Written by: McCartney
Recorded: 1960
Released: 21 November 1995
Paul McCartney: guitar
John Lennon: guitar
George Harrison: guitar
Stuart Sutcliffe: bass
Available on:
Anthology 1
One of The Beatles' earliest original compositions, Cayenne was recorded at Paul McCartney's family home in Liverpool in 1960.
It was written by Paul McCartney alone, although his songwriting partnership with John Lennon had already begun. An instrumental, the tune shows the clear influence of The Shadows on the group's early songwriting,
The Beatles recorded themselves rehearsing at McCartney's home at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool, in the spring or early summer of 1960. At the time they rarely played live, and kept the momentum in the group by writing and recording demos.
Cayenne was released in 1995 on Anthology 1, along with two other songs from the Forthlin Road recording – Hallelujah, I Love Her So and You'll Be Mine.
The tune had existed on bootlegs for some time prior to its official release, in a version lasting 2'30". The Anthology 1 version was slightly sped up and faded out prematurely, with a running time of just 1'14".
It says this song was recorded in 1960 but the articles for Hallelujah and You’ll Be Mine say 1961.
Were they calling themselves the Beatles at this point? Just curious.
Thanks for pointing that out. It was a mistake on the other two articles. I’ve corrected the pages now.
Nothing about the other title “Looking Glass”? What you think about CD “The Beatles at home”?
If it’s a bootleg, I’ve heard various ones but not that one. Cayenne is the official title, as that’s how it’s listed on Anthology 1. If bootleggers made up titles before the album was released then that’s up to them.
If you listen to this and the other songs from the recording you will hear that there are only two electric guitars audible and a bass. Mark Lewisohn suggests that George could have been at work as you never hear three guitars or his voice.
Possible, although it sounds like McCartney and Harrison took turns with the solo in this song. 0:24-1:03 sounds like Harrison.
How was it recorded at Paul’s home.? People didn’t have tape recorders back then because the compact cassette hadn’t been invented. If they had a tape recorder I would have thought it would have been a very expensive piece of kit in 1960-61.
It’s called “reel-to-reel”, and there were plenty of them of various quality available. Apparently Paul or his dad owned one, or he borrowed one. Both scenarios are not only highly plausible but obviously the case.