Written by John Lennonin 1970, ‘I’m The Greatest’ was eventually recorded by Ringo Starr in 1973. A studio version with Lennon’s guide vocal was released on the John Lennon Anthology box set in 1998.
It’s the Muhammad Ali line, you know. I couldn’t sing it, but it was perfect for Ringo. He could say ‘I’m the greatest’ and people wouldn’t get upset. Whereas if I said ‘I’m the greatest,’ they’d all take it so seriously.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Lennon recorded a home demo containing two takes of ‘I’m The Greatest’ in late 1970, following the completion of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. It’s possible that he considered including the song on the Imagine album, although it was never tackled in the studio at the time.
The 1970 recordings showed how Lennon originally conceived the song with a jazz-style piano backing. At this stage the lyrics were largely unwritten, and lacked much of the final version’s self-deprecating humour. It is feasible that he wanted it to be a confessional song about his childhood, judging by the original lyrics: “Long time ago, way back home in Liverpool, my mama told be I’d be great…”
In February 1971, during the session for ‘Power To The People’, Lennon tried out the song in the studio for the first time. This time his band included Klaus Voormann on bass guitar and Jim Gordon on drums. Although he later claimed he’d never considered recording his own version, this studio attempt featured a telling line: “Yoko told me I was great.”
Early in 1973 Lennon was invited by Starr to go to Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles to help contribute to Ringo, his third studio album. Starr had sent requests to each of the former Beatles for new material, and Lennon revived ‘I’m The Greatest’. He rewrote several of the lines to make them relevant to Starr, and helped arranged the recording.
George Harrison was also in Los Angeles, and had arranged a meeting with Lennon to discuss the 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 Beatles compilations. Lennon invited him into the studio, making perhaps the closest there ever came to a Beatles reunion.
From behind the piano Lennon led a version with Starr on drums, Harrison on electric guitar and Voormann on bass. They recorded 12 takes, four of which were complete, with Lennon singing guide vocals. One of these studio outtakes was released in slightly edited form in the John Lennon Anthology collection.
The best attempt formed the basis for the album version, which had lead and backing vocals, lead guitar by Harrison and an organ part by Billy Preston overdubbed at a later date. The album was produced by Richard Perry, who also added Sgt Pepper-style crowd effects around the line “Yes my name is Billy Shears”.
In the last part of the song which is descending/ascending scale, in the descending part I think that Billy Preston plays the piano pattern from John’s song “Remember”. That’s obviously a coincidence, because Billy’s part was overdubbed later. What a coincidence it is!
The beauty of Lennons tunes is they can be interpeded different ways. At first I thought the song was typical Lennon ego but I read that he said the song was about Paul as he wanted to be viewed as his equal. It makes sense now based on a couple lines. John didn’t have a wife and kids he only had one child at the time and the line my name is Billy Shears is a refferance to the Paul is dead replacement. Also on the Ringo cover there is an eggman above Paul. Even after they broke up they still left messages
Do you think John was in a way trying to help Ringo sell music because we all know how successful Ringo was after The Beatles. Let’s be honest. Maybe that line about Billy Shears was to bring in the Paul is Dead fanatics to buy the record for Ringo. Why would John write in the song that he himself is Billy Shears? To add on more controversy over the Paul is dead thing or that John himself felt “fake” at the time. Very weird lyric I must say because it doesn’t fit in with the other Paul is dead references at the time other songs John was writing clearly about Faul.
I suspect that the Billy Shears line is one that John rewrote for Ringo and not original or referring to himself.
Likewise with “my wife and kids.” Ringo was still married to Maureen at the time this was recorded for his album and they had three children.
Amazing your refrence Tom, thanks. It seems to me that in the last part of the song they play something like George´s “Ï dig love” don´t you think so ?
Yep, and the electric piano seems to play the intro chords to John’s “Remember”!