Host Bob Harris tells an amusing anecdote before playing a video of "Stand by Me" which was specially filmed by John for his show, on an Old Grey Whistle Test retrospective.
1975, Rock 'n' Roll
Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" is an enduring soul classic, and in 1999, Broadcast Music Incorporated named it the fourth most-performed song in history, with a total number of performances nearing seven million. It's a tribute to John Lennon's skill, then, that his cover version accomplishes the impossible: It betters the original in nearly every way. Rock 'n' Roll received lukewarm responses from both critics and fans, but his rock-oriented take on "Stand by Me" was unanimously praised, and was his last hit single before his househusband years. The first time I heard the song, the opening lines, "When the night/Has come," brought tears to my eyes, so pure and clear does John's vocal delivery tap into the raw emotion of the moment. The entire song is a powerhouse, and one of the greatest all-time covers of any song.
The Original: Ben E. King's original, based on a 1955 gospel song of the same name by the Staples Sisters, was released as a single in 1961 and became a U.S. Top Ten hit. It's one of the best soul/R&B songs you're ever likely to hear.
The "Stand by Me" music video released in conjunction with the song's re-release as a single in 1986 due to its inclusion in the film of the same name.
