THE BEATLES COVERS THAT JOHN LENNON ACTUALLY LIKED

Speaking to Rolling Stone back in 1968 around the release of The White Album, John Lennon spoke about his adoration for five versions of Beatles classics by other artists that he felt fondness towards as well as what of his own covers he’s most proud of. “I’d like to make a record like ‘Some Other Guy’,” John said on The Beatles cover of Richie Barrett’s 1962 track. “I haven’t done one that satisfies me as much as that satisfied me. Or ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ or ‘Heartbreak Hotel or ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’ or ‘Whole Lot of Shakin’,” he added.

Conversation then shifted away from certain tracks that he has enjoyed covering himself personally and onto the covers that he has enjoyed by others attempting Beatles songs. “Well, Ray Charles’ version of ‘Yesterday’ – that’s beautiful,” he said, before adding: “And ‘Eleanor Rigby’ is a groove. I just dig the strings on that. Like ’30s strings. Jose Feliciano does great things to ‘Help’ and ‘Day Tripper’.”

John then began discussing the power of being influenced by others in his creative process, “’Got to Get You Into My Life’ – sure, we were doing our Tamla Motown bit,” he said. “You see we’re influenced by whatever’s going. Even if we’re not influenced, we’re all going that way at a certain time.”

“If we played a Stones record now—and a Beatles record—and we’ve been way apart – you’d find a lot of similarities. We’re all heavy. Just heavy. How did we ever do anything light? We did country music early because that was Ringo’s bit,” John added.

Paying homage to the artists you respect is part and parcel of the music industry, especially in the sixties. John was open about wearing his influences on the sleeve and, in doing so, he took it as a huge compliment that incredible artists like Fats Domino had handed The Beatles the biggest compliment possible by covering their music.

 

 

See the full list, below.
John Lennon’s five favourite The Beatles covers:

    Fats Domino – ‘Lady Madonna’
    Ray Charles – ‘Yesterday’
    Ray Charles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’
    Jose Feliciano – ‘Help’
    Jose Feliciano – ‘Day Tripper’