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Mr. Moonlight (song)

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and percussion instruments, with Lennon and Harrison's guitar work instead more prominent. On Sunday, October 18, during a day off from their 1964 UK Tour, the Beatles attempted a re-make of the track starting with take five. On take seven they added a distinct Hammond organ played by McCartney. Take
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LP." Lewisohn adds that in hindsight "Leave My Kitten Alone" may have made a better album track. Comparing the two, Everett writes, "The two covers attempted on August 14 represent one of Lennon's most inspired borrowings and one of his least. Unfortunately, the former, 'Leave My Kitten Alone,' was
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writes that the Beatles discovered the record in mid-1962. A set-list from August 1962 includes the track; neither "Mr. Moonlight" nor any of the other songs in that list are included in earlier sets, such as shows from spring 1961 and February 1, 1962.The A-side it was
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The Beatles covered the song in their live act for years before it appeared on record, adding it to their repertoire in mid-1962. They discovered the track on the B-side of "Dr. Feelgood" by Dr. Feelgood and the Interns.
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recalled, "Mr. Moonlight was great because there would be this moment of tension in the audience. The song would be announced and everybody knew John would have to start on
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Dr. Feelgood is slang for heroin and doctors that write out easy prescriptions, though it is unclear whether Perryman was aware of this implication.
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opening is "promising" with Lennon's "dirty full-voice... but the tone quickly becomes inexpressively lugubrious." Musicologist and writer
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and McCartney on Hammond organ; track three is Lennon on vocal with McCartney and Harrison providing harmony; track four includes a
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agrees with, writing, "By taking the whole thing so seriously, they actually make it hysterical".
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The Beatles first recorded the song on Friday, August 14, 1964, during a session which included "
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note—MISTER! Moonlight. There was no chord to precede it, he had to get it right from
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A cover of the song is heard in a recording of the Beatles from December 1962 at the
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mixed the track for mono from takes four and eight on October 27. Martin, Smith and
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Tell Me Why: The "Beatles" - Album by Album, Song by Song, the Sixties and After
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writes, "commanded their crowd's attention before playing so much as a second."
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writes it is "most people's least favourite song on what was to become the
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on December 15, 1964. In the U.S. the track made it to #68 nationally.
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describes the track as, "One of the Beatles' least popular tracks".
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writes it was added to their repertoire in late 1961 or early 1962.
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The Beatles never played "Dr. Feelgood", but their contemporaries
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group "Dr. Feelgood and the Interns" first recorded the song.
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Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
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The Beatles As Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul
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The Beatles covered the recording for their 1964 albums
941: 854:, p. 654)"...they were from Atlanta, Georgia..." ( 472:'s percussion and McCartney's bass; track two includes 1081: 1057: 1045: 1033: 987: 975: 958: 880: 1093: 1244: 1121: 1688: 1128:. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. 738:vocal trio Los Apson Boys titled "Triste Luna". 607:According to Ian MacDonald, except where noted: 534:Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962 822:suggest instead the slapped packing-case which 723:In addition, the same song was also covered by 161: 1203:(Extended Special ed.). Crown Archetype. 720:on lead vocals prior to the Beatles' version. 508:The Beatles released the track in the U.K. on 1298: 803: 801: 580:never released during the group's tenure..." 194:of "Dr. Feelgood", a minor hit in the US for 775:("Doctor Feel-Good") first appeared in the 1305: 1291: 798: 500:mixed the track for stereo on November 4. 1712:Song recordings produced by George Martin 1225:(2nd revised ed.). 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Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1286: 1239: 1099: 555: 407:sings lead, with backing vocals from 1312: 810:writes that Starr's percussion is a 678:adding citations to reliable sources 649: 591:describes the track as "gross quasi- 13: 14: 1728: 1271: 531:, eventually released in 1977 as 1444:Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby 654: 234: 1430:I Don't Want to Spoil the Party 785: 665:needs additional citations for 645: 629:– harmony vocals, lead guitar, 240:Cover of the song's sheet music 1278:The history of "Mr. Moonlight" 916: 844: 757: 748: 540:Takes 1, 2 and 4 are heard on 285:August 14 and October 18, 1964 1: 1199:The Beatles – All These Years 1177:The Beatles – All These Years 837: 793:Rory Storm and the Hurricanes 418: 602: 443: 218:, did not chart in Britain. 162:Dr. Feelgood and the Interns 136:Dr. Feelgood and the Interns 34:Dr. Feelgood and the Interns 16:1962 song by Roy Lee Johnson 7: 818:surmises, "Starr's alleged 10: 1733: 1109: 734:cover was recorded by the 503: 182:pianist, led the group as 1577: 1561: 1532: 1500: 1482: 1457: 1393: 1329: 1322: 484:guitar overdub. 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Index

Single
Dr. Feelgood and the Interns
A-side
Genre
Blues
Label
Okeh
Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Roy Lee Johnson
Roy Lee Johnson
Dr. Feelgood and the Interns
covered
the Beatles
Beatles for Sale
Beatles '65
Atlanta
Willie Perryman
albino
blues
Piano Red
Roy Lee Johnson
B-side
Okeh Records
Billboard
Cashbox
EMI
Columbia

Song

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