Behka’s Breakfast with The Beatles Recap: Week of June 30

Every day I like to begin our morning show on a positive note.  And for me, it doesn't get any better than a little sampling of the best group ever: The Beatles. On Monday, I played "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You".

"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by the Beatles for the film soundtrack to A Hard Day's Night. Lead vocals are by George Harrison, whose performance in the film marked the first commercial music video segment with Harrison singing lead. It was written specifically for George Harrison to sing at a time when he lacked the confidence to compose his own material. Years later, McCartney described it as a "formula song", and Lennon said, "I would never have sung it myself."

On Tuesday, I played "Another Girl".

"Another Girl" is a song by the Beatles released in 1965 on the album Help! and included in the film of the same name. The song was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is directed to the singer's girlfriend who is advised the singer has found "another girl." The Beatles recorded the song on 15 February 1965, having also worked on "Ticket to Ride" and "I Need You". The backing track was quickly recorded in a single take. George Harrison added a guitar "flourish" at the end which was omitted from the final mix. McCartney added lead guitar the next day. This is one of several Beatles songs recorded at the time on which McCartney played lead guitar in addition to his usual bass.

On Wednesday, I played "Clarabella".

"Clarabella" is a pop song composed by Frank Pingatore and recorded by the Jodimars (a group made of former members of Bill Haley & His Comets) in 1956. Today, it is best known for being recorded by the Beatles for the radio program "Pop Go the Beatles" on 2 July 1963, which was broadcast on the 16th of that month. It was released commercially on compact disc much later, on the 1994 compilation album Live at the BBC, although years earlier a similar rendition by Billy Preston (who would later work with the Beatles on their later recordings) was performed on a 1965 episode of Shindig!

On Thursday, I played "Dear Prudence".

The subject of the song is Prudence Farrow, actress Mia Farrow's sister, who was present when the Beatles went to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Farrow became so serious about her meditation that she turned into a near recluse and rarely came out of the cottage she was living in. John Lennon was asked to "contact her and make sure she came out more often to socialize". As a result, Lennon wrote the song "Dear Prudence". In the song Lennon asks Farrow to "open up your eyes" and "see the sunny skies" reminding her that she is "part of everything". The song was said to be "a simple plea to a friend to 'snap out of it'".

On Friday, I played "Lend Me Your Comb".

"Lend Me Your Comb" was a song that was originally the B-Side of Carl Perkins' "Glad All Over" single, released December 1957 . "Lend Me Your Comb" was Carl Perkins' last single on Sun Records. The Beatles, recorded a version on 2 July 1963 at the BBC  in London. The Beatles cover has helped the song gain some notability. The Beatles version was released on their Anthology 1 album in 1995 and again in 2013 on their On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 collection. Paul McCartney has also performed the song with Carl Perkins in a filmed performance on the 1993 "Old Friends" video.

Well, I'm on vacation next week, so you'll be without your daily Beatles fix until I get back. But, do let me know if there's something you want to hear when I return!

Combingly yours,
Behka