Why does every Beatles song have the songwriter credited as “Lennon-McCartney”?

Literally every song has the song has the songwriter credited as “Lennon-McCartney”…why?

Did they actually write every song together?

Top | New | Old

BamPow · 51-55, M

The Stones had a similar arrangement where songs were credited to Jagger-Richards even if there were other writers. Mick Taylor lost tons of money in publishing by being omitted for his contributions while he was in the band. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other contributors similarly stiffed by Lennon and McCartney.

GhostNuclear · M

@BamPow who is Mick Taylor?

BamPow · 51-55, M

@GhostNuclear Mick Taylor was their second guitar player from ‘69 to ‘74. Taylor replaced Brian Jones and was replaced by Ron Wood after Rod Stewart disbanded his British-based band and set up in the U.S. Mick Taylor was on several Stones albums as a full member, including Sticky Fingers and Exile. On Sticky, he wrote “Moonlight Mile” with Jagger, but the song was still published as Jagger-Richards. Mick Taylor was also a huge part of the jam sessions in France that culminated in Exile and wasn’t credited for his writing contributions. He was a hugely important part of their sound during those years and didn’t get the recognition he deserved for it.

nedkelly · 61-69, M

George Harrison:
Harrison wrote around 22 songs for the Beatles, showcasing his talent as a songwriter with tracks like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes the Sun," and "Something".
Ringo Starr:
Starr wrote two songs for the band, "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden", and was credited as co-writer on four others

hunkalove · 70-79, M

They agreed to always share credit. And Lennon always goes first. Sir Paul begged Yoko to let him change the songwriting credit on "Yesterday" to McCartney-Lennon but she said no.

JohnnyNoir · 61-69, M

It was a copyright decision made early in their career. They wrote a lot of songs together, well before focusing on their own songs

BlueSkyKing · M

George Harrison wrote classics Something, Here Comes the Sun, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

GhostNuclear · M

He did?!

@BlueSkyKing

onrealityofdreams · M

That was the agreement made between John and Paul, regardless of who actually wrote the song(s).

View 1 more replies »

onrealityofdreams · M

@GhostNuclear Brian had very little to do with that arrangement. That was between John, Paul, and the publisher Dick James Music.

GhostNuclear · M

Brian Epstein’s original contracts with be Beatles actually gave him 30% of thier earnings! @onrealityofdreams

onrealityofdreams · M

@GhostNuclear That was typical of Brian's managerial style.

SomeMichGuy · M

Do your own research

MasterLee · 56-60, M

Might explain the childlike quality of their terrible noises.

Add a comment...