We first debuted an edited variation of this recording via the multi-artist, web-only project, The Beatles Complete On Ukulele... before posting it ourselves as #53 I Wanna Be Your Man 45. But now, in a misguided stab at crossover acceptance, we're re-releasing "I Wanna Be Your Man (Mono Master)" to respectable digital outlets like iTunes, Amazon, Shazam (and other big time retailers). That's right, we've gone legit - even springing for the necessary licensing so that Lennon & McCartney get their splits for "writing" this 1964 hit for The Rolling Stones, though (as you'll read below) their authorship has been irresponsibly challenged and questioned (ahem). The Record Store Day people didn't appreciate any of it, either. For those just noticing all this for the first time, what follows will catch you up to speed...
I WANNA BE YOUR MAN 45
"Most people aren’t aware that Lennon & McCartney's 'I Wanna Be Your Man' is actually a re-write of an old blues tune of the same name. 'Blind somebody' recorded it in the early 1950s, and collectors know of a few records out there that have survived. A sure clue that it's not a Lennon/McCartney original is illustrated by how seriously John & Paul treated the song. For a larf, they pawned it off on The Rolling Stones (theories abound that it was a blatant attempt to derail their career). But, Lennon & McCartney ended up laughing even louder at the bank when the Stones accidentally had their first hit single with it. Then... they gave the song to Ringo to sing - a sure sign of something, to be sure. But because copyright laws were so loose in the 1960s, 'I Wanna Be Your Man' has long been considered just another old, co-opted blues tune that got ‘borrowed’ and goosed-up by a band of upper-poppin' punks with a Merseyside beat. Hey, they were kids, what did they know? So, we stripped the song back to its original Mississippi blues roots. This is why we don't do vocals. Consider yourself warned."
Listen
Not that it matters to anyone, but
there's now three different covers (art) for this cover (tune). Not, as you might think, to manufacture bogus Beatles-related "collectibles." The original cover we used was designed as an old 45. Then, we updated the art with a new look, featuring a promo sticker with a quote from MOJO Magazine's Fred Dellar (yeah... despite our thoroughly sullied reputation, that quote is actually legit! Thanks Fred). But, the official distributors of this digital 45 didn't wanna have anything to do with our questionable design tactics (and who can blame them?). So the professional retailers will have a third cover showing up on their sites. Those looking for FLAC, AIFF, WAV and other lossless formats can grab it from the Bandcamp player above. Those deciding to get it from an official digital distributor - helping to push this track into Soundscan's Top 10... we humbly thank you.
Free 320
LOSSLESS
I WANNA BE YOUR MAN 45
"Most people aren’t aware that Lennon & McCartney's 'I Wanna Be Your Man' is actually a re-write of an old blues tune of the same name. 'Blind somebody' recorded it in the early 1950s, and collectors know of a few records out there that have survived. A sure clue that it's not a Lennon/McCartney original is illustrated by how seriously John & Paul treated the song. For a larf, they pawned it off on The Rolling Stones (theories abound that it was a blatant attempt to derail their career). But, Lennon & McCartney ended up laughing even louder at the bank when the Stones accidentally had their first hit single with it. Then... they gave the song to Ringo to sing - a sure sign of something, to be sure. But because copyright laws were so loose in the 1960s, 'I Wanna Be Your Man' has long been considered just another old, co-opted blues tune that got ‘borrowed’ and goosed-up by a band of upper-poppin' punks with a Merseyside beat. Hey, they were kids, what did they know? So, we stripped the song back to its original Mississippi blues roots. This is why we don't do vocals. Consider yourself warned."
Listen
Not that it matters to anyone, but
there's now three different covers (art) for this cover (tune). Not, as you might think, to manufacture bogus Beatles-related "collectibles." The original cover we used was designed as an old 45. Then, we updated the art with a new look, featuring a promo sticker with a quote from MOJO Magazine's Fred Dellar (yeah... despite our thoroughly sullied reputation, that quote is actually legit! Thanks Fred). But, the official distributors of this digital 45 didn't wanna have anything to do with our questionable design tactics (and who can blame them?). So the professional retailers will have a third cover showing up on their sites. Those looking for FLAC, AIFF, WAV and other lossless formats can grab it from the Bandcamp player above. Those deciding to get it from an official digital distributor - helping to push this track into Soundscan's Top 10... we humbly thank you.
Free 320
LOSSLESS
