Culture

The Beatles Complete On Ukulele Marks 150th Song and Counting

by ShowBizChatty | November 23, 2011 at 11:25 am

405 views | 4 Recommendations | 1 comment

Staying true to their quest to release a new ukulele version of a Beatles song, every Tuesday by a different artist, until all 185 songs have been produced, The Beatles Complete On Ukulele hits their 150th entry with the release of "I Need You."

The project was created by David Barratt, a New York City music producer with their first release Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (President Obama's inauguration). They will hit their final 185th Beatles song on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, on the eve of the London Olympics. "We haven't skipped a beat or missed a Tuesday release, yet," Barratt said.

The song, produced and recorded by renowned singer/songwriter Ukulele Ray, was written by George Harrison for The Beatles movie, "Help" as a love ballad to his then girlfriend, Pattie Boyd. Harrison met Boyd while filming "A Hard Days Night," and were later married in 1966.

"It's an honor to be able to do this tribute for a man who inspired so much in me," Ukulele Ray said. "We approached the song with love and respect, maintaining the spirit, while adding a creative style and edge to it with the ukulele, an instrument George said, was the 'only, real true instrument.' "

Harrison had a true affection and respect for the little instrument, and always traveled with two ukuleles, so a friend could always play along.

"It's only fitting to honor his passing with a song he wrote, with an instrument he so loved," Ray added.

The free download will be released and available at The Beatles Complete On Ukulele website on Tuesday, November 29th, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of Harrison's passing.