The Beatles are the most covered band in music history. Songs such as Something, And I Love Her, Here Comes The Sun, Eleanor Rigby, and In My Life have all been covered by hundreds of artists. And then there is Yesterday. Around the turn of the century, the BBC declared it to be the most-covered song of all time with 2,200 versions on record. At last count, that number has topped 3,000 versions.
So yes, John Lennon and Paul McCartney became prolific songwriters (understatement), as did George Harrison, but back in their early days, The Beatles spent a lot of time covering other artists. Some were slow ballads but that is not what I’m focusing on today. It’s Friday so that means high energy rock and roll!
Instead of listing the names of the Beatles versions below, I decided to get cute and have instead listed in order the artists who first brought those songs to popularity.
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play buttons are on the left … Volume sliders are on the right
Beatles Cover Songs
Larry Williams – Marvelettes – Chuck Berry
Wilbert Harrison/Little Richard – Carl Perkins
Isley Brothers – Little Richard – Carl Perkins
Larry Williams – Little Willie John
Well I guess I will be the contrarian today I thought this was just OK. Before you have a heart attack, I love the Beatles! I have all the original albums and trust me they are well worn. The problem for me is the “magic” just isn’t there. Oh sure there is lots of energy but no magic. When I listen to their original compositions, even the very early work, there is a spark, a dynamism that shoots straight to my heart. I understand the need for a band at the start of their career to play covers. My son had two bands, one played only covers, the other strictly original work. My daughter sings in a cover band. I understand the rational. To get gigs you have to give the people something familiar. The club owners demand it. You improve as an artist by imitating other artists until you find your true voice. It is a necessary step in your development. That being said, of today’s songs I only would listen to 2 or 3 of the songs if I were making a personal playlist. The Beatles used their time in Hamburg well, they grew into the Magical Fab Four. I am happy they did they are the voice of a generation, multiple generations. They are unique! Long live The Beatles!
Don, you are entitled to be the contrarian. As I have said many times before, I respect your opinion. However, the entire premise of this medley was to point out the (primarily) R&B singers the Beatles respected and covered. I wasn’t trying to replicate the “magic” they had when they started recording their own material. I was trying to showcase their roots because without them, they never would have turned into the phenomenon that followed. I was trying to play rock and roll music; nothing more, nothing less.
Yeah, I could have played 10 originals that displayed that magic but then I would have people saying, “Do we really need to hear Hey Jude, Strawberry Fields Forever, She Loves You, Revolution, Here Comes The Sun, Tomorrow Never Knows or A Day In The Life again?”
That is one of the problems with doing this for so long. There is always a risk of repeating yourself, especially if you stay focused on 1957-1975 but more times than not, sticking with the 60s. I try to be creative, such as today’s effort, but after 15 years, there is a burning question in the back of my mind … Is it time to retire? I am beginning to lean that way. Truth be told, I have actually been thinking about it for several months.
Ray, I think you should do whatever makes you happy. I know that you make many people, including myself, very happy each day with your posts.
I think I have the ability to make you upset, which was never my intent. I took care to present my opinion without insulting or belittling anyone. I obviously failed.
It is probably best if I just keep my own council.
Don, if I was upset, you would know it. I would have been far more argumentative in my response to your commentary if you had in any way upset me. You offered your opinion (which I said I respected) on the medley and I explained why I created it.
You didn’t belittle the Beatles, nor did you insult me. The simple fact is I disagreed with your take on the group’s early recordings. They were in their early twenties and had been signed by George Martin who, unsure of their songwriting ability at that time, insisted they record mostly covers. It was the same thing every group in the business was doing at the time. His technique was to record the Beatles as if they were performing their stage act which was the very thing that had earned them their contract.
If compared to their later recordings of their own material, of course the covers lacked the magic you mentioned. The same could be said for the Rolling Stones, Kinks, Beach Boys, and a myriad of rock and roll bands who improved, day by day and year by year.
Finally, my talk of retirement has absolutely nothing to do with your commentary. There are days I “feel it” and can zip through these medleys in a breeze, and there are days when it is hard to even sit down at this mixer. It is the constant concern about “overplaying” certain songs or artists. None of it has anything to do with you or your comments.
