"Like Dreamers Do" is a song written by

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...

in 1959 and is one of the earliest written songs credited to

Lennon–McCartney Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is the best-known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the ...

. It was most notably performed by

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 ...

at their unsuccessful 1 January 1962

audition An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece giv ...

for

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

. That performance, which took place before

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

joined the band and featured

Pete Best Randolph Peter Best (né Scanland; born 24 November 1941) is an English musician known as the drummer of the English rock band the Beatles who was dismissed immediately prior to the band achieving worldwide fame. Fired from the group in 1962 ...

on drums, was recorded by Decca and was finally released on the Beatles' ''

Anthology 1 ''Anthology 1'' is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 20 November 1995 by Apple Records as part of ''The Beatles Anthology'' series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the period 1958–64, including song ...

'' in 1995. The Beatles' Decca rendition of "Like Dreamers Do" was received favourably by employees at

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

's publishing arm, Ardmore & Beechwood, in February 1962. Based on that tape, Ardmore & Beechwood became interested in publishing recordings of Lennon–McCartney songs and played a pivotal role in securing the Beatles a recording contract with EMI several months later. In 1964, the track was recorded by Decca Records band the Applejacks and released as the group's second single, reaching No. 20 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The Applejacks worked with

Mike Leander Michael George Farr (30 June 1941 – 18 April 1996), known professionally as Mike Leander, was a British arranger, songwriter and record producer. He worked variously with The Beatles, David McWilliams ("Days of Pearly Spencer"), Gary Gli ...

from Decca as the musical director. Bas Muys covered "Like Dreamers Do" on his 1989 album ''Secret Songs: Lennon & McCartney'', in a similar style to The Beatles' original performance. Australian Beatles tribute band

The Beatnix The Beatnix is an Australian Beatles tribute band. It is amongst the longest running Beatles tribute shows in the world. History The concept for the band was conceived and assembled in March 1980 by founding member Tony Dean as a live perfo ...

also covered it for their 1998 release ''It's Four You''. Seattle band Apple Jam covered this song on their 2009 album, ''Off the Beatle Track'', in the style of "

This Boy "This Boy" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney). It was released in November 1963 as the B-side of the band's Parlophone single "I Want to Hold Your Hand". In the United State ...

Beatles version personnel

– vocals, bass guitar *

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 ...

– guitar *

George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...

– guitar *

– drums

Notes

1964 singles The Beatles songs Songs written by Lennon–McCartney The Beatles Anthology Song recordings produced by Mike Smith (British record producer) 1962 songs Decca Records singles London Records singles {{1960s-single-stub