“Chains”

• Published on 1963
• Author: Gerry Goffin/Carole King
• Track 4 on “Please Please Me“

About “Chains”

“Chains” is the song that Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote together in 1961 as part of a husband-and-wife songwriting duo. An American girl group called the Cookies recorded this song in 1962 and it went on to become a hit. In 1980, Carole King recorded a solo version of “Chains” for the album Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King, which was released in 1980.

There was a lot of cover versions of this song by Liverpool groups during 1962, and it was also incorporated into the Beatles’ live performances. It was recorded by the group on 11 February 1963 and it was included on their first album in the UK, Please Please Me, which was released in June 1963.

The song was the first of two songs on the album featuring George Harrison on lead vocals, and it features the early Beatles trademark harmonica introduction accompanied by the backing vocal harmonies provided by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

A number of BBC radio shows have featured the Beatles playing the song live, including “Side By Side”, “Here We Go” and “Pop Go the Beatles”.

Personnel

• George Harrison – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
• John Lennon – Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica Background Vocals
• Paul McCartney – Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
• Ringo Starr – Drums