"Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" is a

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

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. Seven years later,

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

recorded the song, and

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

performed it with the Plastic Ono Band in 1969.

Recording

At the end of 1957, Williams scored with one of his biggest hits, " Bony Moronie". On February 19, 1958, he entered the Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood, California, to record a potential follow-up. He was again backed by some well-known session musicians, including René Hall, who is credited as the band leader and with supplying the distinctive guitar riff. However, it is Williams' vocal that makes the song stand out, according to music journalist Gene Sculatti, "at ease with its own intensity hat isfinally out of Richard's shadow." (

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...

and Williams were both signed to Specialty Records).

Release and charts

Specialty released "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" in both the

78 rpm A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English) or a vinyl record (for later varieties only) is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The g ...

and newer 45 rpm record formats. Williams had several completed recordings to choose from for the B-side, but the label decided to go with " Slow Down", a track he had recorded at the same September 11, 1957, session that produced "Bony Moronie". Both sides received notices in '' Billboard'' magazine, but only "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" reached the "Top 100 Sides" chart. It peaked at number 69 during the week ending April 19, 1958. Both songs were included on Williams's first album, the Specialty compilation '' Here's Larry Williams'' (1959).

Personnel

* Larry Williams – vocals, piano * Earl Palmer – drums * René Hall – guitar *

Howard Roberts Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician. Early life Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 — a ...

– guitar * Ted Brinson – bass guitar * Plas Johnson – tenor sax * Jewell Grant – baritone sax

The Beatles rendition

In 1965,

recorded "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" in response to requests from

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

(their US record label) for new material. The song, recorded the previous year by another Liverpool group The Escorts, is included on the UK album ''

Help! ''Help!'' is the fifth studio album by the English Rock music, rock band the Beatles and the soundtrack to their Help! (film), film of the same name. It was released on 6 August 1965 by Parlophone. Seven of the fourteen songs, including the sin ...

'' 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 AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

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''.

The Beatles personnel

In '' Revolution in the Head'', MacDonald lists the following: *

– vocal, rhythm guitar, Vox Continental organ *

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

– bass * George Harrison – double-tracked lead guitar *

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

– drums, cowbell

References

{{authority control 1958 songs 1958 singles Larry Williams songs The Beatles songs Songs written by Larry Williams Song recordings produced by George Martin Specialty Records singles