From a Window
| "From a Window" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas | ||||
| from the album From a Window | ||||
| B-side | "Second to None" | |||
| Released | 17 July 1964 | |||
| Recorded |
29 May 1964 Abbey Road Studios | |||
| Genre | Beat | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Writer(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"From a Window" is a song written by Paul McCartney,[1] attributed to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which was recorded by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas. It was the sixth and final Lennon–McCartney composition given to Kramer.[2]
Kramer recorded the song on 29 May 1964 at Abbey Road Studios.[3] George Martin produced the session, which was attended by Lennon and McCartney.[4] McCartney can be heard at the very end of the song, harmonizing on the final word.[2]
"From a Window" was released as a UK single on 17 July 1964: its peak that August at no. 10 represented an abrupt drop in popularity for Kramer & the Dakotas whose previous chart history comprised four Top 5 hits, two of them no. 1's.[2] The follow-up, "It's Gotta Last Forever", fell short of the UK Top 50; the subsequent "Trains and Boats and Planes" at no. 12 punctuated their two-year UK chart career in the summer of 1965.
In the US — with "I'll Be on My Way" serving as the B-side — "From a Window" reached no. 23 in October 1964. It was the band's fourth US Top 40 hit in a five-month period, and also their last.[5]
Chad & Jeremy recorded "From a Window" in a December 1964 New York City recording session produced by Jimmie Haskell; the track was featured on the February 1965 album release Chad & Jeremy Sing For You. World Artists Records issued the track as a single that June; by then Chad & Jeremy had more current releases on Columbia Records but their version of "From a Window" received enough regional attention to register on the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 97.
Billy J. Kramer's version of "From a Window" was included on the 1979 compilation album The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away.[6]
"From a Window" has also been recorded by Cisse (fi) (album Teen Dreams/ 1976) and by Graham Parker (album From a Window: Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney/ 2003). A cover for the Mexican market: "Desde mi ventana", was recorded by both Los Hermanos Carrión (es) and Sandro y los de Fuego.
Recordings of "From a Window" as The Beatles may have performed it are available on the 1989 album by Bas Muys entitled Secret Songs: Lennon & McCartney[7][8] and on the 1998 release It's Four You by the Australian tribute band The Beatnix.[9][10] It has also been covered by Seattle-based Beatles cover band Apple Jam on their album Off The Beatle Track.
Notes
- ↑ Sheff 2000, p. 172.
- 1 2 3 Unterberger 2006, p. 346.
- ↑ Calkin 2009a.
- ↑ Giuliano 1999, p. 310.
- ↑ Whitbutrn 1997, p. 343.
- ↑ Calkin 2009b.
- ↑ Tagtuner.com
- ↑ Gnudb.org
- ↑ Answers.com
- ↑ Amazon.com
References
- Calkin, Graham (2009a). "From A Window". The Beatles Complete U.K. Discography. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- Calkin, Graham (2009b). "The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away". The Beatles Complete U.K. Discography. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- Giuliano, Geoffrey; Devi, Vrnda (1999). Glass Onion: The Beatles in Their Own Words. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80895-1.
- Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying. St Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-25464-4.
- Unterberger, Richie (2006). The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-892-3.
- Vaughn, Robin (9 May 2003). "Lost and found: The ‘Other’ Songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- Whitbutrn, Joel (1997). Top Pop Singles 1955-1996. Record Research.