Songs of the Beatles


Songs of the Beatles is a 1981 album by Sarah Vaughan, recorded in 1977 but not released for four years due to a recording contract problem. It contains songs written and originally performed by the Beatles, with contemporaneous pop and jazz arrangements. On "Something" Vaughan was accompanied by the Brazilian singer and musician Marcos Valle.

Reception

On balance, Los Angeles Times jazz writer Leonard Feather is favorable in his assessment, awarding the album three and a half stars, notwithstanding some ill-advised commercial trimmings:
Recorded several years ago, inexplicably shelved and now belatedly released, this is neither the ill-advised venture one might fear nor a vital part of musical history. Produced and arranged by the father and son team of Marty and David Paich, it has its moments of superior Vaughan, notably on "Eleanor Rigby" and "Here, There and Everywhere." What went wrong is mostly the fault of the producers: overdressed arrangements ; overdubbed background singers of which Vaughan was not even made aware; a tiresome tenor sax and rigid rhythm on "Come Together." For the most part, though, on the strength of her indomitable musicianship and the inherent virtues of some of the tunes, Vaughan overcomes.

Track listing

;Side A
  1. "Get Back" – 2:55
  2. "And I Love Her" – 4:08
  3. "Eleanor Rigby" – 3:48
  4. "The Fool on the Hill" – 4:15
  5. "You Never Give Me Your Money" – 2:48
  6. "Come Together" – 3:22
;Side B
  1. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" – 3:31
  2. "Blackbird" – 3:34
  3. "Something" – 4:16
  4. "Here, There and Everywhere" – 2:49
  5. "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:08
  6. "Yesterday" – 4:02
  7. "Hey Jude" – 1:09

Personnel

Recorded in 1977: