I Got to Find My Baby

"I Got to Find My Baby" first recorded titled as "Gotta Find My Baby" is a rock and roll song written and recorded in 1941 by Peter Joe Clayton under the name 'Doctor Clayton'.^[1] In the 1950s, cover versions were recorded as "I Got To Find My Baby" by other R&B artists, including B. B. King (1952), Little Walter (1954) and Chuck Berry, who is sometimes miscredited as the song's composer. The song was also recorded by the Beatles in 1963.

"Gotta Find My Baby"
Song by Doctor Clayton
Recorded	11 November 1941
Genre	Rock
Label	Bluebird Records B8901
Songwriter(s)	Peter Clayton

Original version

"I Got to Find My Baby"
Song by Chuck Berry
B-side	"Mad Lad"
Released	August 1960
Recorded	12 February 1960
Studio	Chess (Chicago)[2]
Genre	Rock
Length	2:13
Label	Chess Records 1763
Songwriter(s)	Peter Clayton
Producer(s)	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess

The blues singer Peter Clayton composed "Gotta Find My Baby" in 1941 and recorded it in Chicago on November 11 for Bluebird Records under the name 'Doctor Clayton'. The song was released on January 9, 1942, as Bluebird B8901 and later included on Doctor Clayton - His Complete Recorded Works (Document CD DOCD 5179).

Chuck Berry version

Chuck Berry recorded the song at Chess Records on February 12, 1960, and it was released in August 1960 as a single under the title "I Got To Find My Baby" with "Mad Lad" as its B-side (Chess 1763),^[3] but the single did not chart.^[4]

The Beatles version

"I Got to Find My Baby"
Song by the Beatles
from the album Live at the BBC
Released	30 November 1994 (UK)
Recorded	1 June 1963
Studio	BBC Paris Studio (London)
Genre	Rock
Length	1:56
Label	Apple
Songwriter(s)	Peter Clayton
Producer(s)	Terry Henebery

The Beatles first recorded their version of the song on June 1, 1963, at the BBC Paris Studio in London for the second Pop Go The Beatles radio show. The group recorded two versions of the song as "I Got to Find My Baby" (credited to Berry). The song was first broadcast on June 11 and was later included on the 1994 album Live at the BBC.^[5] Later that month, they performed the song on the Saturday Club program on June 24. The performance was taped at the Playhouse Theatre in London, and was first broadcast five days later.^{[citation needed]}

The Beatles had already performed several songs written by Chuck Berry. John Lennon sang lead vocal and played harmonica, as he did on most of their covers of Berry's songs.^{[citation needed]}

Personnel

• John Lennon – vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar
• Paul McCartney – bass
• George Harrison – lead guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums

Other versions

"Gotta Find My Baby" was also recorded in 1954 by bluesman and harmonica player Little Walter for Chess Records, the same record label as Chuck Berry.