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Chains (Cookies song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Chains'" is a rhythm and blues song written by husband-and-wife songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was a hit for the American girl group the Cookies in 1962 and for the English rock band the Beatles, who recorded the song for their debut album in 1963.
The Cookies rendition
The Cookies, who also worked as backing singers, recorded "Chains" and in late 1962, it became their first appearance in the record charts since "In Paradise" reached number nine in 1956. The single released by Dimension Records peaked at number six on 'Billboard's Hot R&B singles, number 17 on the Hot 100 charts, and number 4 in Canada.
In a song review for AllMusic, critic Richie Unterberger described it as:
{{quote|Like several other girl group and indeed soul-pop songs of the era, it employed an irregular clapping beat, alternating two-claps-to-a-measure with one-clap-to-a-measure rhythms. If that sounds like a simple formula, it's nonetheless pretty catchy, stimulating both the record's groove and making the words and melody more singable and memorable. The verses of "Chains" are R&B-tinged pop-rock, frequently bolstered by upbeat smoky sax riffs following lines of the lyric. The bridges got into a more sultry and seductive mood, sung not in unison as the verses were, but with a winsome and vulnerable lead voice poking out in front of the vocal arrangement.
}}
'Personnel'
*Earl-Jean – lead vocals
*Margaret Ross – backing vocals
*Dorothy Jones – backing vocals
*Eva Boyd – backing vocals
The Beatles' version
The single by the Cookies was a popular cover song for Liverpool bands after its release in November 1962, and was included briefly in the Beatles' live sets. They recorded it on February 11, 1963 in four takes (the first having proven to be the best); Lennon played the introduction on harmonica.
George Harrison sings the lead vocal on the Beatles' version and, as the fourth track from the group's first album, it represents the first time many fans heard Harrison singing lead on a commercially released song.
They played the song live on a number of BBC radio shows, including 'Side by Side', 'Here We Go' and 'Pop Go the Beatles' (though none of these performances were included on the 1994 compilation 'Live at the BBC'; it was eventually released on the 2013 compilation 'On Air Live at the BBC Volume 2').
'Personnel' (from MacDonald)
*George Harrison – lead vocals, lead guitar
*John Lennon – rhythm guitar, harmonica, harmony vocals
*Paul McCartney – bass, harmony vocals
*Ringo Starr – drums
*Norman Smithengineering
Notes
References
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Category:1962 singles
Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin
Category:Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin
Category:The Beatles songs
Category:Songs written by Carole King
Category:1962 songs
Category:Dimension Records singles
Category:The Cookies songs
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