Beatles – Dizzy Miss Lizzy

This is one of the first songs that I learned the riff on and played it live. Up to this point, I was on bass but I had to start singing some so I took over rhythm guitar. It’s such a simple riff anyone could do it but it gave me some confidence on guitar. It’s a song you can sing and play the riff with no trouble. 

What makes this song is not the riff, it’s Lennon’s rock voice that I would give about anything to have. This is one of the covers that the Beatles would do in The Cavern and Hamburg. They recorded two covers in 1965 to satisfy Capitol Records who wanted to add on to an album called Beatles VI. They recorded Bad Boy (probably my favorite cover by them) and Dizzy Miss Lizzy. They ended up including Dizzy Miss Lizzy on The Help! UK-only soundtrack as well. 

Both Bad Boy and Dizzy Miss Lizzy were written by Larry Williams. They covered him three times in total. Slow Down, Bad Boy, and Dizzy Miss Lizzy. They covered more of Williams’s songs live but Lennon, in particular, loved his songs and did the lead vocals on all three while recording. 

Larry Williams released the song in 1958 on Speciality Records, the same record company his friend Little Richard was on. The B-side was Slow Down, a song that the Beatles would cover as well. It was one of the last charting top 100 singles he ever released. It peaked at #69 on the Billboard 100. He would score a couple of R&B charting songs in 1966 and 1967. 

This song is better live in my opinion and I’ve included a live more raunchy version of it by The Beatles.

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Ow!

You make me dizzy, Miss LizzyThe way you rock and rollYou make me dizzy, Miss LizzyWhen you do the strollCome on, Miss LizzyLove me ‘fore I grow too old

Come on, give me feverPut your little hand in mineYou make me dizzy, dizzy, LizzyOh girl, you look so fineJust a-rocking and a-rollingGirl, I said I wish you were mine

Ah!Ow!Woo!

You make me dizzy, Miss LizzyWhen you call my nameOoh, babySay you’re driving me insaneCome on, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon babyI want to be your loving man

Ah!MmMm, ow!

Run and tell your mamaI want you to be my brideRun and tell your brotherBaby, don’t run and hideYou make me dizzy, Miss LizzyGirl, I want to marry you

Come on, give me feverPut your little hand in mine, girlYou make me dizzy, dizzy, LizzyGirl, you look so fineYou’re just a-rocking and a-rollingOoh, I said I wish you were mine

Discover more from PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

44 thoughts on “Beatles – Dizzy Miss Lizzy”

  7. John’s voice is so rocking here and listening to his blistering track is like taking a dip into the music of wellsprings of Jerry lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Great selection Max.

    Reply

      1. I wish I had redacted my message before I let it slip out, but such was my excitement to comment on it. Those are nice reflective words about John’s music affinities and sources.

      3. I have always preferred John over Paul’s voice. As for Ringo and George’s songs post Beatles I couldn’t imagine another Beatle outdoing their Inividual vocal output for their given songs. I’m afraid I am not a big fan of Paul’s music post Beatles.

      4. I like some of it…when he used a harder guitar like in Jet or Jr’s Farm…that I like. It just depends with him to me.

  8. if you like rockin’ Beatles, this one’s for you. Good job on being able to play it and sing – that always seem tough to do (to someone who doesn’t play guitar) on most instruments but much more challenging on guitar. Bass seems more plausible , or keyboards if they aren’t driving the whole song

    Reply

    1. Trust me…Bass is much harder…I’ll tell you why….unless you are just hitting “root”notes…just thump thump thump over and over…and not many bass lines do that…you are playing a completely different riff than you are singing. That is why Geddy Lee is so well thought of…it’s like playing a guitar solo while singing…thats the best way to put it.

      Reply

  9. I think The Beatles were great at playing rock & roll covers. From their early days, especially in Hamburg, they had plenty of practice. I also agree “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” sounds better live and dig the take included on “The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl.” Yes, the audience screaming is extreme but, hey, they didn’t call it Beatlemania for nothing! 🙂

    Reply

    1. I bought that album in 1977 or78…I loved it. That is a great album. It doesn’t get enough credit…that is the BEST live music from them as far as sound…don’t get me wrong…I wish Hamburg and the Cavern were recorded well…but I’ll take the Hollywood Bowl album!

      Have you ever posted about it?

      Reply

  11. I know they far surpassed this sort of thing musically, but they really were a great rock n roll covers band. Some days you’re in the mood for ‘A Day in the Life’, some days you just need ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy’…

    Reply

    1. Oh they were a great pure rock and roll band. Oh yea…one of my favorite songs by them is a cover and not well known….it’s called “Bad Boy”…John’s voice is even better.

      Reply

  12. Man, the amount of music they did in such a short time between originals and covers is staggering. I need to spend so much more time with them then I do. I have 3 of their box sets on my Amazon Wishlist. I need to start pushing the Buy button

    Reply

    1. It’s odd John…when Deke and you were listening to our generations music in the 80s I was all in the Beatles…it took me a long time to catch up…but yes they are worth it.

      Reply
  14. Pingback: Beatles – Dizzy Miss Lizzy – MobsterTiger

    1. Yes I do…I’m going to post one in a few weeks. I played in bands for years. Now I like playing around and recording a bit.

      Reply

Leave a Reply