The Chuck Berry song ‘Carol’ was recorded by The Beatles for the Pop Go The Beatles radio show on 2 July 1963.

The session took place at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios in London, and was broadcast on 16 July.

When I got the [first] guitar I’d play it for a little bit then give up, then take it up again. It took me about two years, on and off, to be able to strum tunes without thinking. I think I had one lesson, but it was so much like school that I gave up. I learnt mostly by picking up bits here and there… I learnt the solos on ‘Johnny B Goode’ and ‘Carol’, but I couldn’t play the one on ‘Blue Suede Shoes’. In those days I was very much influenced by Chuck Berry, Scotty Moore and Carl Perkins.

The Beatles also recorded a number of other songs during the 2 July session. Interestingly, five of the six songs were never attempted by the group for EMI. The songs played were:

Only one song, ‘There’s A Place’, was a Lennon-McCartney original. What’s more, none of the cover versions were recorded again for the radio by The Beatles, making this one of the most interesting of the group’s 53 BBC sessions.

The 2 July session took place just over a fortnight before recording began for With The Beatles, and it’s possible that the group were trying out potential material for their second album.

‘Carol’ was one of the songs on The Rolling Stones’ self-titled debut in April 1964, almost a year after The Beatles’ version was broadcast. The Beatles’ attempt, however, wasn’t released until 1994, when it was included on the Live At The BBC collection.

Lyrics

Oh Carol
Don’t let him steal your heart away
Well I’ve a-got to learn to dance
If it takes me all night and day

Well come into my machine so we can move on out
I know a jumping little joint where we can jump and shout
It’s not too far back on the highway, not too long a ride
Well you take your car along and you park it outside.
A little cutie takes your hat and you can thank her, ma’am
Well every time you’re gonna drive you find the joint is jammed

Oh Carol
Don’t let him steal your heart away
Well I’ve a-got to learn to dance
If it takes me all night and day

Ow!
Ow!

Well if you want to hear some music like the boys all play
Hold tight, tap your foot, don’t let it carry you away
Don’t let the heat overcome you ’cause they play so loud
While the music will treat you when they get a crowd
Well you can dance I know you will, you thought
I got my eyes on you baby, ’cause you dance so good

Don’t let him steal your heart away
I’ve a-got to learn to dance
If it takes me all night and day
Well I’ve a-got to learn to dance
If it takes you all night and day


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