You could buy the complete Apple Records catalog on iTunes or you could buy this bargain CD of some of the best songs Apple ever released. I’m including the descriptions of the 21 tracks on this great anthology. If you’re a fan of Apple Records, this is a must-buy!
TRACK DETAILS FOR COME AND GET IT: THE BEST OF APPLE RECORDS:
1 Those Were The Days / Mary Hopkin
The multi-million selling debut 45 by Mary Hopkin was UK No. 1 for six weeks in 1968 and was produced by Paul McCartney, who discovered this 1920s Russian folk song in a London night club.
2 Carolina In My Mind / James Taylor
Taken from his self-titled debut album, this is the original version of ‘Carolina In My Mind’, cut in London in 1968. Issued as a US single, it features Paul McCartney on bass and George Harrison on backing vocals.
3 Maybe Tomorrow / The Iveys
The Iveys were brought to Apple by former Beatles roadie Mal Evans and ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ was a hit in Holland and a minor hit in the US, before the band changed its name to Badfinger.
4 Thingumybob / The Black Dyke Mills Band
Paul McCartney’s theme tune for a 1968 British TV comedy drama series, recorded by the most famous brass band in the world.
5 King Of Fuh / Brute Force
Brute Force is a New York songwriter and this single was championed by John Lennon and George Harrison, but ‘Fuh’ rhymes with ‘Uh’, and ‘the Fuh king’ was therefore banned back in 1969.
6 Sour Milk Sea / Jackie Lomax
Jackie Lomax has a great blue-eyed soul voice that more than does justice to this otherwise unavailable ‘White Album’-era song by George Harrison. Paul and Ringo provide rhythm and Eric Clapton plays lead guitar.
7 Goodbye / Mary Hopkin
Mary’s hugely successful follow-up to ‘Those Were The Days’ was written by Paul McCartney, and features Paul providing his own thigh-slapping percussion throughout.
8 That’s The Way God Planned It / Billy Preston
Billy Preston’s breakthrough UK hit, reaching No. 11, features the stellar line-up of Billy on keyboards, George Harrison on guitar, Keith Richards on bass, Ginger Baker on drums and Eric Clapton on lead guitar.
9 New Day / Jackie Lomax
An original non-album Lomax 45 that was co-produced with Mal Evans, and single-handedly defines the Jackie Lomax sound: British soul meets R&B with horns.
10 Golden Slumbers-Carry That Weight / Trash
A powerful interpretation of two songs from The Beatles’ Abbey Road, recorded by Trash, a heavy Scottish group that came to Apple via their producer, former Shadows drummer Tony Meehan.
11 Give Peace A Chance / Hot Chocolate Band
This completely re-worded British reggae version of John Lennon’s peace anthem was brought to Apple in a one-off deal by the band that became hugely popular in the Seventies with a string of classic disco hits.
12 Come And Get It / Badfinger
Written and produced by Paul McCartney for The Magic Christian film starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, ‘Come And Get It’ was a massive worldwide hit and the first record issued by The Iveys under their new name of Badfinger.
13 Ain’t That Cute / Doris Troy
Soul singer-songwriter Doris Troy had scored hits before coming to Apple in 1969, and she and George Harrison wrote ‘Ain’t That Cute’ from scratch in the studio — the first time George had ever written a song that way.
14 My Sweet Lord / Billy Preston
George Harrison produced this soulful, gospel version of his most famous solo song, which he gave to Billy Preston before he had recorded it and released it himself.
15 Try Some Buy Some / Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector, one-time Ronette and former wife of legendary producer Phil, recorded this George Harrison original in 1971. George later re-cut it himself for Living In The Material World, using the exact same backing as Ronnie’s single.
16 Govinda / Radha Krishna Temple
‘Govinda’ is a Sanskrit hymn to Krishna, and was a UK Top 30 hit for the Radha Krishna Temple in 1970. Produced by George Harrison, who also plays bass and accordion.
17 We’re On Our Way / Chris Hodge
In 1972, Chris Hodge, a young British pop singer with a fascination for UFOs, caught the attention of Ringo Starr who signed Chris to Apple. ‘We’re On Our Way’ was recorded at Apple’s own studio in the basement of 3 Savile Row, London, and was a hit in America.
18 Saturday Nite Special / The Sundown Playboys
‘Saturday Nite Special’ is a lover’s lament sung in Cajun French by this cross-generational collective from Louisiana, USA, who came to Apple when their teenage accordionist sent in the song on a whim.
19 God Save Us / Bill Elliot & The Elastic Oz Band
John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote this fundraiser for the defense in the famous Oz Obscenity Trial of 1971 and produced it too with Mal Evans and Phil Spector. Vocalist Bill Elliot later signed to George Harrison’s Dark Horse label.
20 Sweet Music / Lon & Derrek van Eaton
New Jersey’s Lon & Derrek van Eaton were one of the last acts to sign to Apple in 1971 and the first to make use of Apple’s then state-of-the-art recording studio. George Harrison produced ‘Sweet Music’ and Ringo played drums.
21 Day After Day / Badfinger
The band’s third single for Apple was produced by George Harrison, who duetted with the band’s Pete Ham on the slide guitar solo. It went UK Top 10 in 1972, and peaked at No. 4 Billboard in the US, in the same week that Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s ‘Without You’ was at No. 1.
Mary Hopkin’s plaintively sweet voice comes right back to me.
Pity they never released any singles from the two Modern Jazz Quartet albums they did.
