Recording, mixing: Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Bad Boy

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

The Beatles recorded two Larry Williams songs on this evening, both of which were initially intended for Capitol Records, their label in North America. ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’ and ‘Bad Boy’ had been in the group’s live set since their Cavern Club days.

The session lasted from 8-11.30pm. ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’ was the first to be tackled, with two takes recorded. The second of these was initially considered to be the best, although more were recorded later in the evening.

They turned their attention instead to ‘Bad Boy’, which was completed in four takes. The first three were rhythm tracks only, and onto the fourth were overdubbed vocals by John Lennon, double-tracked lead guitar from George Harrison, electric piano played by Paul McCartney, and tambourine by Ringo Starr.

With ‘Bad Boy’ complete, The Beatles returned to ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’. Five more takes, numbered 3-7, were recorded. To the last of these Lennon overdubbed an organ part, and Harrison double-tracked his lead guitar.

A mixing session in the control room of Studio Two then took place from 11.30pm-1.15am. Mono mixes of ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’ from take seven, and ‘Bad Boy’ from take four, were created first, followed by stereo versions from the same takes.

Both songs were first released in the US on 14 June 1965, on the Capitol album Beatles VI, which otherwise contained tracks recorded for Help! and Beatles For Sale, and the ‘Ticket To Ride’ b-side ‘Yes It Is’.

In the UK, ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’ was the closing song on Help!, and ‘Bad Boy’ was included on the December 1966 album A Collection Of Beatles Oldies. It was later released on the Past Masters collection.