Come Together
Come Together
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| "Come Together" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1989 UK reissue picture sleeve | ||||
Single by the Beatles | ||||
| from the album Abbey Road | ||||
| A-side | "Something" (double A-side) | |||
| Released | 6 October 1969 | |||
| Format | 7-inch record | |||
| Recorded | 21–30 July 1969, EMI Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Blues rock[1] | |||
| Length | 4:19 | |||
| Label | Apple | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
The Beatles singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
"Come Together" on YouTube | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
| ||||
"Come Together" is a song by the Beatles written primarily by John Lennon[2] and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on the album Abbey Road and was also released as a single coupled with "Something". The song reached the top of the charts in the United States[3] and peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom.[4]
Contents
1 Origin and meaning
2 Recording
3 Release and legacy
4 Lawsuit
5 Personnel
6 Cover versions
6.1 Ike & Tina Turner version
6.2 John Lennon solo version
6.3 Aerosmith version
6.4 Michael Jackson versions
6.5 Other versions
7 See also
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links
Origin and meaning[edit]
"Come Together" started as Lennon's attempt to write a song for Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of California against Ronald Reagan, which promptly ended when Leary was sent to prison for possession of marijuana:[5]
.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}
The thing was created in the studio. It's gobbledygook; Come Together was an expression that Leary had come up with for his attempt at being president or whatever he wanted to be, and he asked me to write a campaign song. I tried and tried, but I couldn't come up with one. But I came up with this, Come Together, which would've been no good to him - you couldn't have a campaign song like that, right?[6]
Beatles historian Jonathan Gould has suggested that the song has only a single "pariah-like protagonist" and Lennon was "painting another sardonic self-portrait".[7]
Recording[edit]
Lennon played rhythm guitar and sang the lead vocals, Paul McCartney played bass, George Harrison played lead guitar and Ringo Starr played drums. It was produced by George Martin and recorded in late July 1969 at Abbey Road Studios in London.[8] In the intro, Lennon says: "shoot me", which is accompanied by his handclaps and McCartney's heavy bass riff.[8] The famous Beatles' "walrus" from "I Am the Walrus" and "Glass Onion" returns in the line "he got walrus gumboot", followed by "he got Ono sideboard". Bluesman Muddy Waters is also mentioned in the song.
Music critic Ian MacDonald reports that McCartney sang a backing vocal,[9] but recording engineer Geoff Emerick said that Lennon did all the vocals himself, and when a frustrated McCartney asked Lennon, "What do you want me to do on this track, John?", Lennon replied, "Don't worry, I'll do the overdubs on this."[10]
In a 1970 interview in the Evening Standard, McCartney said he was disappointed about not singing live with Lennon; instead, he overdubbed his vocals later:
Even on Abbey Road we don't do harmonies like we used to. I think it's sad. On "Come Together" I would have liked to sing harmony with John, and I think he would have liked me to, but I was too embarrassed to ask him, and I don't work to the best of my abilities in that situation.[11]
Release and legacy[edit]
"Come Together" was released as a double A-side with "Something" and as the opening track of Abbey Road. The single was released on 6 October 1969 in the US, was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 16 weeks, and reached No. 1. The single was similarly successful when it was released on 31 October 1969 in the UK, reaching No. 4.
