“The Saints” is the B-side of a single by Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers. Of course, The Beat Brothers are basically The Beatles before they had a name change. They released this record in Germany in the Autumn of 1961, then in the UK on the 5th January, 1962. In the UK, the credits went to Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.
In Detail
Single
Recorded: 22nd June, 1961
Studio/Venue: Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg, Germany
Genre: Rock and roll
Track Duration: 3:18
Record Label: Polydor
Format: 7-inch single (B-side) (A-side is “My Bonnie“)
Songwriter: Gospel – traditional, but arranged by Tony Sheridan
Producer: Bert Kaempfert
Engineer: Karl Hinze
Performers
The Saints (B-side to My Bonnie)
Tony Sheridan: vocals, lead guitar
John Lennon: rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: bass
George Harrison: lead guitar
Pete Best: drums**
** Because this recording is from 1961, Ringo Starr was not yet a band member.
Track Source
7″ Single
When The Saints Go Marching In
The song’s origin is that of a Christian hymn going by the name of “When The Saints Go Marching In”. The Beatles version, shortened to “The Saints”, is in an upbeat rock and roll style.
After releasing “My Bonnie/The Saints” in Germany, that import became popular in their home town of Liverpool, England. Because of this, manager Brian Epstein ensured a British release of the single in 1962. The rock and roll version of “The Saints” is the B-side of the first commercial record release showing The Beatles as the artists. However, full credits went to “Tony Sheridan and The Beatles”.
In the States, the single didn’t appear commercially, but it was on an album in 1964, “The Beatles with Tony Sheridan and Their Guests”. This was after The Beatles became famous, of course. That album gave the credits as The Beatles with Tony Sheridan! The name change was permissible due to the Beatles contract which allowed a pseudonym.
The Beatles did record onto disc previously with “That’ll Be The Day“. But, that was when they had the name of The Quarrymen and it was not for commercial sale like this single.
“The Saints” didn’t end up on The Beatles’ Anthology 1 album like “My Bonnie”. So, the only was to hear it is via the single, YouTube or on other record labels.
Recording Studio
While Tony Sheridan and The Beatles were playing at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club in June, 1961, German producer Bert Kaempfert, paid a visit. That resulted in the performers signing up to his company, Bert Kaempfert Productions.
On the 22nd June, in the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg, Germany, Kaempfert’s new signings recording sessions began. As well as “The Saints”, they recorded the A-side “My Bonnie” together with, “Why” and “Cry For A Shadow” which had the original title of “Beatle Bop”.
