Slow Down (Larry Williams song)

"Slow Down"
	US picture sleeve (reverse)
Single by the Beatles
A-side	"Matchbox"
Released	June 19, 1964 (UK EP); August 24, 1964 (US single);
Recorded	June 1, 1964
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:54
Label	Parlophone (UK); Capitol (US);
Songwriter(s)	Larry Williams
Producer(s)	George Martin
The Beatles US singles chronology

"Slow Down"
	US picture sleeve
Single by Larry Williams
A-side	"Dizzy, Miss Lizzy"
Released	March 1958
Recorded	September 11, 1957
Studio	Masters Records, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:40
Label	Specialty
Songwriter(s)	Larry Williams
Larry Williams singles chronology

"Slow Down" is a rock and roll song written and performed by Larry Williams. Recorded in 1957, AllMusic writer Stewart Mason describes it as "raucous enough to be punk rock nearly a full two decades before the concept was even in existence."[1] Specialty Records released it as a single in 1958, but only the second-side "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" reached the record charts.[2] Both songs were later covered by the Beatles.

Recording

Williams recorded the song at Master Recorders, Hollywood, California, on September 11, 1957.[3] Music journalist Gene Sculatti describes the instrumentation provided by the back-up musicians as "unstoppable, nongimmicky, almost careening out of control with its pounding piano and booting sax, 'Slow Down' is arguably Williams's hippest track".[3] The personnel includes:

Larry Williams – vocal, piano
Jewell Grant – baritone sax
Plas Johnson – tenor sax
René Hall – guitar
Ted Brinson – bass
Earl Palmer – drums

The Beatles rendition

"Slow Down" was performed by the Beatles during their early career. In 1964, they recorded a version and Parlophone released it on the Long Tall Sally EP in June in the UK. In July, the song was included on the American album Something New. Capitol Records released it as a single, with "Matchbox" (also from the Long Tall Sally EP) as the A-side.[4] "Slow Down" reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is also included on the 1988 Past Masters compilation. A performance specifically recorded for broadcast by the BBC is found on the album Live at the BBC (1994).

In Revolution in the Head, author Ian MacDonald criticized the performance as "one of the Beatles' least successful rock-and-roll covers", lacking "bottom, drive and basic cohesion" and stated that "The guitar solo is embarrassing and the sound balance a shambles". He also pointed out the edit at 1:14 whereupon the piano momentarily disappears and McCartney's bass becomes inaudible. According to MacDonald, the personnel includes:[5]

John Lennon – vocal, lead guitar
Paul McCartney – bass guitar
George Harrison – rhythm guitar
Ringo Starr – drums
George Martin – piano

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References

Mason, Stewart. "Here's Larry Williams – Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 18, 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Billboard (April 28, 1958). "Top 100 Sides". Billboard. Vol. 70 no. 17. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Sculatti, Gene (1989). Larry Williams: Bad Boy (Album notes). Larry Williams. Specialty Records. pp. 2, 6. SPCD 7002.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions. New York City: Harmony Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-517-57066-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
MacDonald, Ian (2007). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Third ed.). Chicago: Chicago Review Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-55652-733-3.

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[1] Mason, Stewart. "Here's Larry Williams – Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 18, 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[2] Billboard (April 28, 1958). "Top 100 Sides". Billboard. Vol. 70 no. 17. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[Sculatti-3] Sculatti, Gene (1989). Larry Williams: Bad Boy (Album notes). Larry Williams. Specialty Records. pp. 2, 6. SPCD 7002.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[4] Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions. New York City: Harmony Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-517-57066-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[5] MacDonald, Ian (2007). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Third ed.). Chicago: Chicago Review Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-55652-733-3.