Refab Four: I Wanna Be Your Man

It’s pretty difficult to call today’s song a “Refab Four” number as The Rolling Stones recorded and released this Lennon and McCartney composition before the Fab Four. The story is told that the John Lennon and Paul McCartney finished writing “I Wanna Be Your Man” in the presence of The Rolling Stones while they were in the studio. Lennon and McCartney gave the tune to The Stones because they were seeking new material for a single release.

Upon hearing it, Mick and the boys decided to model their number after Elmore James’ style. Brian Jones played some rudimentary slide guitar parts as well as contributing background vocals. Issued in November 1963 as the band’s second UK single, “I Wanna Be Your Man” charted at #12 in Britain. In the US, it was issued as a flip side of their first American single “Not Fade Away.”

Within weeks of The Stones’ release, The Beatles’ issued their second UK LP “With the Beatles” that included “I Wanna Be Your Man.” The corresponding album in the US, “Meet the Beatles,” also included this tune that featured Ringo Starr on lead vocals and George Martin on Hammond organ.