Matchbox (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Matchbox" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Beatles | ||
| from the album Something New in the United States | ||
| B-side(s) | "Slow Down" | |
| Released | 24 August 1964 | |
| Format | 7" (1964) | |
| Recorded | June 1964 | |
| Genre | Rock and roll | |
| Length | 1:57 (Misprinted as 1:37 on both singles and albums) | |
| Label | Capitol | |
| Writer(s) | Perkins | |
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Beatles singles chronology | ||
| "And I Love Her (US-1964)" |
"Matchbox" (US-1964) |
"I Feel Fine" (1964) |
"Matchbox" is a rockabilly song credited to Carl Perkins and first recorded by the artist at Sun Records in 1957. It is one of Perkins' best-known recordings, although it gained additional notoriety through the wealth of cover versions that followed, notably the cover by The Beatles.
Although credited to Perkins, as was the case with many early rock and roll recordings, it was in fact a rewritten version of a previously-existing song that can trace its origins to a traditional blues number originally recorded in 1927. This was performed by artists ranging from Leadbelly to Blind Lemon Jefferson, and was substantially rewritten by Perkins when he came to record his own version in 1957.
[edit] The Beatles
The Beatles, being fans of Perkins, began performing the song circa 1961. Their then-drummer, Pete Best, performed the lead vocals, but no studio recording featuring Best doing the song is known to exist. In 1962, John Lennon sang the song during a performance at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; a recording of this exists and was included on Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.
The next year, The Beatles performed "Matchbox" with Ringo Starr on lead vocals for their BBC radio show, and this version would be included on the Live at the BBC album. Starr also got to sing lead vocals on it when it was recorded in 1964. There are suggestions that Perkins may have been present in the studio at that time. As was usually the case, all instruments on the song are played by The Beatles themselves, with the exception of the piano, which was played by producer George Martin. It appeared on the Long Tall Sally EP in the United Kingdom and the Something New album in the United States, and was also the B-side of the American "Slow Down" single, released on 24 August 1964, which reached no. 17 in the charts.
This song is possibly the only Beatles song to have had three different lead vocalists for their renditions of it.
Numerous other artists have recorded their own versions of "Matchbox", including Ronnie Hawkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.
