From a Window

"From a Window" is a song written by Paul McCartney,[1] attributed to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which was recorded by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas. It was the last of six Lennon–McCartney compositions recorded by Kramer.[2]

"From a Window"
Single by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas
B-side	"Second to None"
Released	17 July 1964
Recorded	29 May 1964 Abbey Road Studios
Genre	Beat
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Lennon–McCartney
Producer(s)	George Martin
Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas singles chronology
""Little Children"(UK) "I'll Keep You Satisfied" (US)" (1964) "From a Window" (1964) "It's Gotta Last Forever" (1964)

Kramer recorded the song on 29 May 1964 at Abbey Road Studios.[3] George Martin produced the session, which was attended by Lennon and McCartney.[4] McCartney can be heard at the very end of the song, harmonizing on the final word.[2]

"From a Window" was released as a single in the UK on 17 July 1964. Its peak in August at no. 10 indicated an abrupt drop in popularity for Kramer & the Dakotas whose previous chart history comprised four Top 5 hits, two of them no. 1's.[2] The follow-up, "It's Gotta Last Forever", fell short of the UK Top 50, and the subsequent release, "Trains and Boats and Planes", peaking at no. 12 in the summer of 1965, punctuated their two-year UK chart career.

In the US – with "I'll Be on My Way" serving as the B-side – "From a Window" reached no. 23 in October 1964. It was the band's fourth US Top 40 hit in a five-month period, and also their last.[5]

Chad & Jeremy recorded "From a Window" in a December 1964 New York City recording session produced by Jimmie Haskell. The track was featured on the February 1965 album release Chad & Jeremy Sing For You. World Artists Records issued the track as a single that June. By then Chad & Jeremy had other current releases on Columbia Records, but their version of "From a Window" received enough regional attention to register on the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 97.

Billy J. Kramer's version of "From a Window" was included on the 1979 compilation album The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away.[6]

"From a Window" has also been recorded by Cisse (fi) (album Teen Dreams/ 1976) and by Graham Parker on his album From a Window: Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney (2003). A cover for the Mexican market: "Desde mi ventana", was recorded by both Los Hermanos Carrión (es) and Sandro y los de Fuego.

Recordings of "From a Window" as The Beatles may have performed it are available on the 1989 album by Bas Muys entitled Secret Songs: Lennon & McCartney[7][8] and on the 1998 release It's Four You by the Australian tribute band The Beatnix.[9][10] It has also been covered by Seattle-based Beatles cover band Apple Jam on their album Off The Beatle Track.

Notes

1. Sheff 2000, p. 172.
2. Unterberger 2006, p. 346.
3. Calkin 2009a.
4. Giuliano 1999, p. 310. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGiuliano1999 (help)
5. Whitbutrn 1997, p. 343.
6. Calkin 2009b.
7. Tagtuner.com
8. Gnudb.org
9. Answers.com
10. Amazon.com

References

• Calkin, Graham (2009a). "From A Window". The Beatles Complete U.K. Discography. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
• Calkin, Graham (2009b). "The Songs Lennon and McCartney Gave Away". The Beatles Complete U.K. Discography. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
• Giuliano, Geoffrey; Devi, Vrnda (1999). Glass Onion: The Beatles in Their Own Words. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80895-1.
• Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying. St Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-25464-4.
• Unterberger, Richie (2006). The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-892-3.
• Vaughn, Robin (9 May 2003). "Lost and found: The 'Other' Songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
• Whitbutrn, Joel (1997). Top Pop Singles 1955-1996. Record Research.