Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 14, 2016

DEAR JERRY: I know the Beatles recorded many original songs, but they also revived many that were first made by other artists.

How many are there? Can you list them with the original artists, and when each was issued?
—Steve Davidson, Scottsdale, Ariz.

DEAR STEVE: There are probably more than either one of us expected.

Below are 66 answers to your question, listed alphabetically by title. Following is the year of the Beatles first U.S. issue on records (about half recorded live in the early '60s for the BBC); title of their album; title of the earlier version only if it varies; artist of the song that we believe inspired the Beatles; and year.

"A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Arthur Alexander (1961)
"A Taste of Honey" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Lenny Welch (1962)
"Act Naturally" (1966) "Yesterday … and Today" - Buck Owens (1963)
"Ain't She Sweet" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Gene Vincent (1956)
"Anna" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Arthur Alexander (1962)
"Baby It's You" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Shirelles (1962)
"Bad Boy" (1965) "Beatles VI" - Larry Williams (1959)
"Beautiful Dreamer" (2013) "On Air - Live at the BBC Volume 2" - Tony Orlando (1962)
"Besame Mucho" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Coasters (1960)
"Boys" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Shirelles (1960)
"Carol" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1958)
"Chains" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Cookies (1962)
"Clarabella" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Jodimars (1956)
"Crying, Waiting, Hoping" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Buddy Holly (1959)
"Devil in Her Heart" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - "Devil in His Heart" Donays (1962)
"Dizzy Miss Lizzie" (1965) "Beatles VI" - "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" Larry Williams (1958)
"Don't Ever Change" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Crickets (1962)
"Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" (1964) "Beatles '65" - Carl Perkins (1956)
"Glad All Over" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Carl Perkins (1957)
"Hallelujah, I Love Her So" (1995) "Anthology 1" - "Hallelujah I Love Her So" Ray Charles (1956)
"Honey Don't" 1964 "Beatles '65" - Carl Perkins (1956)
"I Forgot to Remember to Forget" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Elvis Presley (1955)
"I Got a Woman" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - "I've Got a Woman" Ray Charles (1955)
"I Got to Find My Baby" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1960)
"I Just Don't Understand" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Ann-Margret (1961)
"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Elvis Presley (1956)
"I'm Talking About You" (2013) "On Air - Live at the BBC Volume 2" - Chuck Berry (1961)
"Johnny B. Goode" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1958)
"Kansas City" (1965) "Beatles VI" - Little Richard (1959)
"Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Little Eva (1962)
"Leave My Kitten Alone" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Little Willie John (1959)
"Lend Me Your Comb" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Carl Perkins (1957)
"Lonesome Tears in My Eyes" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Johnny Burnette and the Rock'n Roll Trio (1956)
"Long Tall Sally" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Little Richard (1956)
"Lucille" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Little Richard (1957)
"Maggie Mae" (1970) "Let It Be" - "Maggie May" Vipers Skiffle Group (1957)
"Matchbox" (1964) "Something New" - Carl Perkins (1957)
"Memphis, Tennessee" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1959)
"Money (That's What I Want)" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Barrett Strong (1960)
"Mr. Moonlight" (1964) "Beatles '65" - "Mister Moonlight" Dr. Feelgood and the Interns (1962)
"Nothin' Shakin'" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Eddie Fontaine (1958)
"Ooh! My Soul" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Little Richard (1958)
"Please Mr. Postman" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Marvelettes (1962)
"Rock and Roll Music" (1964) "Beatles '65" - Chuck Berry (1957)
"Roll Over Beethoven" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Chuck Berry (1956)
"Searchin'" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Coasters (1957)
"Shout" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Isley Brothers (1959)
"Slow Down" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Larry Williams (1958)
"So How Come (No One Loves Me)" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Everly Brothers (1960)
"Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Arthur Alexander (1962)
"Some Other Guy" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Richie Barrett (1962)
"Sure to Fall (In Love with You)" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - "Sure to Fall" Carl Perkins (1956)
"Sweet Little Sixteen" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1958)
"That'll Be the Day" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Crickets (1957)
"That's All Right (Mama)" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - "That's All Right" Elvis Presley (1954)
"The Hippy Hippy Shake" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chan Romero (1959)
"The Honeymoon Song" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Marino Marini Quartet (1959)
"The Sheik of Araby" (1995) "Anthology 1" - "The Sheik of Araby (Italian Style)" Lou Monte (1958)
"Three Cool Cats" (1995) "Anthology 1" - Coasters (1959)
"Till There Was You" (1964) "Meet the Beatles" - Anita Bryant (1959)
"To Know Her Is to Love Her" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - "To Know Him Is to Love Him" Teddy Bears (1958)
"Too Much Monkey Business" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Chuck Berry (1956)
"Twist and Shout" (1964) "Introducing the Beatles" - Isley Brothers (1962)
"Words of Love" (1964) "Beatles VI" - Buddy Holly (1957)
"You Really Got a Hold on Me" (1964) "The Beatles' Second Album" - Miracles (1962)
"Young Blood" (1994) "Live at the BBC" - Coasters (1956)

IZ ZAT SO? We've often heard that the Beatles were especially fond of tunes by Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins, and today's list confirms that.

By the number of their songs recorded by the Fab Four, each of these artists has three or more:

Chuck Berry (9)
Carl Perkins (6)
Coasters (4)
Buddy Holly and/or Crickets (4)
Little Richard (4)
Arthur Alexander (3)
Elvis Presley (3)
Larry Williams (3)





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