You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

March 1970

You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) is a song by The Beatles, which was published written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and on 6 March 1970 on the B - side of the single Let It Be. Although the song on the penultimate single from the Beatles appeared at all, the recording of the song had already begun three years earlier in May 1967. The lyrics of the song consists solely of the repetitive line " You know my name, look up the number ."

Composition

The song sounds like a vaudeville number and is considered one of the most remarkable songs of the Beatles. It was the brainchild of John Lennon to write a song with only a single, repetitive line. He told the history as follows:

"I was waiting for him in his house, and I saw the phone book thing on the piano with ' You know the name, look up the number. ' That was like a logo, and I just changed it. "

"I was waiting for him [ Paul McCartney ] in his house, and I saw the phone book on the piano are with, You know the name, look up the number ' on it. It was like a logo, and I converted it simply. "

McCartney told the Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn:

" You Know My Name ( Look Up The Number ) is probably my favorite song of the Beatles. It is so nonsensical. All these memories [ ... ] I mean, what would you say if a guy like John Lennon appears in the studio and says:. , I have a new song ' I said,' How does the text say? ', And he replied, You Know My Name ( look Up The Number ) '. I asked, ' And the rest ,' Nothing, no other text, this is the text? . And I want it to play like a mantra! ' "

The song consists of several sections that appear as musical expressions reference to some companions of the Beatles, including Mick Jagger and Trini Lopez. In the section that relates to Trini Lopez, John Lennon, Paul McCartney announces as " Dennis O'Bell ". This refers to the manager at the Beatles' film A Hard Day 's Night - but actually Denis O'Dell is called. O'Dell also acted as manager in the movie How I Won the War, in which Lennon played a major role.

Recording

All four Beatles played the different sections of the song on four days from 17 May to 9 June a 1967. At a recording session for the song on June 8, 1967, she invited Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. The Beatles expected the guitarist of the Rolling Stones would bring a guitar, but instead he appeared with a saxophone on which he recorded a solo.

On the song was initially for two years continued to work, and it remained unpublished. On April 30, 1969 Lennon, McCartney and the Beatles roadie Mal Evans took on different vocal tracks and effects for the song. George Harrison and Ringo Starr did not participate in this session.

Although the song was now completed, there remained another year unpublished.

Publication

John Lennon intended not to release the song in late 1969 under the name of the Beatles, but under his own band, the Plastic Ono Band name on the A- side of a single. On the B - side of 1968 and also recorded unreleased songs What's the New Mary Jane should appear. On November 26, 1969, he cut out of the six minutes and eight seconds long version of You Know My Name ( Look Up The Number ) a shorter version, which was just under four and a half minutes. The release of the single was announced on 5 December 1969 by the record label Apple Records. The remaining Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were not aware that two Lennon songs that were actually recorded by the Beatles, should now appear under the name the Plastic Ono Band and prevented the successful release of the single.

Three months later was released on March 3, 1970 You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) in the shortened version of Lennon now as a B- side of the single Let It Be. At first British pressings was even originally intended for the Plastic Ono Band catalog number of the record to see.

By 1996, You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) was only available in mono. First time, a stereo version was made for the Anthology series, which also contained a majority of the Lennon removed portions 1996. However, now missing short passages that can only be heard in the mono version. A full-length stereo version was never released.