Album This song officially appears on the Live At The BBC Official live.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1994
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Get Back sessions - January 7, 1969 - Day 4
Jan 07, 1969
Officially appears on Please Please Me (Mono)
Officially appears on Live At The BBC
From Wikipedia:
“A Shot of Rhythm and Blues” is a song written by Terry Thompson and first recorded by US soul singer Arthur Alexander. It was originally released in the USA in 1961, and in the United Kingdom the following year, as the b-side of “You Better Move On“.
As well as having Rhythm and Blues in the title, the songs is itself an R’n’B number. Featuring only blues chords, it begins as an apparent 12-bar blues, but then diverts from that standard structure into a more distinctive composition. […]
The song, along with Some Other Guy, became a standard on the 1960s Mersey scene, particularly at the Cavern Club, and was covered by Cilla, The Beatles. and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Recording was always the thing. Rather than TV and films. TV and films were a possibility, if we became stars, but records were the main objective. That was what we bought, that was what we dealt in. It was the currency of music: records. That’s where we got our repertoire from, the b-sides, the Shot Of Rhythm And Blues, the lesser known stuff that we helped bring to the fore, the R&B stuff.
A lot of our [early] tracks may not have been ‘cool’. I think if we’d just been cool, we wouldn’t have made it how we did. But that was a great aspect of us. John would do A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues or You Really Got A Hold On Me – you could call that cool.
From BeatlesWiki:
[…] The Beatles have made at least four known recordings of the song, the first three of which were for BBC radio. The first one was recorded at the BBC Paris Studio on June 1, 1963 for the program Pop Goes The Beatles. It was broadcast on June 18 [and officially released on Bootleg Recordings 1963]. The next attempt was recorded on July 17, 1963 and broadcast on July 21. It was recorded at the BBC Playhouse Theatre for the program Easy Beat. This arrangement was slower than the earlier one and contained a short, bluesy guitar break played by George Harrison. This was the only recorded version played in front of a live audience. The last one recorded for BBC Radio was recorded on August 1, 1963 at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester. It was broadcast on August 27, 1963 as part of Pop Goes The Beatles. This version, like the previous recorded version, also utilized the slower arrangement. This was included on the 1994 compilation Live at the BBC. The last recorded version was recorded more than five years later, in a Get Back session at Twickenham Film Studios on January 7, 1969. This version has been included on many bootlegs, including Thirty Days. […]
Well if your hands start a-clappin'
And your fingers start a-poppin'
And your feet start a-movin' around
And if you start to swing and sway
When the band starts to play
A real cool and way out sound
And if you get the can't help it
When you can't sit down
You feel like you gotta move around
You get a shot of rhythm and blues
With just a little rock and roll on the side
Just for good measure
You get a pair of dancing shoes
Well, with your lover by your side
Don't you know you're gonna have a lot of pleasure?
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
When you start to dance and sing
And chill bumps come up on you
And if the rhythm finally gets you
And the beat gets there too
Well, here's a thing for you to do
Get a shot of rhythm and blues
With just a little rock and roll on the side
Just for good measure
Get a pair of dancin' shoes
Well, with your lover by your side
Don't you know you're gonna have a lot of pleasure?
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
If you start to dance and sing
And chill bumps come up on you
And if the rhythm finally gets you
And the beat gets there too
Well, here's a thing for you to do
Get a shot of rhythm and blues
Get a pair of dancing shoes
Get a shot of rhythm and blues
Well, with your lover by your side
Don't you know you're gonna have a lot of pleasure?
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
If you start to dance and sing
And chill bumps come up on you
And if the rhythm finally gets you
And the beat gets there too
Well, here's a thing for you to do
Well, here's a thing for you to do
Well, here's a thing for you to do
Official live • Released in 1994
2:15 • Radio show • L1 • Rhythm and Blues singer Arthur Alexander, who was a particular favourite of John’s, first released this in March 1962 on the B-side of another British beat boom staple ‘You Better Move On’. The Beatles performed it on three occasions for the BBC; this was the last.
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmony vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar Terry Henebery : Producer
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Aug 27, 1963
Live At The BBC (2013 remaster)
Official live • Released in 2013
2:15 • Radio show • L1.2013 • Rhythm and Blues singer Arthur Alexander, who was a particular favourite of John’s, first released this in March 1962 on the B-side of another British beat boom staple ‘You Better Move On’. The Beatles performed it on three occasions for the BBC; this was the last.
Paul McCartney : Bass, Harmony vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Harrison : Harmony vocals, Lead guitar Terry Henebery : Producer Guy Massey : Remastering Alex Wharton : Remastering
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Aug 27, 1963
Official album • Released in 2013
2:06 • Radio show • L2
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 18, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 2
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:26 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 18, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 4
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:14 • Live
Concert From "Easy Beat" in London, United Kingdom on Jul 21, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 6
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:15 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Aug 27, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 6
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
1:50 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Sep 10, 1963
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 7th, 1969 - 3 & 4
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
2:01 • Rehearsal • Jan.07 - D3-19 - A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues 7.81
Performed by : Paul McCartney • Ringo Starr • John Lennon • George Harrison
Session Recording: Jan 07, 1969 • Studio Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK
“A Shot of Rhythm and Blues” has been played in 6 concerts.
Aug 27, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions
Jul 21, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions
Jun 18, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions
Luton • Majestic Ballroom • United Kingdom
Apr 17, 1963 • Part of Spring 1963 UK Tour
Buckingham • Roxburgh Hall, Stowe School • United Kingdom
Apr 04, 1963 • Part of Spring 1963 UK Tour
See all concerts where “A Shot of Rhythm and Blues” has been played
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