The first take of the song, recorded on 21 July 1969, with slightly different lyrics, was released in 1996 on the outtake compilation Anthology 3.[12]
Rolling Stone ranked "Come Together" at #202 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"[13] and #9 on their list of the Beatles' 100 Greatest Songs.[14][15]
Lawsuit[edit]
In 1973, "Come Together" was the subject of a lawsuit brought against Lennon by Big Seven Music Corp. (owned by Morris Levy) who was the publisher of Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". Levy contended that it sounded similar musically to Berry's original and shared some lyrics (Lennon sang "Here come ol' flattop, he come groovin' up slowly" and Berry's had sung "Here come a flattop, he was movin' up with me"). Before recording, Lennon and McCartney deliberately slowed the song down and added a heavy bass riff in order to make the song more original.[11] After settling out of court, Lennon promised to record three other songs owned by Levy.[16] A brief version of "Ya Ya" with Lennon and his son Julian was released on the album Walls and Bridges in 1974. "You Can't Catch Me" and another version of "Ya Ya" were released on Lennon's 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll, but the third, "Angel Baby", remained unreleased until after Lennon's death. Levy again sued Lennon for breach of contract, and was eventually awarded $6,795. Lennon countersued after Levy released an album of Lennon material using tapes that were in his possession and was eventually awarded $84,912.96. The album was called Roots.[17]
Personnel[edit]
John Lennon – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, electric piano, handclaps
Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass guitar
George Harrison – lead guitar
Ringo Starr – drums, maracas
personnel per Ian MacDonald[2]
The availability of separate tracks from the original Beatles multi-tracks (due to release of Rock Band) have made fresh investigation of the Beatles personnel data possible. One of the discoveries is that on the verses of "Come Together", the backing vocals are sung by McCartney. In an interview with Music Radar, Geoff Emerick correctly stated that McCartney did not sing on the choruses: "Initially, Paul played the electric piano part, but John kind of looked over his shoulder and studied what he was playing. When it came time to record it, John played the electric piano instead of Paul. Paul might have been miffed, but I think he was more upset about not singing on the choruses — John did his own backing vocals."[18]
Cover versions[edit]
| "Come Together" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
Single by Aerosmith | ||||
| from the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | ||||
| B-side | "Kings and Queens" | |||
| Released | July 1978 | |||
| Format | 7-inch single | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 3:46 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | Jack Douglas | |||
Aerosmith singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
"Come Together" (audio) on YouTube | ||||
Ike & Tina Turner version[edit]
Ike & Tina Turner released a version of "Come Together" as the title track of their 1970 album. The single reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
John Lennon solo version[edit]
"Come Together" was the only Beatles' song Lennon sang during his 1972 Madison Square Garden concerts. It was Lennon's only full-length concert performance after leaving the Beatles. He was backed by the band Elephant's Memory.[19] This version of the song appears on the concert album Live in New York City, recorded on 30 August 1972 and released in 1986.
Aerosmith version[edit]
American hard rock band Aerosmith performed one of the most successful cover versions of "Come Together". It was recorded in 1978 and appeared in the movie and on the soundtrack to the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in which the band also appeared. The single was an immediate success, reaching number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, following on the heels of a string of Top 40 hits for the band in the mid-1970s. However it would be the last Top 40 hit for the band for nearly a decade.
Another recording of the song was released several months later on Aerosmith's live album Live! Bootleg. The song also featured on Aerosmith's Greatest Hits, the band's first singles compilation released in 1980. The song has also surfaced on a number of Aerosmith compilations and live albums since then, as well as on the soundtrack for the film Armageddon.
Michael Jackson versions[edit]
Originally recorded for his 1988 film Moonwalker (featuring John Lennon's son Sean Lennon), Michael Jackson released this version on his 1995 album HIStory and as the B-Side for his 1992 single "Remember The Time". The song was also featured during his 1996 performances of the HIStory World Tour along with his song D.S.
Other versions[edit]
Paul McCartney was also part of a different version of the song with Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller on an updated version for the 1995 HELP charity record, under the name the Smokin' Mojo Filters. Weller performed the lead vocal duties, with McCartney and Gallagher providing backing vocals, harmonies and bass and guitar. This version made it to No. 19 on the British chart in December 1995. In 2005 Weller recorded a new version of the song as part of a double A-sided single.
The Brothers Johnson performed a cover of the song on their 1976 debut album Look Out For #1. "Come Together" was the sixth song of the album which reached number one on the R&B albums chart in the United States in 1976.
Marcus Miller recorded an instrumental jazz arrangement of the song on his 1995 album Tales.
George Martin recorded a version of the song with vocals by Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin for his 1998 album In My Life.
tRío lucas show live in San Telmo Buenos Aires 8 December 2003 trío lucas live tribute to Lennon.
Joe Cocker recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack of the film Across the Universe in 2007.
Arctic Monkeys performed a cover of the song during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. A live recording (albeit from a rehearsal), from the London Olympic Stadium on 23 July 2012, was featured on the soundtrack album of the ceremony, Isles of Wonder. It charted at No. 21 in the UK.
Godsmack recorded a version of the song for their 2012 album Live & Inspired,[20] and was released as a single in 2017.
Soundgarden recorded a version of the song for their 1990 EP Loudest Love, which was later included in the band's 2014 release Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path, a three-disc set of originals, covers and rareties.
Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL recorded a version of the song for the 2017 film Justice League.
"Weird Al" Yankovic, Steven Tyler, and Alice Cooper performed the song together during a New Year's Eve party in Wailea in 2011.- The italian artist Mia Martini used to perform the song during her live concerts
See also[edit]
- Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music
Notes[edit]
^ Freeman, Phil (2007). Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81485-3.It's a surface-heavy blues-rock tune, flanging and wailing away…
.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ ab MacDonald 2005, p. 355.
^ Wallgren 1982, p. 57.
^ everyHit.com 2009.
