| Subject: Re: Veering back on topic(Early rockers influencing Beatles) |
Author:
Rick
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Date Posted: Sat December 26, 2015 11:39:41
In reply to:
Sue (in Arizona)
's message, "Re: Forget about Buddy Holly..." on Thu December 24, 2015 09:29:14
It's easy to look to the songs the Beatles covered and assume those artists were their biggest influences. But there have been several interviews over the years where they have individually cited artists whom they may not have covered much in the recording studio or on the BBC.
John and Paul each recorded rock and roll cover albums in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and in interviews surrounding these projects, I specifically remember both John and Paul praising the Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Trio's album as an early influence. As far as Beatles recordings go, I can only recall "Lonesome Tears in My Eyes" on a BBC performance. But Paul recorded their version of "Honey Hush" and discussed at length that album being an early favorite of theirs. And other songs on his album definitely had a Rock-n-Roll Trio feel even though they weren't songs originally recorded by them. His "Let's Have a Party" has a minor feel to it and sounds more like something the Burnettes would have recorded than either the Wanda Jackson or Elvis versions. But I suppose favorite records don't necessarily mean influential.
So let's look at what songs the Fabs picked when they had projects comprised primarily or even exclusively of covers. John and Paul each recorded Fats Domino songs on their solo cover projects, both covering "Ain't That a Shame," with Paul covering "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday," "Coquette," and "I'm In Love Again." Paul has said more than once he wrote "Lady Madonna" with Fats Domino in mind.
Little Richard songs received a lot of attention, with "Rip It Up," "Ready Teddy," "Slippin' and Slidin" and "Send Me Some Lovin'" adorning John's Rock-n-Roll album, while Paul covered a mostly Richard-influenced "Kansas City," and "Lucille."
Paul has given his due to Elvis in his solo years, covering "It's Now or Never," "I Got Stung," "That's All Right Mama," "Poor Boy," (unreleased) and "Just Because."
Chuck Berry gets a nod in the solo projects with John covering "You Can't Catch Me," - a contractual obligation since he was sued by Morris Levy for using "Here come ol' Flat-top" in "Come Together," and "Sweet Little Sixteen." Paul's Cajun cover of "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" seemingly borrows from Buddy Holly's version more than Chuck Berry's as he uses that "mambo" segment on the "Run Devil Run" album. Paul also admitted to lifting the exact bass line from Chuck's "I'm Talking 'Bout You," on "I Saw Her Standing There."
John, Paul, George, and even Ringo have praised Buddy has an influence. But their recorded output is lacking a bit in Buddy covers. John recorded "Peggy Sue" and an unreleased "That'll Be the Day" for his album. Paul, despite owning some of the publishing and expressing on numerous occasions his love of Buddy's music has only "It's So Easy," and "Maybe Baby" as official releases. Ringo covered "Think It Over." Yet "That'll Be the Day" was THE first song the Beatles chose to record way back in 1958. "Beatles" was originally "Beetles" as an homage to "The Crickets." Perhaps their reverence for Buddy kept them from covering more songs. Maybe they felt they couldn't do them justice. There's no denying they were all fans of Buddy's, and even cited specific examples of the usual "he wore glasses, he seemed like an ordinary person rather than a rock star, he wrote some of his own material..." maybe it was more than the music where Buddy was a source of inspiration and influence.
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