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Released in 1967

Catswalk (or Catcall)

Written by Paul McCartneyInstrumental

Last updated on August 19, 2024


Album This song officially appears on the Catcall 7" Single.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1967

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1958, when Paul McCartney was 16 years old)

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Catswalk” (or “Catcall“) is a jazz-style instrumental track written by Paul McCartney, in late 1958 or 1959. It was part of the Beatles’ live repertoire until 1962.

In December 1962, the Beatles recorded a rehearsal at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, including “Catswalk,” as they were considering songs to record for EMI and to showcase their original compositions to publisher Dick James. Although the Beatles never officially recorded the track, McCartney hoped that guitarist Bert Weedon might record it.

In 1967, Paul gave the song to The Chris Barber Band, and he, along with his then-girlfriend Jane Asher and others, participated in the recording, contributing to the chorus of catcalls.

Catswalk” was briefly revisited by The Beatles during the “Get Back / Let It Be” sessions on January 24, 1969.


From earlybeatlessongs:

One of several instrumentals, this one is principally by McCartney and was probably written in late-1958. The song was one of a few originals incorporated into the group’s live act, where it stayed until 1962. By luck, a tape of the Beatles rehearsing the song twice was captured in late-1962 at the Cavern Club, and these recordings have circulated on bootleg CDs. These versions have the song arranged Shadows-style, with dominant lead guitar figures.

McCartney wasn’t done with it however, and in July 1967, assisted Chris Barber with the recording of a rather different version which came out as a single that October, with the song re-titled as “Catcall”. (It didn’t chart.) In a break from protocol, the song was formally copyrighted without Lennon’s name being added.

A tiny fragment of the song also turns up in bootlegged tapes from the 1969 Get Back sessions (January 24). More recently a legal edition of the Beatles’ Cavern performances has appeared on the double LP, I Saw Her Standing There on the Rock Melon label. This collection of miscellaneous 1962 material was made possible by the expiry of the 50-year legal protection period on unreleased recordings, which made these and other tapes fair game in 2013.


From 1959 repertoire – Early Beatles Songs (weebly.com) – In 2020, a written list came to light, detailing many songs from the group’s then current repertoire, under the sub-headings, Paul, George and Instries [instrumentals]. Given these sub-headings, and what we know of the songs, the names refer to the lead singer. The list was first pictured in a re-issue package of Paul’s Flaming Pie album, and includes several original Beatles compositions among the famous hits, as well as a few which we cannot identify either way. “Catswalk” is mentioned under the list of instrumentals.

Variations

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.


Going further

If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.

Read more on The Beatles Bible

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Martin Beasley • 6 years ago

Who played lead guitar on Catswalk?


Theodor Ache • 4 years ago

Most probably George played lead guitar because there is also a bass on the record (which obviously is by Paul - this was a rehearsal played live). I have heard an arrangement by string trio recently (not by McCartney).


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