Why The Beatles 'gave away' original songs revealed

Virgin Radio

1 Feb 2024, 11:01

Music industry expert Bob Harris has been opening up about The Beatles’ huge songwriting “generosity,” even at the height of their fame.

Speaking with MailOnline, the accomplished broadcaster was full of praise for Sir Paul McCartney and his bandmates’ desire to write songs for other artists, and not just The Beatles, throughout the 1960s.

“Paul right the way through the 1960s wanted to carry on writing for other people, so that's what he did,” Harris said. Paul and John Lennon’s generous songwriting gifts were all part of their long-term plan, he added.

“The average lifespan of a group or a pop star in those days was probably about 18 months. And everybody was saying, well, even The Beatles themselves were thinking, 'Well what should we do when the bubble bursts?'

“Ringo, for example, was planning to open up a chain of hairdressing salons,” Harris amusingly said. It was The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein who was behind “making absolutely certain that they were building careers” for longevity.

“And the way to do that was to get their songs out to other people, to get them established as a songwriting duo.”

Harris is currently touring the UK discussing The Beatles’ many contributions to other stars’ music as part of a two-man talking show, The Songs The Beatles Gave Away, based on the book by the show’s fellow star, Colin Hall.

As the book and show reveal, the many artists for which The Beatles’ Lennon and McCartney wrote songs varied from Billy J Kramer - star of fellow Epstein managed band The Dakotas - to TV’s Cilla Black.

Hall and Harris’ show features several early recordings of Lennon and McCartney’s non-Beatles songs, including ‘Step Inside Love’, the Cilla TV theme. The pair were also behind the famous host’s debut single, Love of the Loved.

The Songs The Beatles Gave Away began touring on Friday, 12th January, and continues its journey around the UK until Saturday, 12th October.