The first song recorded at The Beatles’ EMI audition in June 1962, ‘Besame Mucho’ was a part of the group’s live set during their Hamburg days.
The romantic ballad was written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez, and first recorded by Emilio Tuero. The title translates as ‘kiss me a lot’.
The words were translated by American composer and singer Sunny Skylar. It reached audiences worldwide from 1944, and became an international hit following its appearance in the film Follow The Boys.
The cost of records was high for budding musicians in the 1950s and early 60s, and The Beatles plundered the music collections of friends, relatives and associates wherever they could. The Coasters’ 1960 version of ‘Besame Mucho’ fell into the hands of Paul McCartney, and quickly became a favourite.
I had this very diverse little record collection from which I was culling material. I remember I had the Coasters’ ‘Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart’, which was on the b-side of ‘Yakety Yak’. I can look back on these records and see what it was I liked. With ‘Besame Mucho’ by the Coasters, it’s a minor song and it changes to a major, and where it changes to a major is such a big moment musically. That major change attracted me so much.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
The song entered The Beatles’ repertoire in 1961, remaining there for around a year. It was often hammed up by McCartney, who adopted a suitable Latino vocal style in a light-hearted display of his singing versatility.
In the studio
The Beatles first recorded ‘Besame Mucho’ at their ill-fated Decca audition on 1 January 1962; a live version was taped 12 months later on New Year’s Eve at Hamburg’s Star-Club. It left their set shortly afterwards.
The Beatles recorded an unknown number of takes of ‘Besame Mucho’ at their first EMI session on 6 June 1962, with Pete Best on drums. The recording was rediscovered in the 1980s, having previously been thought destroyed, and was released in 1995 on Anthology 1.
I think George Martin felt we were raw and rough but that we had some quality that was interesting. We did ‘Love Me Do’, ‘PS I Love You’, ‘Ask Me Why’, ‘Besame Mucho’ and ‘Your Feet’s Too Big’, among others.
Anthology
The group recorded ‘Besame Mucho’ once more in their career. On 29 January 1969 they swiftly ran through the song during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions, along with two Buddy Holly songs: ‘Not Fade Away’ and ‘Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues’. ‘Besame Mucho’ was included in the Let It Be film.
Lyrics
Cha-cha boom!
Besame, besame mucho
Each time I bring you a kiss
I hear music divine
So besame, besame mucho
I’ll love you for ever
Say that you’ll always be mine
Cha-cha boom!
Dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh besame, besame mucho
Ooh love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true.
Oh this joy is something new
My arms enholding you
I never knew this thrill before
Who ever thought I’d be
Holding you close to me
Whispering it’s you I adore
Yes, so dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh, so besame, besame mucho
Yeah I’ll love you for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, this joy is something new
My arms enholding you
Never knew this thrill before
Who ever thought I’d be
Holding you close to me
Whispering it’s you I adore
Oh, so dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh, so besame, besame mucho
And I’ll love you for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Actually, according to a discography I read once (can’t remember the title at the moment), the group recorded Besame Mucho a few times during their career, but never felt it was good enough for release.
I wish they’d chosen a different recording to use on Anthology; I’ve heard the version from the Star Club and this one has none of the energy that made that one good.
agreed. perhaps the difference is ringo star.
Yes, absolutely. He is amazing.
I thought Pete Best played drums on Besame Mucho. If it was him and I believe it so then he did a pretty good job. His tempo and timing were spot on. Can’t believe John said he was a lousy drummer after the music they played for nearly two years. Pete should have never been overlooked buy the others. He wasn’t a perfect drummer but the rest of the boys I guess felt differently.
Pete played on the Anthology EMI auditions version. Ringo played on The Star Club version. You can definitely hear the difference. Ringo’s version just has so much power and excitement especially when they go to the chorus and the bridge. Pete’s version although recorded better lack energy with his surf beats.
Well I don’t know the Star-Club recording but I’ve heard the Decca recording and I think the Decca version is much better because it features harmony vocals by Lennon and Harrison and that make it sound much fuller.
The Decca & Star Club versions are similar. The Star Club version has more balls to it. God, I wish that Star Club stuff was in better sound quality, there’s some really killer stuff on there…
I like the Let it Be version.
What about an inconscious influence on Yesterday?
I think that Yesterday is the “western version” of Besame Mucho: the melodic line is the same.
What do you mean “western”?
The same? Oh, it is different! And the melody came to him a dream.
The composer’s first name is Consuela not Consuelo.
Consuela Velazquez was HER name.
It is Consuelo and it is a female name. Consuela does not exist in Spanish (I’m a native speaker).
Yes, Luis is absolutely right. Consuelo is a female name in Spanish. Consuela is just nonsense rubbish. (I’m Spanish).
Consuelo is a female and male name and Mexican we are very proud to use that o
Although you would think it was Conseuela, the usual feminine Spanish ending, her name is Consuelo.
Consuelo is a female name despite it ending in o.
That is correct.
Cha cha boom
Great song! It’s a classic standard!Dean Martins version is awesome
Five known recordings of “Besame Mucho”… The Decca version, the EMI version, the (currently unreleased) BBC version, the Star-Club version (all from ’62) and the Get Back/Let It Be version from ’69.
Is the Phoenix record label release from 1981 a bootleg from Hamburg tapes
Just to clarify… This session from 6 June 1962 was not an audition. It was their first bona fide recording session for EMI. They were already signed to the company. “Tune In” confirms this.
Just to clarify. They were NOT signed to EMI on June 6, and it was a Recording Test, not a bona-fide session. George Martin and EMI documentation confirms this.
Just to clarify (again)… They WERE signed to EMI.
On the Anthology version I think I hear an organ
Probably not though :/
Correct lyrics:
Oh this joy is something new
My arms ENFOLDING you
I never knew this thrill before
It is clear that Paul is singing that. Listen to Elvis Presley’s or Nat King Cole’s version if you don’t believe me