“Dizzy Miss Lizzie”

• Published on 1965
• Author: Williams
• Track 14 on “Help!“

Info about “Dizzy Miss Lizzie”

“Dizzy, Miss Lizzy” is a rock and roll song written and recorded by Larry Williams in 1958. Although identified as a “genuine rock & roll classic”, it had limited success on the record charts.

In 1965, the Beatles recorded “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” in response to requests from Capitol Records (their US record label) for new material. The song is included on the UK album Help! and the US album Beatles VI. They recorded it along with another Williams tune, “Bad Boy”, on the same day.

Group biographer Ian MacDonald describes the song as “an unprepossessing shambles of ersatz hysteria and jumbled double-tracking”. However, AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine comments “‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’ gives John an opportunity to flex his rock & roll muscle.”

Lennon later recorded “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” at a performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival on September 13, 1969. The song is included on the Plastic Ono Band album Live Peace in Toronto 1969. Paul McCartney has stated that he believes this song to be one of the Beatles best recordings. It features loud, rhythmic instrumentation, and John Lennon giving the vocal his all.

The title is playfully misleading. The actual lyric is, “You make me dizzy, Miss Lizzy”.
The song was originally thought about by band manager Brian Epstein, and was later introduced to Ringo Starr, the band’s drummer. He made sure that the band recorded it after loving its upbeat rhythm and interesting lyrics.

Personnel

• John Lennon – vocal, rhythm guitar, Vox Continental organ
• Paul McCartney – bass
• George Harrison – double-tracked lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums, cowbell