Lennon–McCartney
Songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Lennon–McCartney refers to the songwriting partnership of the English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942), both members of the Beatles. This collaboration is regarded as one of the most celebrated and commercially successful in music history; as of 2004, the Beatles had sold over 600 million records worldwide. From 5 October 1962 to 8 May 1970, the duo published roughly 180 songs under their joint credit, the vast majority of which were performed by the Beatles and make up most of the band's catalog.
Unlike partnerships where one person writes music and the other lyrics—such as George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, or Elton John and Bernie Taupin—both Lennon and McCartney contributed to music and lyrics. In their early years, they often worked closely together, writing "eyeball to eyeball," as Lennon described it. Later in their partnership, it became more typical for one of them to write most of a song alone, with little or no input from the other. By an agreement made before the Beatles achieved fame, any song written by either during the partnership was credited equally to both.
Lennon–McCartney songs have been covered extensively. According to Guinness World Records, "Yesterday" holds the record for the most recordings by different musicians.
**History and evolution**
**The Quarrymen days** Before meeting, Lennon and McCartney had each experimented with songwriting. McCartney wrote his first song fragments—including "I Call It Suicide" and the melody that later became "When I'm Sixty-Four"—in spring 1956, just before turning 14. Lennon's first song, "Calypso Rock," was written around March 1957.
Though McCartney had seen Lennon in the area without knowing who he was, they first met on 6 July 1957 at a local church fête, where 16-year-old Lennon was performing with his skiffle group, the Quarrymen. The 15-year-old McCartney, brought by mutual friend Ivan Vaughan, impressed Lennon with his guitar skills and his rendition of Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock." Soon after, Lennon asked McCartney to join the Quarrymen, and he accepted. Their early musical idols included the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; they learned many of their songs and imitated their sound. Their first compositions were written at McCartney's ho
- born
- John Lennon: 1940; Paul McCartney: 1942
- died
- John Lennon: 1980
- field
- Songwriting, music
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Songwriting partnership for the Beatles; approximately 180 jointly credited songs published between 1962 and 1970
Lore & Background
Lennon and McCartney separately experimented with songwriting before meeting. McCartney wrote his first song fragments in spring 1956, just shy of 14 years old; Lennon's first song, 'Calypso Rock', was written about March 1957. They first met on 6 July 1957 at a local church fête, where 16-year-old Lennon was playing with his skiffle group, the Quarrymen. The 15-year-old McCartney impressed Lennon with his guitar ability, and soon after Lennon asked McCartney to join the Quarrymen. Their first compositions were written at McCartney's home, at Lennon's aunt Mimi's house, or at the Liverpool Institute. The first song they wrote together, according to Mark Lewisohn, was 'Too Bad About Sorrows' (January 1958), followed soon after by 'Just Fun'. They kept song scraps in a notebook, each page noting 'another Lennon–McCartney original.'
The pair wrote no new songs in 1960 or 1961, despite needing to fill hours of stage time in their Hamburg residency. It was not until late 1961, around the time the Beatles met Brian Epstein, that they began regularly performing some of their original songs. The partnership re-emerged forcefully in 1962. At the Beatles' first four EMI recording sessions, between June and November 1962, the band played almost exclusively Lennon–McCartney songs. Producer George Martin was initially unconvinced the pair could write hit songs, but his attitude changed after the chart success of 'Love Me Do'. In February 1963, James proposed creating the Northern Songs publishing company for Lennon–McCartney songs.
Reader's Guide
The Lennon–McCartney partnership is significant for its unprecedented commercial success and its influence on popular music. Unlike many songwriting partnerships that comprise a separate composer and lyricist, both Lennon and McCartney wrote music and lyrics. Sometimes, especially early on, they would collaborate extensively, working 'eyeball to eyeball' as Lennon phrased it. During the latter half of their partnership, it became more common for either of them to write most of a song on their own with minimal input from the other. By an agreement made before the Beatles became famous, Lennon and McCartney were credited equally with songs that either one of them wrote while their partnership lasted. Their compositions have been the subject of numerous cover versions; according to Guinness World Records, 'Yesterday' has been recorded by more musicians than any other song. The partnership's legacy endures through the Beatles' catalogue, which sold more than 600 million records worldwide as of 2004.
Did You Know?
- The first song Lennon and McCartney wrote together, according to Mark Lewisohn, was 'Too Bad About Sorrows' in January 1958.
- Lennon and McCartney wrote no new songs in 1960 or 1961.
- According to Guinness World Records, 'Yesterday' has been recorded by more musicians than any other song.
- By an agreement made before the Beatles became famous, Lennon and McCartney were credited equally with songs that either one of them wrote while their partnership lasted.
More in English rock music duos 1-24
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