^ MacDonald 2005, p. 314.
^ Sheff 2000.
^ Gould, Jonathan (2008). Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America. London: Piatkus. p. 575. ISBN 978-0-7499-2988-6.
^ ab Lewisohn 1988, p. 181.
^ MacDonald 2005, p. 358.
^ Emerick & Massey 2006, p. 285.
^ ab Miles 1997, p. 553.
^ Winn, John C. (2009). That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966-1970. New York: Three Rivers Press. p. 307. ISBN 978-0-307-45239-9.
^ Rolling Stone 2007.
^ "9. Come Together". 100 Greatest Beatles Songs. Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
^ Rolling Stone 2010.
^ Wenner 2000, p. 90.
^ Self 1992.
^ Bosso, Joe (6 February 2014). "Geoff Emerick on The Beatles in the studio". musicradar.com. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
^ Edmonson, Jacqueline. John Lennon: A Biography. 2010, ABC-CLIO,
ISBN 978-0-313-37938-3, p. 149
^ https://www.billboard.com/music/godsmack/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/3
References[edit]
.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{list-style-type:none;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>dd{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100{font-size:100%}
Emerick, Geoff; Massey, Howard (2006). Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 1-59240-179-1.
"Something / Come Together". everyHit.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. 1999. ISBN 978-0-634-02229-6.
Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
Miles, Barry (1997). Many Years From Now. London: Seeker & Warburg. ISBN 0-436-28022-1.
Norman, Philip (2008). John Lennon - The Life. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-727825-X.
"The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
"The Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Beatles Songs". Rolling Stone. 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
Self, Joseph C. (1992). "Lennon vs. Levy - The 'Roots' Lawsuit". abbeyrd.net. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2009.
Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-25464-4.
Stevens, John (2002). The Songs of John Lennon: the Beatles Years. Boston: Berklee Press. ISBN 0-634-01795-0.
Wallgren, Mark (1982). The Beatles on Record. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-45682-2.
Wenner, Jann S (2000). Lennon Remembers (Full interview from Lennon's 1970 interview in Rolling Stone magazine). London: Verso. ISBN 1-85984-600-9.
External links[edit]
 | Wikiquote has quotations related to: Abbey Road |
- The 15 Best Come Together Covers
- Lyrics and video of Come Together
Alan W. Pollack's Notes on "Come Together"
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Aerosmith | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio albums |
|
| Live albums |
|
| Extended plays |
|
| Singles |
|
| Compilations |
|
| Videos and DVDs |
|
| Concert tours |
|
| Related articles |
|
| |
Category
PortalMichael Jackson songs | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1970s |
|
| 1980s |
|
| 1990s |
|
| 2000s |
|
| 2010s |
|
| Other |
|
| Featured |
|
| |
Ike & Tina Turner | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio albums |
|
| Compilations |
|
| Singles |
|
| Related topics |
|
 Book:Tina Turner | |
Categories:
- The Beatles songs
- 1969 singles
- 1978 singles
- Apple Records singles
- Charity singles
- All-star recordings
- Aerosmith songs
- Michael Jackson songs
- Soundgarden songs
- Eurythmics songs
- Ike & Tina Turner songs
- Tina Turner songs
- The Supremes songs
- Diana Ross songs
- Tom Jones (singer) songs
- Marilyn Manson (band) songs
- Joe Cocker songs
- Song recordings produced by George Martin
- Songs written by Lennon–McCartney
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Songs published by Northern Songs
- Columbia Records singles
- Decca Records singles
- Domino Recording Company singles
- Go! Discs singles
- Songs involved in plagiarism controversies
- 1969 songs
(window.RLQ=window.RLQ||).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.820","walltime":"1.035","ppvisitednodes":{"value":7124,"limit":1000000},"ppgeneratednodes":{"value":0,"limit":1500000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":306679,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":40897,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":18,"limit":40},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":2,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":44046,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":0,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 803.933 1 -total"," 42.51% 341.766 6 Template:Infobox"," 35.89% 288.493 2 Template:Infobox_song"," 18.99% 152.706 1 Template:Reflist"," 16.40% 131.844 13 Template:Cite_book"," 14.22% 114.285 11 Template:Navbox"," 12.19% 98.032 8 Template:Navbox_musical_artist"," 7.59% 61.054 1 Template:Extra_chronology"," 6.43% 51.725 2 Template:External_music_video"," 5.90% 47.392 1 Template:About"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.347","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":6508935,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw1322","timestamp":"20181115085326","ttl":1900800,"transientcontent":false}}});mw.config.set({"wgBackendResponseTime":100,"wgHostname":"mw1257"});});
