The Beatles recorded Carl Perkins’ ‘Sure To Fall (In Love With You)’ four times for BBC radio, and also during their ill-fated audition for Decca Records.
Carl Perkins recorded ‘Sure To Fall’ in December 1955 at the Memphis studio owned by Sun Records’ Sam Phillips. It was initially intended to be the follow-up to ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, but was instead released in 1957 on Perkins’ debut LP Dance Album.
Paul McCartney sang the song at The Beatles’ Decca audition, which took place on 1 January 1962. McCartney’s voice sounded somewhat shaky on the recording, which is only available on unofficial bootlegs.
The Decca audition consisted of songs from The Beatles live repertoire of the time, and while it’s safe to presume that The Beatles had been performing it since 1961, it may have been played by The Quarrymen too.
We did all these numbers and we were terrified and nervous. You can hear it on the bootlegs. It starts off terrifying and gradually settles down. We were still together musically. You can hear it’s primitive, you know, and it isn’t recorded that well, but the power’s there. It was the tracks that we were doing onstage in the dance halls.
A slower, more confident arrangement was performed at the BBC Paris Theatre, London, on 1 June 1963. The Beatles played it for the third Pop Go The Beatles radio programme, which was first broadcast on 18 June. This version was included on 1994’s Live At The BBC.
The Beatles recorded ‘Sure To Fall’ three more times for the BBC. The next was on 3 September 1963, at the Aeolian Hall, London. It was for the 15th Pop Go The Beatles show – the last of the series – which was broadcast on 24 September.
On 31 March 1964 they played the song again, this time for the Saturday Club programme. The performance was recorded at the Playhouse Theatre in London, and was first transmitted on 4 April. This version saw a switch into double time during the bridges.
The Beatles’ final performance of ‘Sure To Fall’ was made on 1 May 1964 at the BBC Paris Studio, London. As before, the group played the bridges in double time. The recording was for the From Us To You show, which was first broadcast on 18 May.
Lyrics
I’m sure to fall, fall in love
I’m sure to fall in love with you
You are so sweet and so near
I’m sure to fall in love with you
So hold me tight
Let tonight be the night
Darling, don’t ever let me go
Loving you is the natural thing to do
I want you for the rest of my life
So hold me tight
Let tonight be the night
Darling, don’t ever let me go
Loving you is the natural thing to do
I want you for the rest of my life
“Sure To Fall” was not released as the follow-up single to “Blue Suede Shoes”. It was originally intended to be, but instead it was released on Carl Perkins’ 1st LP, “Dance Album”.
Also, it was recorded in December 1955, not 1956, and at the same session that produced the original versions of both “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Honey, Don’t!”.
heard this many years ago on a Radio Beatles special. Had never heard Carls version and thought it was written by the Beatles. liked the tune.
There is something for even a Beatlemaniac to learn on the Beatles Bible. Brilliant info !!
John sings the melody, not backing vocal. He’s higher in the mix, which makes it sound as if he’s the lead. Paul sings the bridge because it suits his voice better.