Album This song officially appears on the CHOBA B CCCP Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1988
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
The "Get Back / Let It Be" sessions • Day 2
Jan 03, 1969
Jul 04, 1980
Jul 21, 1987
Unreleased song
Unreleased song
“Crackin’ Up” is a song written by Ellas Bates, better known professionally as Bo Diddley. It serves as the opening track of Bo Diddley’s second studio album, “Go Bo Diddley,” released in July 1959.
According to Mark Lewisohn in “The Complete Beatles Chronicle“, The Beatles performed “Crackin’ Up” regularly between 1960 and 1961, with Paul McCartney on lead vocals. However, no known recordings from that period exist.
On January 3, 1969, during the “Get Back” sessions, The Beatles performed a version of “Crackin’ Up.“
Paul McCartney later revisited the song, recording his own version in 1987 for inclusion on his album “Снова в СССР” (“Choba B CCCP“).
Additionally, a live soundcheck rendition of “Crackin’ Up,” recorded by McCartney in 1990, appeared on his live album “Tripping The Live Fantastic.”
Named after its Mississippi-born creator – singer/guitarist Bo Diddley – the ‘Diddley Beat’ is the most unique of all rock’s many blues-based rhythms. A highly distorted hard-edge mix of heavily amplified guitar and pounding jungle drums, the rhythm is said to have derived from both the trademarks’ knock and the barbershop term “shave and a haircut – six bits!”
Not only were Elvis’ early stage antics copied from Bo Diddley’s Apollo Theatre appearances but, together with Chuck Berry, it was Bo Diddley who defined the sound of such Swingin’ Sixties British Beat Groups as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds and Mick Green’s band The Pirates.
In the hands of McCartney and his musicians, this obscure B-side is transformed from underground status to a major league performance.
From the liner notes of “Choba B CCCP“
You're always hollerin' ‘bout where I've been
You're always screamin' ‘bout the money I spend
You're buggin' me
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up.
I do your laundry and your cooking too
But what more woman can a man like me do
You're buggin' me
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
You're always hollerin' ‘bout where I've been
You're always screamin' ‘bout the money I spend
You're buggin' me
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
I spoil you, woman, a long time ago
I used to cook you meals and bring them to your door
I'm all fed up
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
You're buggin' me
Yeah yeah he's crackin' up
Official album • Released in 1988
3:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Guitar, Producer, Vocals Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer Nick Garvey : Bass Henry Spinetti : Drums
Session Recording: Jul 21, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Official live • Released in 1990
0:50 • Soundcheck • L1
Performed by : Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris Whitten Paul McCartney : Producer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Matt Butler : Assistant engineer Peter Henderson : Producer Bob Clearmountain : Mixing engineer, Producer Jeff Cohen : Recording engineer Geoff Foster : Assistant engineer Scott Hull : Assistant engineer George Cowan : Assistant engineer Paul Rushbrook : Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Nov 23, 1989
Official album • Released in 1991
3:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Guitar, Producer, Vocals Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer Nick Garvey : Bass Henry Spinetti : Drums
Session Recording: Jul 21, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Official album • Released in 2019
3:55 • Studio version • A2019 • 2019 remaster
Paul McCartney : Guitar, Producer, Vocals Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer Nick Garvey : Bass Henry Spinetti : Drums Alex Wharton : Remastering
Session Recording: Jul 21, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Unofficial live
5:12 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Fukuoka, Japan on Nov 18, 1993
Unofficial live
5:22 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Milwaukee, USA on Jun 02, 1993
It's Now Or Never (The Complete Russian Sessions)
Unofficial album • Released in 1990
3:48 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Guitar, Producer, Vocals Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer Nick Garvey : Bass Henry Spinetti : Drums
Session Recording: Jul 21, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
“Crackin' Up” has been played in 12 soundchecks.
"Crackin' Up" was covered during The Beatles' "Get Back" sessions in January 1969. Here is the complete list of covers recorded by Paul McCartney, either alone or with other Beatles, during these sessions:
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
