OCTOBER 15, 1960 – The Beatles (minus Pete Best) and two members of Rory Storm’s Hurricanes (Ringo Starr and Lu Walters) recorded a version of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” in a Hamburg, Germany recording studio backing Walters. The track which was cut onto a 78-rpm disc marked the first session that included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo together.
Storm and his band (all from Liverpool) had been playing the same circuit in Hamburg. Walters, (whose real name was Walter Eymond although everyone knew him as Wally) was the bassist in Rory Storm’s band The Hurricanes, which also featured Starr on drums.The recording was made in the small Akustik studio by the railway station at Kirchenallee 57, where members of the public were able to record messages for family and friends and have them pressed to acetate discs which also included spoken word advertisements on the b-sides.
Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe (Paul was still playing piano and some guitar) was present at the recording but didn’t play. Also at the studio was The Beatles’ manager Allan Williams, and guitarists Johnny Byrne and Ty Brian of The Hurricanes. In addition to “Summertime,” Starr, Walters, Byrne and Brian made recordings of “Fever” and “September Song”. Nine copies of “Summertime” were pressed onto acetate disc, though none are known to have survived.The Beatles are said to have wanted to record some songs on their own, although it is undetermined whether this would have included Sutcliffe and Starr. Beatles drummer Pete Best, was not present. Either way, Williams feared they would be late for their 8 pm show at the Kaiserkeller, and so put a stop to the session.
