Under The Covers: Other Artists Covering Beatles Songs: ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret”- Billy J. Kramer. It is hard for me to believe but in 1964 if it was released and had Beatles on it- it sold. Released as a single in the US- ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’ went to #2 in the Billboard Hot 100. Sung by George- written by John and Paul- I have always thought it very mediocre. Not terrible but nothing special. It was the first Beatles Top 10 hit sung by George. In the UK it wasn’t released as a single but the song was a #1 hit- sung by Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas.

Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas were a band from Liverpool signed by Brian Epstein who was always looking for new talent in those days. They had 3 hits big hits in the UK in 1963 and after The Beatles paved the way for British acts in 1964 they had a few hits in the US most notably the Lennon-McCartney penned “Bad To Me.”