“Crying, Waiting, Hoping” is a Beatles’ cover song from 1964 which is on their “Live At The BBC” album. Buddy Holly sang it originally and it became a B-side to the “Peggy Sue Got Married” single shortly after his death in 1959.
In Detail
Album
Recorded: 16th July, 1963
Track Duration: 2:11
Genre: Rock and roll
Record Label: Apple
Songwriter: Buddy Holly
Producer: Terry Henebery
Performers
George Harrison: lead vocal, also the lead guitar
John Lennon: rhythm guitar, as well as the backing vocals
Paul McCartney: bass guitar, also the backing vocals
Ringo Starr: drums
Live At The BBC Album (1994)
Track Source
Crying, Waiting, Hoping
Although Buddy Holly’s version didn’t chart, that didn’t stop The Beatles from making a cover version themselves. In fact, the band were absolute masters at covering the more obsolete songs, especially B-sides. As well as covering Buddy Holly songs they would also cover those from Little Richard and Chuck Berry etc. In other words, The Beatles were showing their appreciation for the early American rock and roll stars.
The Beatles performed “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” for BBC Radio in a style similar to that of Buddy Holly with George Harrison doing the singing. They also recorded it on the 1st January, 1962, as part of their Decca Records audition tape. As we are fully aware, that audition was unsuccessful. It’s not because the Beatles’ songs were bad that day, it was because of a terrible decision by Decca. In essence, this was the worst decision in the music recording industry!
The Beatles didn’t record the song at the Abbey Road Studio professionally for a studio album. However, they did sing it during their “Get Back/Let It Be” jamming sessions in January 1969. This was a period when there was a possibility that the band could break up and they were getting back to their roots in order to save the day.
BBC Radio Recording
During their early days, prior to becoming worldwide stars, The Beatles would often record radio shows for the BBC. After all, this was free publicity. With this in mind, they recorded “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” for one of those shows, namely “Pop Go the Beatles”. They recorded that show at the BBC Paris Theatre in London on the 16th July, 1963, for airing on the 6th August.
In 1994, The BBC released many of those early Beatles’ recordings on their “Live At The BBC” album. “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” is on the album after track 20, “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)” from the same show. These good old-fashioned songs from that show are clean recordings and would grace any record collection.
