Like Dreamers Do

{{Short description|Song by Paul McCartney}} {{for multi|the song by Mica Paris|Like Dreamers Do (Mica Paris song)|the song by the Radiators|Like Dreamers Do (The Radiators song)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}

{{Infobox song | name = Like Dreamers Do | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = [[The Applejacks (British band)|the Applejacks]] | album = | B-side = "(Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom) Everybody Fall Down" ([[Pete Dello|Dello]], Ray Cane) | released = 5 June 1964 | recorded = April 1964 | studio = [[Decca Studios]], London | venue = | genre = [[Beat music|Beat]] | length = | label = Decca F11916 (UK)<br/>London 9681 (US and Canada) | writer = [[Lennon–McCartney]] | producer = [[Mike Smith (British record producer)|Mike Smith]] | prev_title = [[Tell Me When (The Applejacks song)|Tell Me When]] | prev_year = 1964 | next_title = Three Little Words (I Love You) | next_year = 1964 }} {{Infobox song | name = Like Dreamers Do | cover = | alt = | type = | artist = [[the Beatles]] | album = [[Anthology 1]] | released = 20 November 1995 | recorded = 1 January 1962 | studio = | venue = | genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Merseybeat]] | length = 2:36 | label = Apple | writer = [[Lennon–McCartney]] | producer = }} "'''Like Dreamers Do'''" is a song written by [[Paul McCartney]] in 1959<ref>Lewisohn, Mark. ''The Beatles: All These Years, Volume One – Tune In''. Crown Archetype, 2013, {{ISBN|978-1-4000-8305-3}}, p. 215</ref> and one of the earliest written songs credited to [[Lennon–McCartney]]. It was most notably performed by [[the Beatles]] at their unsuccessful 1 January 1962 [[The Beatles' Decca audition|audition]] for [[Decca Records]].<ref>Sheff, David. ''All We Are Saying''. St Martin's Griffin, 2000, {{ISBN|0-312-25464-4}}, p. 172</ref> That performance, which took place before [[Ringo Starr]] joined the band and featured [[Pete Best]] on drums, was recorded by Decca and was finally released on the Beatles' ''[[Anthology 1]]'' in 1995.

The Beatles' Decca rendition of "Like Dreamers Do" was received favourably by employees at [[EMI]]'s publishing arm, Ardmore & Beechwood, in February 1962. Based on that tape, Ardmore & Beechwood became interested in publishing recordings of Lennon–McCartney songs and played a pivotal role in securing the Beatles a recording contract with EMI several months later.<ref>Lewisohn, p. 569–570, 616.</ref>

In 1964, the track was recorded by Decca Records band [[The Applejacks (British band)|the Applejacks]] and released as the group's second single, reaching No. 20 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The Applejacks worked with [[Mike Leander]] from Decca as the musical director.

Bas Muys covered "Like Dreamers Do" on his 1989 album ''Secret Songs: Lennon & McCartney'', in a similar style to the Beatles' original performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tagtuner.com/music/albums/Bas-Muys/Lennon-%26-McCartney-Secret-Songs-%28Vinyl%29/album-v217698f |title=Bas Muys, Lennon & McCartney Secret Songs (Vinyl) |publisher=Tagtuner.com |date=18 December 2006 |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnudb.org/cd/roa406b90d |title=Bas Muys - Lennon & McCartney Secret Songs (Vinyl) |publisher=Gnudb.org |date= |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref> Australian Beatles tribute band [[the Beatnix]] also covered it for their 1998 release ''It's Four You''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/it-s-four-you |title=It's Four You |publisher=Answers.com |date=21 August 1998 |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Its-Four-You-Beatnix/dp/B00000IBDI/ |title=It's Four You |website=Amazon |date= |accessdate=21 August 2011}}</ref>

Seattle band Apple Jam covered this song on their 2009 album, ''Off the Beatle Track'', in the style of "[[This Boy]]".

==Beatles version personnel== * [[Paul McCartney]] – vocals, bass guitar * [[John Lennon]] – guitar * [[George Harrison]] – guitar * [[Pete Best]] – drums

==Notes== {{reflist}}

[[Category:1964 singles]] [[Category:The Beatles songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Lennon–McCartney]] [[Category:The Beatles Anthology]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Smith (British record producer)]] [[Category:1962 songs]] [[Category:Decca Records singles]] [[Category:London Records singles]]