George Harrison sang lead on the Beatles’ cover of “Chains,” originally recorded by the Cookies.
“Chains” was written by the songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded by the Cookies in 1962. Their version became a notable rhythm-and-blues and pop hit, making the song familiar to Liverpool groups. The Beatles included it in their early live repertoire before recording it for their debut album.
The Beatles recorded “Chains” at EMI Studios on 11 February 1963 in four takes, with the first take considered the best. Harrison handled the lead vocal and lead guitar, while John Lennon played rhythm guitar and harmonica, Paul McCartney added bass and harmony vocals, and Ringo Starr played drums.
The track appeared on Please Please Me, released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 1963. It is easy to confuse Harrison’s lead vocal with other early Beatles covers, including “Boys,” “Anna,” and “Devil in Her Heart,” but “Chains” is the Cookies cover identified in the question.