One of Paul McCartney’s earliest musical compositions, ‘Love Of The Loved’ was recorded by Cilla Black and released as a single in 1963.
‘Love Of The Loved’ is believed to date from 1959. Paul McCartney claimed to have written it one night on his Zenith acoustic guitar, while walking home to Allerton in Liverpool. According to his former girlfriend Dorothy (Dot) Rhone, McCartney wrote the song for her.
The song was part of The Quarrymen’s repertoire for a time, and The Beatles often played it at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. It was one of 15 songs performed at their audition for Decca Records on 1 January 1962, but the recording is yet to be officially released.
According to Mersey Beat founder Bill Harry, one night at Liverpool’s Blue Angel jazz club he asked John Lennon if The Beatles had any songs suitable for local singer Beryl Marsden to record. Lennon replied that ‘Love Of The Loved’ would be ideal for her, but Brian Epstein later vetoed the suggestion, as he wished to give Lennon-McCartney songs to his own roster of acts.
Epstein was initially unimpressed with Cilla Black. She was the cloakroom attendant at the Cavern, who was introduced to Epstein by Lennon. Black auditioned for Epstein with The Beatles as her backing band, but it was not a success – she was nervous, and The Beatles performed the songs in their familiar keys rather than re-pitching them for her vocal range.
I’d chosen to do ‘Summertime’, but at the very last moment I wished I hadn’t. I adored this song, and had sung it when I came to Birkenhead with the Big Three, but I hadn’t rehearsed it with The Beatles and it had just occurred to me that they would play it in the wrong key. It was too late for second thoughts, though. With one last wicked wink at me, John set the group off playing. I’d been right to worry. The music was not in my key and any adjustments that the boys were now trying to make were too late to save me. My voice sounded awful. Destroyed – and wanting to die – I struggled on to the end.
What’s It All About?
Epstein saw Cilla Black perform on another occasion at the Blue Angel, and on 6 September 1963 contracted her as his only female performer. George Martin signed her to Parlophone and produced her debut single, ‘Love Of The Loved’. Paul McCartney attended the session.
Black’s debut single was issued on 27 September 1963, and peaked at number 30 on the New Musical Express chart, and 35 on the Record Retailer chart. It was an unusual failure for an Epstein act, particularly one with a Lennon-McCartney song.
I’d heard the song many times in the Cavern and I was ever so disappointed when I got into the studio and heard this jazzy brass sound. Paul did the same thing with ‘It’s For You’ later on. He sounded great on the demo he gave me and then turned it into a jazz waltz by the time I came to record it. Still, I can’t complain because both records were successful for me in the end even if they weren’t number ones.
What’s It All About?
The Beatles’ version of ‘Love Of The Loved’ is the only original composition from the Decca audition not to have been made commercially available.
Why doesn’t Paul like this song?! Sooo underrated, I agree w Cilla, great tune, showing the Beatles’ sophisticated songwriting, even from the very start. They were so clever, writing chord progressions nobody else was at the time. In that light its amazing how old the song is. Only the “middle eight” (I call it a bridge) is a bit of a let down, but even it is saved by the great transition back into the verse
I really don’t understand why it’s not on Anthology or not relased on another way. I think it sounds not so bad.
Is this song now in the public domain?
The song is crap!!! That’s why it’s never been released. It’s a McCartney throwaway. Average at best. That’s why Lennon would give it away as well.
I totally agree with you its Lennon-McCartneys worst effort and I’m not surprised the Beatles own version was not released. Its For You was a vastly better song. Sorry this one gets the MISS hooter.
great drumming on the Cilla Black version,Who was the drummer on the session?
Just found out that Cilla Black passed away. I’m from the younger generation so I don’t know anything about her, but I understand how she was a good friend of the boys.
It’s interesting that it was actually Paul who wanted the jazzy brass sound in Cilla Black’s Lennon-McCartney covers. I think they’d have sounded a lot better with the guitar/bass/drums combo rather than the over the top versions that ended up being released. Ah well.
Am I the only one to notice that this song sounds quite decidedly like a George Harrison song; updated only slightly it could have fit right in on All Things Will Pass. I know it’s attributed to Paul (and John obviously didn’t write it), and some parts of it don’t much sound like George. But that main part, with the chords (let’s pretend the first is C since I am not sure of its actual key) go C major, E minor, E-flat major, F minor, C major, A-flat major, G major, C major – that progression is just so absolutely George!
It peaked at No. 35 in the UK, not No. 30. See https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/cilla-black-love-of-the-loved/. Thanks.
Thanks – correction made.
It reached number 30 in the NME chart, and 35 in the Record Retailer chart.
Ah right, thank you. I did wonder if the discrepancy was caused by the different charts at the time. I’ll change the article again!