Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey

Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1964

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions



Related songs


Kansas City

Officially appears on Beatles For Sale (Mono)

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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

The song “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey“, also known as “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Goin’ Back to Birmingham)“, was written by Little Richard and recorded in May 9, 1956 at J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana (supervised by Bumps Blackwell).

Story

In 1955, Little Richard recorded two different versions of “Kansas City” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller: one on September, 13 (supervised by Bumps Blackwell), and one on November, 29 (with five vocalists, supervised by Art Rupe). The first version, which adheres closely to the original 1952 recording by Little Willie Littlefield for the first two verses, was not released until November 1970, on the compilation album Well Alright! The second version, which had been substantially re-worked by Little Richard (in particular, it featured a new refrain starting with words, “Hey, hey, hey, hey; Hey baby, hey child, hey now“) was released in March 1959 on The Fabulous Little Richard and in April 1959 as single after the success of the Wilbert Harrison hit.

Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” was recorded six months after the second version of “Kansas City“, incorporating the same refrain. However, as “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” was released in 1958—with the writing credited solely to Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)—the public perceived it as an earlier recording than “Kansas City“.

In 1964, The Beatles released the albums Beatles for Sale (in the UK) and Beatles VI (in the US) featuring a cover of “Kansas City” based on the issued Little Richard version. (They had performed it as early as September 5, 1962 at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, and in December of that year at the Star-Club in Hamburg.) Attorneys representing Little Richard’s publisher, Venice Music, issued a complaint, claiming the Beatles’ record also covered “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey“. As a result, the record label was revised to read: “Medley: (a) Kansas City (Leiber/Stoller) (P)1964 Macmelodies Ltd./KPM; (b) Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (Penniman) Venice Mus. Ltd. (P)1964.” This was despite the fact that, when Little Richard recorded “Kansas City” in November 1955, “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” had not yet been written or recorded. […]

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 26 Oct 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol T 2358 Beatles VI 1965.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46438 2 For Sale 1987.
  • [b] stereo 26 Oct 1964.
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3062 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2358 Beatles VI 1965.

[a] fades a little earlier.

Officially appears on


Beatles For Sale (Mono)

LP • Released in 1964

Studio versionA • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles For Sale (Stereo)

LP • Released in 1964

Studio versionB • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles VI (Stereo)

Official album • Released in 1965

0:00 • Studio versionB • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles VI (Mono)

Official album • Released in 1965

Studio versionA • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Live At The BBC

Official live • Released in 1994


Anthology 1

Official album • Released in 1995

2:44 • OuttakeC • Take 2. Medley with "Kansas City". With Paul singing lead vocal, the Beatles captured the song in two takes - the master, on Beatles For Sale, was Take 1; Take 2 is issued here for the first time.

George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles VI (2006 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2006

0:00 • Studio versionB2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles VI (2006 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2006

Studio versionA2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles for Sale (Mono - 2009 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2009

Studio versionA2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Paul Hicks :
Remastering
Guy Massey :
Remastering
Sean Magee :
Remastering
Allan Rouse :
Project co-ordinator

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles for Sale (Stereo - 2009 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2009

Studio versionB2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums, Handclaps
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Guy Massey :
Remastering
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Allan Rouse :
Project co-ordinator

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Bootlegs


Old Friends From Montserrat

Unofficial album

0:00 • Studio version


Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962

Unofficial live

2:29 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.


The New World Tour 1993 Kansas City

Unofficial live • Released in 2014

Live • Medley with "Kansas City"

Concert From the concert in Kansas City, USA on May 31, 1993



ZU LAUT! - Live at the Star-Club

Unofficial live • Released in 2015

2:10 • Live • Medley with "Kansas City"

Live performances

“Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” has been played in 9 concerts.

Latest concerts where Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey has been played



Music For Montserrat

Sep 15, 1997 • United Kingdom • London • Royal Albert Hall



Saturday Club

Dec 26, 1964 • Part of BBC Sessions



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