I Call Your Name

“I Call Your Name” was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon-McCartney. The first recording of it, however, was released by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. In the USA, it was on the Beatles’ 2nd album. The Mamas and Papas have a nice cover of it on their debut album. My instrumental arrangement uses a baritone guitar rather than the 12-string George Harrison used.

 

Back in the USSR

This is my instrumental cover of “Back in the USSR” — the Beatles’ “surf” song that opens the “White” album. Not much tweaking needed to turn it into an instrumental.

 

 

Genie with the Light Brown Lamp

“Genie with the Light Brown Lamp” was a top 20 hit in England for the Shadows in 1964.

The song is from a live musical comedy entitled “Alladin and his Wonderful Lamp” that was performed at the London Palladium in 1964 starring  Cliff Richard and the Shadows with their producer/composer/arranger Norrie Paramor as musical director. There was also a sound track album.

In England, this type of stage play is called a “Pantomime” — a theatrical entertainment, mainly for children, that involves music, topical jokes, and slapstick comedy and is based on a fairy tale or nursery story, usually produced around Christmas.

Theme from Exodus

The theme from the 1960 film “Exodus” is a very memorable one, and quite well known. I was a bit surprised to find how popular it was with instrumental rock bands at the time. My version doesn’t really follow any of them; it’s just a basic early-60’s style guitar-rock setting. As far as I can tell, the Ventures didn’t release a recording of it until 1997.

Peace Pipe

“Peace Pipe” was written by Norrie Paramor and originally released on the Shadow’s eponymous 1961 debut album. It’s interesting how Native American culture seemed to have a fascination for many Europeans — the Shadows recorded many tracks based on “American Indian” themes. My version here is based on the Shadows’ original, which was also featured in the movie “The Young Ones”.

It’s Only Love

“It’s Only Love” was written as an album track for the movie “Help”. It was not released as a single. Paul McCartney has said that the Beatles knew the lyrics weren’t all that good, but didn’t care because it was a “filler” track. However, the music is really very nice and since I do instrumentals, it all works out.

Hernando’s Hideaway

“Hernando’s Hideaway” is the most famous song from the mid-1950’s Broadway Musical, “The Pajama Game”. It is something of a novelty number, with the feel of a Tango. The Ventures covered it on their 1962 album “Mashed Potatoes and Gravy” — this is the inspiration for my version.