Ooh! My Soul

The Beatles recorded just one version of Little Richard’s ‘Ooh! My Soul’, for a BBC radio show in 1963.

The song was first released as a single in June 1958, coupled with ‘True Fine Mama’ on the b-side. It was a minor transatlantic hit, reaching number 31 in the US and number 22 in the UK.

The Beatles’ recording was made on 1 August 1963 at the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester. It was unusual by that time for the band to record a BBC programme outside of London.

‘Ooh! My Soul’ was the first song performed for the 11th edition of the Pop Go The Beatles programme. It was first broadcast on 27 August, and later found its way onto the Live At The BBC collection.

The song lasts just 1’37” – less time than Richard’s own frenetic version. The Beatles tore through the song, with Paul McCartney delivering one of his all-time greatest rock ‘n’ roll vocal performances.

I could do Little Richard’s voice, which is a wild, hoarse, screaming thing, it’s like an out-of-body experience. You have to leave your current sensibilities and go about a foot above your head to sing it. You have to actually go outside yourself. It’s a funny little trick and when you find it, it’s very interesting. A lot of people were fans of Little Richard so I used to sing his stuff.

Lyrics

Ooh! My soul

Well baby baby baby baby
Don’t you know my love is true?
Honey honey honey honey honey
Said get off of that money
I love love love love love
Ooh! My soul

Well gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme
Gimme all the love you got
Baby baby baby baby baby
Don’t you know I love a lot?
Yeah, I love love love love love
Ooh! My soul

Well now, baby baby baby baby baby
Don’t you know my love is true?
I said honey honey honey honey honey
Get off of that money
I love love love love love
Ooh! My soul

Yeah, now, baby baby baby baby
Don’t you know my love is true?
Honey honey honey honey honey
I said get off, get off of that money
I love love love love love
Ooh! My soul