“…recorded by the most famous brass band in the world…”–fair enough, if we don’t consider the Tijuana Brass strictly a brass band…or was this them incognito? (Not that Herb Alpert would have to argue too long with label co-owner Herb Alpert to get permission to record something with Apple, though it would seem unlikely.)
Was a bit disappointed with the album MAGIC CHRISTIAN MUSIC, but still like the single, particularly in the soundtrack.
What are you doing up at 1:37 A.M., Todd? I love Mary Hopkin.
Jeez, I’ve only heard three of those recordings, and two are by Badfinger. Guess I’m Apple-deprived.
You need this CD, Evan. It’s the best of APPLE and leaves you wanting MORE!
I actually know quite a few of these songs–being the Baby Boomer/Beatleholic that I am. I think I’ll put it on my wish list as a gift for my upcoming anniversary.
BTW, I think Badfinger’s “Rock of Ages” (used to very trippy effect in the movie “The Magic Christian”) is one of their best–really hard-rocking stuff with a very Paul McCartney-esque-Little Richard “whoooooo” in the chorus. (Who knows–perhaps that IS Paul.) That too is a forgotten gem–although it is on “Badfinger’s Greatest Hits,” along with their very plaintive “Carry On Until Tomorrow” which is the opening song of the movie.
I like Badfinger as much as you do, Deb. COME AND GET IT would make a wonderful Anniversary gift!
Apple deprived as well. I guess by 1972 I had already fallen out of touch at 24.
This is a good way to get caught up on all that great APPLE music you’ve missed, Patti. Every home should have a copy of COME AND GET IT.
“Those Were the Days” was a huge hit here. I also have a 45 of “Goodbye” though it never came close to the first one. On some recent tours James Taylor talked about his early Apple days – I believe he was the first artist they ever signed. You can’t go wrong with Billy Preston either.
This definitely sounds like one to check out.
You and Jackie will really like COME AND GET IT, Jeff. It’s full of great music. And the remastered sound is wonderful!
Doris Troy’s biggest hit was “Just One Look” in 1963. She was a preacher’s daughter from The Bronx who had a huge theatrical hit with her autobiographical musical (co-written with her sister), MAMA I WANT TO SING. It ran 1500 performances in Harlem and I think was revived on Broadway.
She sang backup to many top singers, memorably on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Stones.
I love Doris Troy’s “Just One Look,” Jeff. I didn’t know she was one of the voices on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” one of my favorite Stones song.
I would guess with the accumulated Beatles/Apple/1960s & 1970s music & pop culture knowledge that regular readers of this blog have, we could put together some incredibly detailed liner notes for this collection.
My favorite Mary Hopkin song is “Temma Harbour,” which was a very minor hit in the States in 1970–I think it was bigger in the U.K.
Yes, Mary Hopkin should be better known, Deb. After listening to COME AND GET IT, I’m tempted to buy the complete APPLE recordings (especially for those Mary Hopkin songs).
MAMA, I WANT TO SING toured heavily, as well. I didn’t realize that was Troy’s work.
I’m glad we were able to enlighten you, Todd. Usually, you’re the source for most of our musical facts.
I had the – one and only, I believe – Jackie Lomax album and liked it A LOT, especially “Sour Milk Sea” and a few other songs. Harrison played on that album, the name of which escapes me and I’m too lazy to look it up. Oh hell, just a sec… okay it was called IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT. I wouldn’t mind having that album again, it went the way of all my vinyl, long ago.
You can buy the complete APPLE collection, Rick. I’m sure IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT is included. Of course, you’d have to take out a second mortgage on your house…
..and through the magic of the internet and iTunes, I now do. Thanks for the reminder of this one, George. As for the rest of this album, I’ll have to look into it.
Your comment on “Sour Milk Sea” that it is otherwise unavailable, is incorrect, I just bought it.
No second mortgages for us, George! One is enough.
I don’t blame you, Rick. The complete APPLE box set retails for $336.98 (although AMAZON has it for $199.99).
George–is that complete APPLE box everything that was released on Apple, including the Beatles? Even at $199.99, it would be too rich for my post-Christmas blood, but if it included all the Beatles recordings that would be a sweet deal for someone with a bit of cash who was feeling Apple-deprived.
Here’s the 17 CDs included in that APPLE box set, Deb:
The Limited Edition Apple Records Box Set (17 Discs) includes 14 individual artist albums with bonus tracks, the new Best of Apple Records “Come And Get It” collection, a 2CD collection of 37 un-released tracks from Badfinger, Billy Preston, Jacki Lomax and Mary Hopkins and a 16 page booklet. All housed in a cardboard box that artistically replicates the original Apple Records crate.
Specific Albums Included:
James Taylor “James Taylor”
Badfinger “Ass”
Badfinger “Straight Up”
Badfinger “No Dice”
Badfinger “Magic Christian Music”
Billy Preston “Encouraging Words”
Billy Preston “That’s The Way God Planned It”
Doris Troy “Doris Troy”
Mary Hopkin “Earth Song Ocean Song”
Mary Hopkin “Post Card”
John Tavener “The Whale/Celtic Requiem”
Jackie Lomax “Is This What You Want”
Modern Jazz Quartet “Under the Jasmine Tree/Space”
The Radha Krsna “Temple”
The Best of Apple Records “Come And Get It”
2CD Collection of Bonus Tracks
Though the complete WONDERWALL MUSIC might put one off. And I’m a particular Harrison fan.
I like George Harrison, too, Todd. He’s the underrated Beatle.