Songs You Might Not Know Were Covers Vol. 9: Act Naturally (#6)

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It’s time for another cover song, ya beatniks! Greg (@xander6464 ) likes to say that in his discussions, and he had good money riding on this song (a quarter) to show up in this round of songs that you might have heard but not known were covers. So good for him! And for the rest of you, here’s today’s tune! #6: Act Naturally Sometimes Beatles fans confuse me. I’ve talked to some who act like Ringo wasn’t even in the band. In fact, if you remember the Sugarloaf song “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” they mention “John, Paul, and George” like the Beatles were a trio. But here’s Ringo, in all his “glory,” singing the song that closes out side one of Yesterday….And Today. And, if you’re seriously into trivia, the other side of the 45 was a little McCartney tune that began life as “Scrambled Eggs.” So if you don’t remember the Beatles doing “Act Naturally,” it’s kinda understandable. And, if you didn’t know it was a cover, it’s also kinda understandable. I mean, who’d think of this rock and roll band doing a COUNTRY song???? “Act Naturally” began life as a hit for Buck Owens three years before the Beatles covered it. Johnny Russell, who co-wrote the song, used to say of his biggest royalty check, “If it wasn’t for taxes and alimony I’d be a rich little fat boy today!” And, if it surprises you that the Beatles did a country song, if you look at their solo careers it shouldn’t. Ringo’s first solo album, Sentimental Journey, included two country classics (“Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” and “I’m a Fool to Care”), and he later covered Roger Miller’s song “Husbands and Wives” as well as Hoyt Axton’s “The No-No Song.” McCartney also had a few very country-sounding songs, including hitting the country charts in 1974 with “Sally G.” And here’s an interesting footnote to all of this: at the time, Buck Owens was actually out-selling the Beatles in the U.S. on Capitol Records! (Not world-wide, mind you, but in the U.S.) This song didn’t make “a big star” out of anyone, but was certainly was a “big star” for three well-established acts! Act Naturally Written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison Originally recorded by Buck Owens, 1962 Famously covered by the Beatles, 1965 Buck and Dangerous Don Rich (who I had a big crush on during the early Hee Haw days) doing their thing on a live version of the original: