There are dozen of artists that have 'borrowed' melodies and riffs from the Beatles for their own songs... But what did the Beatles 'borrow' from others?

Well known examples are of course the intro of "Lady Madonna", which sound exactly like the intro of "Bad Penny Blues", and "Because", which was based on Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".

A while ago, I got the CD "The Very Best of the Tower Recordings" by The Sunrays (a Beach Boys soundalike band managed and produced by Murry Wilson, father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson). There's a song on that CD called "I Live For The Sun" (which went to #51 in the US in 1965) which has a part where they sing "Sun, sun, sun, sun" and it sounds an awful lot like the "Sun, sun, sun" in "Here Comes The Sun". And obviously "I Live For The Sun" predates "Here Comes The Sun". I wonder if George consciously or unconsciously used that part, or if it's maybe just entirely coincidental... Or maybe I'm just hearing something that nobody else hears...

Quoted from Joost

There are dozen of artists that have 'borrowed' melodies and riffs from the Beatles for their own songs... But what did the Beatles 'borrow' from others?

Well known examples are of course the intro of "Lady Madonna", which sound exactly like the intro of "Bad Penny Blues", and "Because", which was based on Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".

A while ago, I got the CD "The Very Best of the Tower Recordings" by The Sunrays (a Beach Boys soundalike band managed and produced by Murry Wilson, father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson). There's a song on that CD called "I Live For The Sun" (which went to #51 in the US in 1965) which has a part where they sing "Sun, sun, sun, sun" and it sounds an awful lot like the "Sun, sun, sun" in "Here Comes The Sun". And obviously "I Live For The Sun" predates "Here Comes The Sun". I wonder if George consciously or unconsciously used that part, or if it's maybe just entirely coincidental... Or maybe I'm just hearing something that nobody else hears...

John lost a suit to Chuck Berry's publishers who stated he "used without authorization" one of Chuck's songs in "Come Together".

Similarly, George had to pay up for nicking the Chiffon's (?) "He's so fine" in his #1 single "My Sweet Lord".

Didn't know about Bad Penny Blues, I'll have to look that one up!

Also, Paul has a song on Chaos and Creation the intro of which is almost completely ripped off from a popular 60s song. Can't remember which at this time, maybe someone can chip in.

In my mind, the bottom line is that it is pretty much impossible to write something in isolation from what's been written before. In most cases, I believe, what makes a new song attractive is it's originality ... + its roots in the familiar.

For example, Yoko's screeching is original, but (at least to most westerners) not really familiar-sounding

Quoted from alexis

Didn't know about Bad Penny Blues, I'll have to look that one up!

That wasn't even subconsciously, I believe Paul actually asked George Martin to play something similar to Bad Penny Blues for the intro! It sure does sound an awful lot like it.

For my money, 'Love Me Do'

sounds an awful lot like Roy Orbison's 'Candy Man.'

And 'Taxman' sounds as if it were stolen note for note from

Paul Weller's old band,The Jam. Their song, 'Start.' (joke)

"Tell Me Why" always reminded me of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

Quoted from Mairi

"Tell Me Why" always reminded me of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

interesting!  

I think that you are on to something there, Mairi. I agree.

Those thieves.

Here is an insightful youtube video about John's harmonica style on 'Love Me Do.'



Bruce and Del discuss headlining at the Tower Ballroom in early 1962 and showing John a few tricks, which they picked up playing the Texas blues clubs, and which John,in turn, shared with Brian of the Stones later on. That backstage meeting is documented with some pictures taken by Paul's little brother.







Please pardon me if this has been posted already.

Quoted from Ligger

Here is an insightful youtube video about John's harmonica style on 'Love Me Do.'


Bruce and Del discuss headlining at the Tower Ballroom in early 1962 and showing John a few tricks, which they picked up playing the Texas blues clubs, and which John,in turn, shared with Brian of the Stones later on. That backstage meeting is documented with some pictures taken by Paul's little brother.







Please pardon me if this has been posted already.

What a great post, Ligger, thank you SO MUCH!

A couple of questions please:

1) Who is the other guy, "Bruce", with Delbert McClinton?
2) Does the timing really work out for John learning harmonica from Delbert? The reason I ask is that if you look closely, the poster for the event shown in the youtube clip showed that the Beatles were Parlophone recording artists already ... meaning they had already recorded Love Me Do (and maybe From Me to You also). So does this mean that whatever John learned from Delbert was AFTER those songs?

Finally, a comment ... there has been a LOT of discussion of what kind of harmonica John used on Love Me Do - a straight one, or a chromatic. John clearly states hear his had a "button", which means a chromatic. I wish I remembered what forum this big discussion was taking place on ... people were really passionate about both sides!

Thanks again for the awesome post!

Quoted from Joost

There are dozen of artists that have 'borrowed' melodies and riffs from the Beatles for their own songs... But what did the Beatles 'borrow' from others?

Well known examples are of course the intro of "Lady Madonna", which sound exactly like the intro of "Bad Penny Blues", and "Because", which was based on Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".

A while ago, I got the CD "The Very Best of the Tower Recordings" by The Sunrays (a Beach Boys soundalike band managed and produced by Murry Wilson, father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson). There's a song on that CD called "I Live For The Sun" (which went to #51 in the US in 1965) which has a part where they sing "Sun, sun, sun, sun" and it sounds an awful lot like the "Sun, sun, sun" in "Here Comes The Sun". And obviously "I Live For The Sun" predates "Here Comes The Sun". I wonder if George consciously or unconsciously used that part, or if it's maybe just entirely coincidental... Or maybe I'm just hearing something that nobody else hears...

Can someone post audio clips of "Bad Penny Blues" (Lady Madonna), "Candy Man" (Love Me Do), "Start" (Taxman), "I Live for the Sun" (Here Comes the Sun) please?

Lennon stole the riff to "I Feel Fine" from Bobby Parker's "watch your step", and the "Day Tripper" riff he brutally took from Bo Diddley's "Road Runner"  

Quoted from Slave Trader

Lennon stole the riff to "I Feel Fine" from Bobby Parker's "watch your step", and the "Day Tripper" riff he brutally took from Bo Diddley's "Road Runner"  

Can someone please post clips of these as well? I think this is fascinating! Thanks!

Quoted from alexis

2) Does the timing really work out for John learning harmonica from Delbert? The reason I ask is that if you look closely, the poster for the event shown in the youtube clip showed that the Beatles were Parlophone recording artists already ... meaning they had already recorded Love Me Do (and maybe From Me to You also). So does this mean that whatever John learned from Delbert was AFTER those songs?

The Poster is for a gig on 21st June 1962. Love Me Do was first recorded with Pete Best on 6th June 1962. But the final recordings (with Andy White) were not made until much later. So there would have been plenty of time for this to have taken place. If you listen to the first version you can really hear the difference in harmonica style. I'll post it on Monday if you don't know it.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

The Poster is for a gig on 21st June 1962. Love Me Do was first recorded with Pete Best on 6th June 1962. But the final recordings (with Andy White) were not made until much later. So there would have been plenty of time for this to have taken place. If you listen to the first version you can really hear the difference in harmonica style. I'll post it on Monday if you don't know it.

I, who know nothing, do humbly beseech the keeper of the knowledge ... please Mr. Postman!

Quoted from alexis

Can someone please post clips of these as well? I think this is fascinating! Thanks!

I feel fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJCzjF7MvpM

Day tripper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs8FJergjas

(Sorry, i'm too untechnical to be able to post them directly here )