Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas - I'll Be On My Way

Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas version of The Beatles song "I'll Be On My Way". The song was originally released on 26th April 1963 and first credited to McCartney-Lennon. In the UK it was the B-side of "Do You Want To Know A Secret?"; in the USA it was the B-side of "From A Window" and the writing credit was changed to Lennon-McCartney. According to John Lennon it was written by Paul McCartney: "This was early Paul.". It is considered to be the first song that Lennon and McCartney "gave away". However The Beatles did record a live version on 4th April 1963 at the BBC Paris Theatre, London which is now available on their "Live At The BBC" album. This recording is taken from the vinyl L.P. "The Stars Sing Lennon & McCartney".

[athlone]

Love this and 'From A Window' two cracking songs written by Lennon/McCartney which suit Billy J's voice.

[jduff]

Pedestrian version, and a shame - if this group was more invested in the passion of music, they could have been a bit more popular outside of Liverpool. This just sounds like they're going through the motions of appearing to make music. And from accounts I've read, Billy was fully capable of doing this. Perhaps the blame should be focused on the engineer and producer, who were hell bent on finishing this session to make Tea Time....

[marcusm]

Definitely more of a Buddy Holly vibe on this than on The Beatles' version.

[TheGrandmasterMan]

I quite like this personally ! Lightweight pop, but this was McCartney learning his trade and who cares if there was a Buddy Holly influence? A good one to have I would say !

[vrinda]

This version lacks the sadness evoked from the lyrics that the Beatles give it. Their version is better. For a song about two lovers parting, Bill and company make it sound casual. They don't put their emotions into it.

[jrgboy]

The Beatles only recorded this for the BBC, it was an older song, they wrote the best for themselves..

[johnschwarzkopf]

"To where the winds don't blow, and golden rivers flow" lol. Just absolutely shameless

[joedivision]

This song and Thank you girl....my
Two favorite Beatles songs
Just love the melodic simplicity of the guitars. Very heart touching.

[tracymears]

Unlike the majority of their songs, this Beatles' credit lists McCartney first!

[robjontay]

Considerably faster than Paul's original version. Beatles at the BBC. It sounds like Pete Bests drumming style here! I met Billy at a celebrity and antique show in NYC. Nice man. I wish we could have talked longer about " the early days" but he had a pop or two in him....and rumor was he now lived in the town I grew up in on Long Island!

[pedrogonzales]

The Beatles version is better, is much better

[reneorozco]

Definitivamente superior la version de sus autores en la Bbc The Beatles

[jonathanmacpac]

Ahh...the days of 1-1/2 minute singles...

[hathor]

The only other version of this song : I'll be on my way is sung by Cliff Richard
: I'm on my way ; It's a more romantic version you should listen to !

[jorgeestomba]

Poor Billy and his Dakotas. !!
He rarely gets any compliments for hia talent and rhe groups !!!
Guys its not his fault the boys. Gave. him their songs !!!
ITS NOT.LIKE HE STOLE OR COPIED ANYTHING Damn !!!

[matthewgliatto]

I thought I had heard all the Beatles songs but then I learned there’s this whole stash of Lennon-McCartney songs recorded by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. They should really be considered Beatles songs.

[howiew]

In the U.S., their records were released on Imperial Records, where Rick Nelson had just left for his big Decca contract. Then Billy's nice cover of It's Up To You showed up on one of the albums and I felt like Mr. Chudd Imperial's founder was pointing it right at Rick. I only later learned that he had sold out to Liberty Records right after losing Rick and Fats Domino.

[stupidturntable]

This is the B-side of Billy Kramer and The Dakotas hit single "Trains and Boats and Planes". The first recording they did with lead guitarrist Mick Green, previously and later of The Pirates who´d backed Johnny Kidd. Among many other things, Mick Green later recorded and toured with Paul McCartney on the "Run Devil Run" album, released in 1999.

[guitaoist]

The Beatles wrote this! i like their version better, but then again I just learned of Kramer tonight ;p

[Gto]

I realize this was a Lennon-McCartney composition. Who do you think was a big influence on them?