles that was recorded in 1968 Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, While auditioning the song for Lennon, when McCartney came to the lyric "the movement you need is on your shoulder," McCartney assured Lennon that he would change the line — which McCartney felt was nonsensical — as soon as he could come up with a better lyric. Lennon advised McCartney to leave that line alone, saying it was one of the strongest in the song. [7]

In his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon said of the partnership, "[Y]ou could say that he provided a lightness, an optimism, while I would always go for the sadness, the discords, a certain bluesy edge. There was a period when I thought I didn't write melodies, that Paul wrote those and I just wrote straight, shouting rock 'n' roll. But, of course, when I think of some of my own songs — "In My Life" — or some of the early stuff — "This Boy" — I was writing melody with the best of them. . . . Then again, I'd be the one to figure out where to go with a song — a story that Paul would start. In a lot of the songs, my stuff is the 'middle eight,' the bridge. " [8]

Less well known are the uncredited contributions by George Harrison to many of the Lennon/McCartney songs, including many of the key guitar riffs and signature musical phrases often associated with Lennon/McCartney songs, a subject matter than has been dealt with more frequently since the death of Harrison in 2001.

A joint credit

Even before they formed the Beatles, McCartney and Lennon began writing songs together. Lennon suggested that all songs written by either one of the pair (whether written individually or in a collaborative effort) should be credited to both of them, in an effort to emulate the familiarity of the Leiber–Stoller partnership. Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (born April 25, 1933) and Mike Stoller (born March 13, 1933) are among the most influential Between January 1962 and December 1969 all songs published by either of them (with the exception of McCartney’s “Woman” (1966), The Family Way score (1966), “Cat Call” (1967) “Penina” (1969), Lennon’s solo single “Cold Turkey” (1969), and McCartney’s “Come And Get It” (1969)), were jointly credited. " Cold Turkey " is a song written by John Lennon, and recorded by The Plastic Ono Band. On The Beatles' first album, Please Please Me, as well as the "From Me to You" single, the credit appeared as "McCartney−Lennon"; on all later albums and singles Lennon's name appeared first. Please Please Me is the first album recorded by The Beatles, rush-released on March 22, 1963 in the United Kingdom to capitalise " From Me to You " is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles as a single in 1963. As a result of this mutual agreement, songwriting royalties for the bulk of The Beatles' catalogue were shared equally between the two. Royalties (sometimes running royalties) are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee" to another (the "licensor" for ongoing use of an

There was known to be substantial disagreement between Lennon and McCartney over the authorship of only three songs: "In My Life" and "Eleanor Rigby", and recently Ticket to Ride. " In My Life " is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. " Eleanor Rigsby " is a song by The Beatles, originally released on the 1966 Album Revolver. [9] Although Lennon said that McCartney helped only with the middle eight of "In My Life",[10] McCartney claims that he wrote the whole melody by taking inspiration from two Smokey Robinson songs: "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Tears of a Clown". The thirty-two-bar form, often shortened to AABA, is a Musical form common in Tin Pan Alley songs later popular music including rock and The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable } " You've Really Got a Hold on Me " is a 1962 Top 10 hit single by The Miracles from the album The Fabulous Miracles for the Tamla ( Motown "The Tears of a Clown" is a 1967 song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla ( Motown) label originally released on the 1967 album [9] McCartney said that he wrote "Eleanor Rigby" on an upright piano in the Ashers' music room in Wimpole Street,[11] and later played it to Donovan before it was finished — a claim which Donovan confirmed. Jane Asher (born 5 April 1946) is an English actress, who is well known in the United Kingdom for her Television career Donovan ( Donovan Phillips Leitch, born 10 May 1946 in Glasgow) is a Scottish Singer-songwriter and guitarist [12] Lennon claimed, in 1972, that he wrote 70% of the "Eleanor Rigby" lyrics,[13] but Pete Shotton, Lennon's childhood friend, remembered Lennon's contribution as being "absolutely nil". Peter Shotton (born 4 August 1941 in Liverpool) is an English businessman best known for his long friendship with John Lennon of [14] Beatle experts assign credit to "In My Life" mainly to Lennon, and credit "Eleanor Rigby" mainly to McCartney, although it is generally agreed that neither song was a solo effort.

Controversy

The nature and billing order of the dual credit were an occasional source of controversy. When McCartney released his solo live album Wings Over America in 1976, the songwriting credits for five Beatles songs included on the album were reversed to place McCartney's name first; Lennon's wife Yoko Ono publicly objected to the change, though Lennon himself made no public statement. Wings over America is the sixth Album issued by Wings and their only Live album. born in Tokyo on February 18 1933 is a Japanese Artist and Musician.

