"One and One Is Two" is a song by the musical group The Strangers with Mike Shannon, released as their debut single in 1964. It was composed by Paul McCartney and published under the author's credit Lennon/McCartney.
Background
The demo of "One And One Is Two" was probably recorded in Paris in mid-January/early February 1964, with McCartney singing to an acoustic guitar and piano. It was recorded at the George V Hotel during the Beatles' concert series at the Olympia at the request of publisher Dick James. The demo has not yet been released legally.
"One And One Is Two" was originally intended for Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, but the group declined. John Lennon reportedly exclaimed during the recording of the demo, "Billy J. will be done when he gets this song". In 1980, he commented, "This is another one of Paul's bad attempts at writing a song".
The song was also offered to fellow group The Fourmost, who, like the Dakotas, had previously recorded other Lennon/McCartney compositions. Brian O'Hara, guitarist and vocalist for The Fourmost later said of the offer, "McCartney came into the studio and played bass on "One and One Is Two", but there just wasn't any meat in the song and we couldn't get anywhere with it."
The single "One and One is Two" with the B-side "Time and the River" was finally released on May 8, 1964, in the UK by The Strangers with Mike Shannon. The song didn't get into the British charts. The group released their second and final single, "Do You Or Don't You" / "What Can I Do", in December 1964, which also failed to enter the charts.
Covers
- Lennon & McCartney Songs (never Issued) The Beatnix - It's Four You Apple Jam – Off the Beatle Track (2009)