Cathy's Clown

From Wikipedia:

“Cathy’s Clown” is a popular song, written by Don Everly and recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1960. The lyrics describe a man who has been wronged and publicly humiliated by his lover: “Here he comes / That’s Cathy’s clown”. The choruses are sung by brothers Don and Phil in their trademark close harmony style, while Don sings the bridges solo.

“Cathy’s Clown” is noted for its unorthodox structure, such as beginning on a chorus and having bridges but no verses. The song was a worldwide success and the best-selling single of the Everly Brothers’ career. Because of its enduring influence on popular music the song was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2013.

Recording

The musicians included the Everlys on guitars, Floyd Cramer on piano, Floyd Chance on bass and Buddy Harman on drums. The distinctive drum sound was achieved by recording them with a tape loop, making it sound as if there were two drummers. “Cathy’s Clown” was recorded live in a single take, with Don and Phil sharing a microphone.

History

“Cathy’s Clown” was The Everly Brothers’ first single for Warner Bros., after they had recorded for Archie Bleyer’s Cadence label for three years. It sold eight million copies worldwide, spending five weeks at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and one week on the R&B chart. The song spent seven weeks at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in May and June 1960, and was the Everly Brothers’ biggest-selling single and their third and final U.S. number 1 hit. Billboard ranked it as the number 3 song of the year for 1960. […]

According to Mark Lewisohn in “The Complete Beatles Chronicle“, The Beatles performed “Cathy’s Clown” regularly between 1960 and 1962. However, no known recordings from that period exist.

The vocal arrangement of The Beatle’s “Please Please Me” was reportedly modeled on “Cathy’s Clown:”

A UK number one in 1960, Cathy’s Clown was a major influence on The Beatles – who copied the vocal arrangement for their single Please Please Me.

Indeed, Lennon and McCartney were seasoned Everly Brothers impersonators from their days in Hamburg – Lennon playing the role of Don, taking the lower, baritone parts, while McCartney aped Phil with his higher countermelody.

It wasn’t just The Beatles, though. Dozens of the “British Invasion” bands were indebted to Don and Phil – who repaid the favour by recording an album with The Hollies, and incorporating jangling Beatles-style guitars into their own music.

From The Everly Brothers: ‘That sibling sound’ – BBC News, January 4, 2014

On January 24, 1969, during the Beatles’ “Get Back” sessions, Paul McCartney played a version of “Cathy’s Clown“.

Bootlegs

Cover versions played during the "Get Back" sessions

"Cathy's Clown" was covered during The Beatles' "Get Back" sessions in January 1969. Here is the complete list of covers recorded by Paul McCartney, either alone or with other Beatles, during these sessions:

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