When Lennon's 1997 posthumous compilation of solo hits, Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon, was released, "Give Peace a Chance", a song that had previously been credited to Lennon/McCartney, was listed as being composed solely by Lennon. Lennon Legend The Very Best of John Lennon is the third official compilation Album of John Lennon 's solo career coming after 1975's Shaved " Give Peace a Chance " is a song written by John Lennon and originally credited to Lennon/McCartney (John Lennon and Paul McCartney) The song was written by Lennon but was originally released in the period when all songs by both were credited to Lennon/McCartney regardless of the respective scale of contribution. Lennon stated that he had originally chosen to share the credit with McCartney "out of guilt"[15]

In the late 1990s, McCartney and Yoko Ono were in a dispute over the writing credits for a number of Beatles songs. born in Tokyo on February 18 1933 is a Japanese Artist and Musician. [16] McCartney had wanted to change the credits from the traditional Lennon/McCartney to 'Paul McCartney and John Lennon' for the song "Yesterday". " Yesterday " is a pop song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. McCartney claimed that he and Lennon had agreed in the past that the credits could be reversed, if either of them wanted to, on any future releases, but he later withdrew his request. [16] In a February 2005 statement, McCartney said, "It's something that I don't have a problem with anymore. February 2005: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August "[17]

An in depth analysis of the legal issues surrounding this dispute is the subject of a sixty-six page Pepperdine Law Review Article from 2006. [18]

Other credits

A number of songs written primarily by the duo and recorded by the Beatles were credited to people in addition to Lennon and McCartney. "What Goes On" was credited to Lennon/McCartney/Starkey, while "Flying" and "Dig It", as well as the Beatles version of "Free as a Bird", were credited to Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey. " What Goes On " is a song by The Beatles, featured as the eighth track on their sixth UK Album Rubber Soul. Ringo Starr, MBE (born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 is an English Musician, Singer, Songwriter and Actor " Flying " is an instrumental song by The Beatles which first appeared on the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour release (two EP discs in the For the Skinny Puppy song see Dig It (Skinny Puppy song. " Dig It " is a song by The Beatles featured on their album " Free as a Bird " is a song performed by The Beatles. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author The German-language versions of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" were also credited to additional songwriters for assisting with the translation: "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" was credited to Lennon/McCartney/Nicholas/Heller and "Sie Liebt Dich" was credited to Lennon/McCartney/Nicholas/Montague. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. " I Want to Hold Your Hand " is a song by the English pop and rock band The Beatles. " She Loves You " is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963 " I Want to Hold Your Hand " is a song by the English pop and rock band The Beatles. Camillo Jean Nicolas Felgen ( 17 November 1920 in Tétange – 16 July 2005 in Esch-sur-Alzette) was a Luxembourgian " She Loves You " is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963

Non-Beatles songs

In the 1960s, many songs credited to Lennon/McCartney were originally released not by the Beatles but by other artists, especially those managed by Brian Epstein. NEMS Enterprises defaults here For the Latin American record label see NEMS Enterprises (label. Recording a Lennon/McCartney song helped launch new artists' careers. Beatles' versions of some of these were recorded; some were not released until after their split, on compilations such as Live at the BBC and The Beatles Anthology. Live at the BBC was the first official release of previously unissued material by The Beatles since Let It Be from 1970, appearing The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series a series of three albums and a book all of which focus on the history of The Beatles.

McCartney also penned Peter and Gordon's 1966 release "Woman" (not to be confused with Lennon's "Woman," written and released in 1980), but in an effort to see if one of their singles would succeed without the Lennon/McCartney songwriting credit, credit was given to the pseudonym "Bernard Webb" (though American discs list "A. With The Beatles is The Beatles ' second UK album recorded four months after the band's first album and released on 22 November, 1963 Billy J Kramer (born William Howard Ashton 19 August 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion " Bad to Me " is a song written by John Lennon, credited to Lennon/McCartney, that Lennon wrote for Billy J Tommy Quickly (born July 7, 1943 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England whose real name was Thomas Quigley, was a Liverpool Rock The Fourmost were an English Merseybeat band that recorded in the 1960s Cilla Black OBE (born Priscilla Maria Veronica White on 27 May, 1943) is an English Singer-songwriter and Television Peter and Gordon were a British Invasion -era performing duo formed by Peter Asher and Gordon Waller, that rocketed to fame in 1964 with " P J Proby (born James Marcus Smith, 6 November 1938, Houston, Texas, United States) is a Singer, The Black Dyke Band, formerly the Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and best known Brass bands in the world Mary Hopkin (born May 3 1950) is a Welsh folk Singer. She is best known as one of the first artists (along with James Taylor Smith").

Notes

  1. ^ See 'Writing Styles' in "The Lennon-McCartney Songwriting Partnership" bbc. co. uk, 4 November 2005. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved: 14 December 2006
  2. ^ Spitz. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. p131-132
  3. ^ Miles. p34.
  4. ^ Spitz. p135
  5. ^ a b Miles. p107
  6. ^ Spitz. p133
  7. ^ The Beatles Anthology documentary
  8. ^ Playboy interview (scroll down)
  9. ^ a b Miles. p277.
  10. ^ Miles. p278.
  11. ^ Miles. p281.
  12. ^ Miles. p282.
  13. ^ Miles. p283.
  14. ^ Miles. p284.
  15. ^ Sheff. p214-215
  16. ^ a b McCartney/Lennon crediting: problem with Yoko
  17. ^ “No problem any more” Retrieved: November 26 2006
  18. ^ Ezra D. Landes, I Am the Walrus - No. I Am!: Can Paul McCartney Transpose the Ubiquitous 'Lennon/McCartney' Songwriting Credit to Read 'McCartney/Lennon?" An Exploration of the Surviving Beatle's Attempt to Re-Write Music Lore, as it Pertains to the Bundle of Intellectual Property Rights, 34 Pepp. L. Rev. 185 (2006).

References

External links

See also

The following is a sortable table of all songs by The Beatles: The column Title list the song title
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