"Have You Heard the Word" is a song attributed to

The Fut The Fut were a short-lived rock group formed in London in 1969, consisting of Maurice Gibb, Steve Groves, Steve Kipner and Billy Lawrie (the brother of singer Lulu and Gibb's brother-in-law and sometime songwriting partner). Their only sing ...

. Written by

Steve Kipner Stephen Alan Kipner (born 1950) is an American-born Australian songwriter and record producer, with hits spanning a 40-year period, including chart-topping songs such as Olivia Newton-John's "Physical", Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words", an ...

and Steve Groves, it is the band's only single. Most of the vocals were sung by

Maurice Gibb Maurice Ernest Gibb (; 22 December 1949 – 12 January 2003) was a British musician. He achieved fame as a member of the pop group Bee Gees. Although his elder brother Barry Gibb and fraternal twin brother Robin Gibb were the group's main le ...

, in the style of John Lennon. The B-side "Futting" was an instrumental. It was released as a single on 7 March 1970 but did not chart.

Recording and aftermath

"Have You Heard the Word" was recorded on 6 August 1969 at

IBC Studios The IBC Recording Studios were independent recording studios located at 35 Portland Place in London, England. In the 1960s and 1970s, the studios become internationally famous after being used by recording artists like the Kinks, the Who, Bee Gee ...

during a session for Groves and Kipner’s group Tin Tin. That day, Maurice Gibb had broken his arm falling down a flight of stairs. He showed up to the recording wearing a cast and under the effect of painkillers. Kipner and Groves were not happy with the song to begin with, and as the session deteriorated, they left. Maurice gave his vocals (an impression of John Lennon) to tape and played bass as well in his distinctive style despite his injuries. Lawrie recalls that he might have been there too, but admits his memory of the late 1960s is "none too good". This song was credited to The Fut. Years later, Gibb said that he had no idea how that happened. The record appeared in early 1970, with rumours that it was one of

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

, perhaps a bootleg recording. The recording was so plausible as a Lennon song that

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up i ...

and Lenono Music, cleaning house in 1985, registered a copyright on it as a song written by

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

, even though Lennon had earlier denied participation.Unterberger (2006), p. 359. Later in May 1974, on RSO tapes, this song was credited as a Kipner/Groves composition, although BMI listed it as by Kipner, Groves and Lawrie.

Personnel

— lead vocals, bass * Steve Groves — lead vocals, guitar *

— lead vocals, piano * Billy Lawrie — background vocals * Uncredited — drums

References

{{authority control 1969 songs 1970 debut singles Songs written by Steve Kipner Song recordings produced by Maurice Gibb