Well I’ve had quite the day of music already and it’s 10 o’clock. Started off with SiriusXM radio listening to the blind while driving my grandson to school, then put in a Beach boys CD, for the trek to my house. Now having just listened to this very lively jumpy medley of Beatles music, I’m ready for a nap, holy cow I’ve been jumping around in this kitchen for a half an hour! I must admit that some of the songs I never heard done by the Beatles but of course the original artist so I did. But it was certainly a great medley was full of lively music I loved it. What can I tell you? You are the greatest Ray! Always thinking of what would make us happy. Made me happy 😃😃
Thank you, Sandy 🥰
I have been working on Monday’s medley since 6:00 this morning so I’m ready for a nap, too. 🙂
I am happy I got you jumping!
This was the bomb
Covers of early rock n roll classics by the Beatles
Please keep to the spirit of this blog that takes us on walks down memory lane and informs us with info and backstories.
Like country, but only in the spirit of the blog
Thank you as always for these treats
Mary Helen, thank you so much for the positive feedback.🥰
I’ll keep this short….
FABULOUS!
I loved every bit of it 🙂
Thank you, Rose 🥰
I sincerely appreciate the FABULOUS feedback. ❤️
Holy cow Ray you make me and Miss Lizzy dizzy!! Just calling my name makes me dizzy(love the guitar)She just is Rock and Rollin” Then she hooked up with the postman!! So many days have passed me by!! I’ve been waiting for more than a minute(the mail must go through)!! You gotta write a letter to someone who wants me to role over and it said rock in two by two!! And why does Beethoven have to roll over!! And I lost my blue suede shoes!! Then it says I gotta feel like I ain’t got nothing to worry about!! Then I gotta go to Kansas city!! Then I got to count to nine! Makes me forget why I was going anyways!! then it says bye bye!! Then she says honey don’t!! I like the way she wears her cloths but she will when she won’t(guitar is insane)You can tell when she’s been out painting the town!! Ok so I won’t! Now she wants me to shake it up!! Man has she got me going I gotta twist a little closer come on baby you know you twist so fine!! I’m to old to shake it anymore!! I’ll let you work it out Ray!! Now I gotta tell Uncle John about Sally oh baby we are goin’ to have some fun tonite!! Now Ray everybodys trying to be my baby!!So I just add a guitar riff and then I go out late at night and I get a baby to walk with with me!! I used to carry her books home from school!! Then I screem and play another guitar riff and tell her she has just got to slow down!! Now I gotta leave her alone!! Gee wiz now he wants to get me all alone..glad I’m not a kitten he wants to hit me on my head so I guess I better leave Ray!! Still chair dancin!! Great tunes Love ya!!
Wow, sounds like you had one hell of a night, Fred! After all the excellent work you put into your commentary, you should take the rest of the day off. At the very least, slow that chair dancing down to a waltz. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Oh wait, one final thought…
Rock on, George, for Ringo one time
LOVE YA!
Great medley, weather they are originals or covers I like them .. very upbeat!!
Listened again to help me finish up the day so I can clock out .. yay me! Then on to whatever the week-end holds, starting with a winter storm warning tonight thru tomorrow!
Have a safe and wonderful weekend my friend!
Thank you, Penny 🥰
I am, as always, so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
We have a winter storm warning tomorrow, as well. I’ll be safely inside, watching college basketball!
Stay Safe!
I was so confused when I started listening…I thought… WOW this sounds just like the Beatles LOL Duh! I think it’s great you named the people who originally made these songs hits. Like Fred, I too am doing some chair dancing 🙂
As always Ray, Thanks for the memories.
Thank you, Eileen 🥰
Boogaloo the day away! I’m very glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I really enjoyed this, Ray. Fred hit it out of the park again! I am sorry to hear you might be retiring from posting these medleys, but I understand the time you put into these. We don’t really care if something is repetitive! We just enjoy the music.
Thank you, Pat 🥰
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you also for the encouraging vote of support!