- Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Oct 18, 1964
"Beatles for Sale" Session #10
Oct 26, 1964
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
The song “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey“, also known as “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Goin’ Back to Birmingham)“, was written by Little Richard and recorded in May 9, 1956 at J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana (supervised by Bumps Blackwell).
Story
In 1955, Little Richard recorded two different versions of “Kansas City” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller: one on September, 13 (supervised by Bumps Blackwell), and one on November, 29 (with five vocalists, supervised by Art Rupe). The first version, which adheres closely to the original 1952 recording by Little Willie Littlefield for the first two verses, was not released until November 1970, on the compilation album Well Alright! The second version, which had been substantially re-worked by Little Richard (in particular, it featured a new refrain starting with words, “Hey, hey, hey, hey; Hey baby, hey child, hey now“) was released in March 1959 on The Fabulous Little Richard and in April 1959 as single after the success of the Wilbert Harrison hit.
“Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” was recorded six months after the second version of “Kansas City“, incorporating the same refrain. However, as “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” was released in 1958—with the writing credited solely to Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)—the public perceived it as an earlier recording than “Kansas City“.
In 1964, The Beatles released the albums Beatles for Sale (in the UK) and Beatles VI (in the US) featuring a cover of “Kansas City” based on the issued Little Richard version. (They had performed it as early as September 5, 1962 at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, and in December of that year at the Star-Club in Hamburg.) Attorneys representing Little Richard’s publisher, Venice Music, issued a complaint, claiming the Beatles’ record also covered “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey“. As a result, the record label was revised to read: “Medley: (a) Kansas City (Leiber/Stoller) (P)1964 Macmelodies Ltd./KPM; (b) Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (Penniman) Venice Mus. Ltd. (P)1964.” This was despite the fact that, when Little Richard recorded “Kansas City” in November 1955, “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” had not yet been written or recorded. […]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 26 Oct 1964.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
US: Capitol T 2358 Beatles VI 1965.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46438 2 For Sale 1987.- [b] stereo 26 Oct 1964.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3062 For Sale 1964.
US: Capitol ST 2358 Beatles VI 1965.[a] fades a little earlier.
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1964
Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1964
Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
0:00 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official live • Released in 1994
0:00 • Radio show • L1
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 06, 1963
Official album • Released in 1995
2:44 • Outtake • C • Take 2. Medley with "Kansas City". With Paul singing lead vocal, the Beatles captured the song in two takes - the master, on Beatles For Sale, was Take 1; Take 2 is issued here for the first time.
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2006
0:00 • Studio version • B2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2006
Studio version • A2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Beatles for Sale (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Beatles for Sale (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Handclaps, Lead vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Handclaps
- John Lennon :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Oct 18, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 26, 1964
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962
Unofficial live
2:29 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.
The New World Tour 1993 Kansas City
Unofficial live • Released in 2014
Live • Medley with "Kansas City"
Concert From the concert in Kansas City, USA on May 31, 1993
Run Devil Run - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
0:00 • Live
Concert From "Music For Montserrat" in London, United Kingdom on Sep 15, 1997
ZU LAUT! - Live at the Star-Club
Unofficial live • Released in 2015
2:10 • Live • Medley with "Kansas City"
Live performances
“Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey” has been played in 9 concerts.
Latest concerts where Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey has been played
Kansas City • Sprint Center • USA
Jul 16, 2014 • Part of Out There Tour
Sep 15, 1997 • United Kingdom • London • Royal Albert Hall
Kansas City • Arrowhead Stadium • USA
May 31, 1993 • Part of The New World Tour
Dec 26, 1964 • Part of BBC Sessions
Kansas City • Municipal Stadium • USA
Sep 17, 1964 • Part of Summer 1964 US & Canada Tour
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