1957 Rock Song, Which Got George Harrison Into the Beatles, Was Recorded 69 Years Ago

"Raunchy" was an instrumental song performed by Bill Justis, a legendary rock and roll musician and composer. He co-wrote the song, which went on to be included in the Grammy Hall of Fame, with Sidney Manker. It was released 69 years ago, in 1957. Only a year later, the song led to George Harrison being added to the Quarrymen (the group that later became The Beatles).

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Originally, John Lennon was uncertain about letting Harrison into the band since he was only 15 at the time. However, with some urging from Paul McCartney, Harrison ended up playing a song on the guitar that changed Lennon's mind, earning him a spot in the band.

In The Beatles Anthology, McCartney reflected on the audition. "I said, well, he can play ‘Rauchy' perfectly, and we all loved that song. So we're all sitting on the top deck of a double-decker bus, just us. I said, ‘Go on, George, get your guitar out, show 'em.' And he plays it, [and we said], ‘You're in'"

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Harrison also spoke about the experience in The Beatles by Hunter Davies. He said, "I first saw the Quarrymen when they were playing at the Wilson Hall at Garston. Paul was playing with them and said I should come and see them. I'd probably have gone anyway, just for the night out and to see if I could get in any groups. With knowing Paul, I got introduced to John. There was this other guitarist in another group that night, Eddie Clayton. He was great. John said if I could play like that, I could join them. I played ‘Raunchy' for them and John said I could join. I was always playing ‘Raunchy' for them. We'd be going somewhere on the top of a bus with our guitars and John would shout out, 'Give us ‘Raunchy', George.'"

In 1994, while working on TheBeatles Anthology, McCartney, Harrison, and Ringo Starr played the song together. Over the years, the hit has also been recorded by the Ventures, Bill Black, Al Caiola, and Ace Cannon.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 9:48 AM.