Crackin' Up

“Crackin’ Up” is a song written by Ellas Bates, better known professionally as Bo Diddley. It serves as the opening track of Bo Diddley’s second studio album, “Go Bo Diddley,” released in July 1959.

According to Mark Lewisohn in “The Complete Beatles Chronicle“, The Beatles performed “Crackin’ Up” regularly between 1960 and 1961, with Paul McCartney on lead vocals. However, no known recordings from that period exist.

On January 3, 1969, during the “Get Back” sessions, The Beatles performed a version of “Crackin’ Up.“

Paul McCartney later revisited the song, recording his own version in 1987 for inclusion on his album “Снова в СССР” (“Choba B CCCP“).

Additionally, a live soundcheck rendition of “Crackin’ Up,” recorded by McCartney in 1990, appeared on his live album “Tripping The Live Fantastic.”

Named after its Mississippi-born creator – singer/guitarist Bo Diddley – the ‘Diddley Beat’ is the most unique of all rock’s many blues-based rhythms. A highly distorted hard-edge mix of heavily amplified guitar and pounding jungle drums, the rhythm is said to have derived from both the trademarks’ knock and the barbershop term “shave and a haircut – six bits!”

Not only were Elvis’ early stage antics copied from Bo Diddley’s Apollo Theatre appearances but, together with Chuck Berry, it was Bo Diddley who defined the sound of such Swingin’ Sixties British Beat Groups as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds and Mick Green’s band The Pirates.

In the hands of McCartney and his musicians, this obscure B-side is transformed from underground status to a major league performance.

From the liner notes of “Choba B CCCP“

Lyrics

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Videos

Live performances

“Crackin' Up” has been played in 12 soundchecks.

Cover versions played during the "Get Back" sessions

"Crackin' Up" 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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