Paul McCartney named a ‘hilarious’ Beatles song as his favourite

Every fan of The Beatles agrees that it’s hard to pick a favourite song. But this hasn’t stopped Paul McCartney from being asked numerous times which one he would pick.

On 17 May 1967 The Beatles recording ‘You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)’they recorded the backing track for part one in 14 takes, along with a number of rehearsals.

McCartney, who has turned 80 today (18 June), picked a B-side that featured on the original single of his very own “Let It Be”. ( Independent)

“People are only just discovering the B-sides of Beatles singles,” he said at the time, adding: “They’re only just discovering things like ‘You Know My Name’ – probably my favourite Beatles track! Just because it’s so insane.”

What would you do if a guy like John Lennon turned up at the studio and said, ‘I’ve got a new song.’ I said, ‘What’s the words?’ and he replied, ‘You know my name, look up the number.’ I asked, ‘What’s the rest of it?’ 'No. No other words, those are the words. And I wanna do it like a mantra.’

He continued: "We did it over a period of maybe two or three years. We started off and we just did 20 minutes, and we tried it again and it didn’t work. We tried it again, and we had these endless, crazy fun sessions.

“Eventually, we pulled it all together. it was just so hilarious to put that record together. It’s not a great melody or anything, it’s just unique. Some people haven’t discovered that song yet.”

The best of these was take 10, which featured guitars, bass, drums, handclaps and bongos. They returned to take nine of the song on 7 June, adding overdubs. (Beetlesbible) 

Regarding Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones being present in the studio on this day, Geoff Emerick confirms that he was “one of the guests. He had been asked to play some guitar on the track, but he turned up with a saxophone instead. (Beatlesbooks)

                                                                                                                                       Probably my favorite Beatles

                                                                 track,” Paul McCartney said

                                                               of “You Know My Name

                                                               (Look Up The Number).

“That was a piece of unfinished music that I turned into a comedy record with Paul,” John stated in his 1980 Playboy interview. “I was waiting for him in his house...Paul was making a phone call and

They then recorded five takes lasting a total of 20 minutes. The instrumentation was flute, electric guitar, drums, organ and tambourine, and the music was little more than an unstructured jam.

Part two was recorded on the following evening, and was completed in 12 takes. Four attempts at part three followed; six of part four; and finally a single take of part five. This was the session which Brian Jones attended and played the saxophone.

We had these endless, crazy fun sessions. And eventually we pulled it all together… and we just did a skit, Mal and his gravel. I can still see Mal digging the gravel. And it was just so hilarious to put that record together. It’s not a great melody or anything, it’s just unique.
Paul McCartney, 1988.

‘You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)’ saw light of day in March 1970 as the b-side to ‘Let It Be’.