Beatrice of Baltimore/You Need a Mess of Help

[Alex]

Does anyone know if the original "Beatrice of Baltimore" lyrics to "You Need A Mess of Help" were ever recorded and/or does anyone even know what the original lyrics were?

[Andrew G. Doe]

She got a hole in her stocking
She do a whole lotta rockin'
She do the shake down at Bumbles
She got the Chicano rumbles.

The initial sessions - early December 1971 & January 31 1972 were logged as "Beatrice...": by April, it had become "Mess".

[Alex]

She got a hole in her stocking
She do a whole lotta rockin'
She do the shake down at Bumbles
She got the Chicano rumbles.

The initial sessions - early December 1971 & January 31 1972 were logged as "Beatrice...": by April, it had become "Mess".

Thanks for the session info.
Those lyrics are the same ones printed in Peter Ames Carlin's book. Were there any more lyrics besides those?
Were any vocals using the original lyrics recorded at all in the December and January sessions, or was it just instrumental tracks?

[Alan Boyd]

The master 2" tape for "Mess of Help" is labeled "Beatrice."

Don't know if the original lyrics were ever recorded, though - if they were, they were erased and replaced.

[The Shift]

Where's Bumbles?

[Alex]

The master 2" tape for "Mess of Help" is labeled "Beatrice."

Don't know if the original lyrics were ever recorded, though - if they were, they were erased and replaced.

Thanks a lot!

We're pretty lucky to have guys like AGD and Boyd around these parts.

[Aegir]

While we're at it, what were the words to Passing By?

[The Shift]

A web trawl reveals this at the cabinessence site:

While walking down the avenue
I stopped to have a look at you
And then I saw/You're just passing by

But I remember them slightly differently (though can't recall where I read them...)... something along the lines of:

I saw you just the other day,
You smiled at me and walked away,
And after all, you're just passing by

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's very likely that those are the words written (by Tandyn Almer and, i think, Stan Shapiro) after Murry sold SOT to Irving/Almo and the company decided the lyrics (of all the tracks) neded an update.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

It's very likely that those are the words written (by Tandyn Almer and, i think, Stan Shapiro) after Murry sold SOT to Irving/Almo and the company decided the lyrics (of all the tracks) neded an update.

I agree, and to hear Stan tell the whole story of the saga surrounding the rewrites is quite a trip.

[MBE]

Brian was really writing some good hard rock at the time. Would love to hear his demos. Bet his voice still sounded great.