I Got to Find My Baby
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2010) |
| "Gotta Find My Baby" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Doctor Clayton | |
| Recorded | 11 November 1941 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Label | Bluebird Records B8901 |
| Songwriter(s) | Peter Clayton |
"Gotta Find My Baby" is a rock and roll song written and recorded in 1941 by Peter Joe Clayton under the name "Doctor Clayton."[1] In the 1950s, cover versions were recorded as "I Got To Find My Baby" by other Rhythm & Blues artists, including B.B. King (1952), Little Walter (1954) and Chuck Berry, who is sometimes miscredited as the song's composer. The song was also covered by the Beatles in 1963.
Original version
[edit]| "I Got to Find My Baby" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Chuck Berry | |
| B-side | "Mad Lad" |
| Released | August 1960 |
| Recorded | 12 February 1960 |
| Studio | Chess (Chicago)[2] |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 2:13 |
| Label | Chess Records 1763 |
| Songwriter(s) | Peter Clayton |
| Producer(s) | Leonard Chess, Phil Chess |
Blues singer Peter Clayton composed "Gotta Find My Baby" in 1941 and recorded it in Chicago on November 11 for Bluebird Records under the name "Doctor Clayton." The song was released on January 9, 1942, as Bluebird B8901 and later included on Doctor Clayton - His Complete Recorded Works (Document CD DOCD 5179).
Chuck Berry version
[edit]Chuck Berry recorded the song at Chess Records on February 12, 1960, and it was released in August 1960 as a single under the title "I Got To Find My Baby" with "Mad Lad" as its B-side (Chess 1763),[3] but the single did not chart.[4]
The Beatles version
[edit]| "I Got to Find My Baby" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Beatles | |
| from the album Live at the BBC | |
| Released | 30 November 1994 (UK) |
| Recorded | 1 June 1963 |
| Studio | BBC Paris Studio (London) |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 1:56 |
| Label | Apple |
| Songwriter(s) | Peter Clayton |
| Producer(s) | Terry Henebery |
The Beatles first recorded their version of Chuck Berry's rendition of the song on June 1, 1963, at the BBC Paris Studio in London for the second Pop Go The Beatles radio show. The group recorded two versions of the song as "I Got to Find My Baby" (credited to Berry). The song was first broadcast on June 11 and was later included on the 1994 album Live at the BBC.[5] Later that month, they performed the song on the Saturday Club program on June 24. The performance was taped at the Playhouse Theatre in London, and was first broadcast five days later.[citation needed]
The Beatles had already performed several songs written by Chuck Berry. John Lennon sang lead vocal and played harmonica, as he did on most of their covers of Berry's songs.[citation needed]
Personnel
[edit]- John Lennon – vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – bass
- George Harrison – lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
Other versions
[edit]"Gotta Find My Baby" was also recorded in 1954 by bluesman and harmonica player Little Walter for Chess Records, the same record label as Chuck Berry.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Discography: Godrich & Dixon 'Blues Records 1902–1943 page 160. ISBN 0-902391-03-8
- ^ "The Chuck Berry Database: Details For Recording Session: 12. 2. 1960". A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry. Dietmar Rudolph. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "The Chuck Berry Database: Details For Recording Session: 12. 2. 1960". A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry. Dietmar Rudolph. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ Fred Rothwell (2001). 'Long Distance Information' - Chuck Berry's Recorded Legacy. ISBN 0-9519888-2-4.
- ^ "I Got To Find My Baby". beatlesbible.com. 15 March 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
