Keely Smith Sings the John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook explained

Keely Smith Sings the John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook
Type:	album
Artist:	Keely Smith
Cover:	Keely Smith Lennon McCartney Songbook.jpeg
Released:	1964
Recorded:	1964
Genre:	Pop music
Label:	Reprise R-6142
Producer:	Jimmy Bowen
Chronology:	Keely Smith
Prev Title:	The Intimate Keely Smith
Prev Year:	1964
Next Title:	That Old Black Magic
Next Year:	1965

Keely Smith Sings the John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook is an album by the American singer Keely Smith of music written by the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.^[1] The album was successful in the United Kingdom.^[2]

Reception

The initial Billboard magazine review from November 14, 1964 commented that Smith's "distinct handling of the especially arranged tunes makes her come through with flying colors...Lennon and McCartney will love her for this".^[3]

In 1966, Lennon claimed that Smith "added nothing" to his and McCartney's "compositions but a couple of trumpets".^[4]

Track listing

All tracks written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

1. "If I Fell" – 3:05
2. "This Girl" – 2:25
3. "Please Please Me" – 2:48
4. "And I Love Him" – 2:51
5. "A World Without Love" – 3:17
6. "She Loves You" – 3:14
7. "A Hard Day's Night" – 3:09
8. "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" – 2:46
9. "Can't Buy Me Love" – 2:17
10. "All My Loving" – 3:05
11. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – 3:03
12. "P.S. I Love You" – 2:41

Personnel

• Keely Smith – vocals
• Benny Carter – arranger
• Ernie Freeman – arranger
• Ed Thrasher – art direction
• Jimmy Bowen – production

Notes and References

1. Web site: Keely Smith – Keely Smith Sings the John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook at Discogs. discogs.com. 5 July 2017.
2. Book: Tom Clavin. That Old Black Magic: Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and the Golden Age of Las Vegas. 2010. Chicago Review Press. 978-1-56976-813-6. 201.
3. Billboard . Album Reviews . 14 November 1964 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . 31 . 0006-2510.
4. Web site: Review: Keely Smith, "Sings the John Lennon-Paul McCartney Songbook" . Randy . Fairman . July 9, 2018 . The Second Disc . April 23, 2024.