Akustik Studio Recordings[edit]

15 October 1960[edit]

In Hamburg, Germany, during the Beatles’ first stint there, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison recorded a song as the backing group for Lu Walters, the bassist from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The Beatles’ drummer, Pete Best, was not present, and Hurricanes drummer Ringo Starr played instead. It was the first time John, Paul, George and Ringo recorded music together. Sutcliffe was present at the session but did not play. The song was recorded in the small Akustik studio, in a similar arrangement to the Beatles’ recordings at Phillips’ Sound Recording Services. The song, with a spoken advertisement as the B-side, was pressed onto nine mono 78 rpm acetate discs. After the song was recorded, Walters, Starr, Ty Brian and Johnny Byrne, all in the Hurricanes, recorded “Fever” and “September Song“. None of the recordings were ever released. The session tapes were most likely erased, and none of the discs are known to have survived.^[12]

Recordings^[12]

• “Summertime” (Gershwin) – lost or destroyed

Personnel^[12]

Musicians:

• George Harrison – guitar
• John Lennon – guitar
• Paul McCartney – guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums
• Lu Walters – vocals, bass guitar