The five surprising Beatles songs Elvis Presley covered

Elvis’s Renditions of Beatles Classics

In the realm of iconic musicians, Elvis Presley and The Beatles are giants, often symbolizing distinct epochs in popular music. The Beatles openly revered Elvis, with John Lennon famously stating they were more influenced by Elvis than anyone. Paul McCartney echoed this sentiment, recalling, “When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley.” While Elvis rarely voiced his direct opinions on The Beatles’ meteoric rise, he subtly acknowledged their impact by reinterpreting some of their compositions in his distinctive style.

Throughout his illustrious career, Presley offered his own renditions of several Beatles songs, transforming them with his signature sound. Here are five notable examples of his Beatles covers and the unique approaches he employed to make them his own:

Get Back

Originally issued as a single in April 1969 and subsequently featured on the 1970 album Let It Be, ‘Get Back’ represented The Beatles’ movement toward a more stripped-down, live studio ambiance, enriched by Billy Preston’s keyboard contributions.

During his extensive 1970s Las Vegas residency, Elvis incorporated ‘Get Back’ into a medley with his own hit, ‘Little Sister’. This medley became a frequent highlight of his live performances, evidenced by numerous recordings from that era. In contrast to The Beatles’ version, characterized by a steady, rhythmic cadence, Elvis’s rendition adopted a more relaxed, improvisational feel.

Yesterday

‘Yesterday’ stands as one of the most frequently covered songs in musical history, boasting over 2,000 recorded versions by diverse artists. The Beatles’ original is a poignant, melancholic ballad distinguished by its acoustic guitar accompaniment and string quartet arrangement.

Elvis introduced ‘Yesterday’ into his Las Vegas repertoire in August 1969, often performing it in conjunction with ‘Hey Jude’. His interpretation leaned towards a piano-driven arrangement, enhanced by rich backing vocals that amplified the song’s emotional depth.

Hey Jude

Released in 1968, ‘Hey Jude’ marked The Beatles’ longest single release, extending beyond seven minutes in duration.

Elvis explored ‘Hey Jude’ during his 1969 Memphis recording sessions with producer Chips Moman, resulting in a version that appeared on his 1972 album Elvis Now. However, this rendition is notably shorter and more subdued compared to The Beatles’ expansive original. Eschewing McCartney’s structured progression to an emotional zenith, Elvis’s take adopted a more casual approach, omitting the extended outro and concentrating on the song’s central message.

Something

Penned by George Harrison, ‘Something’ debuted in 1969 on Abbey Road and evolved into one of The Beatles’ most acclaimed love songs. Frank Sinatra famously lauded it as “the greatest love song of the past 50 years,” and it endures as one of the most covered Beatles tracks.

Elvis performed ‘Something’ during his Aloha from Hawaii television special in 1973, a landmark broadcast transmitted live via satellite to a global audience of millions. His rendition transformed the song into a powerful ballad, emphasizing the grandiose instrumentation and intense vocal delivery typical of his live performances during that period.

Lady Madonna

Originally launched as a single in 1968, ‘Lady Madonna’ showcased The Beatles’ return to a robust rock and roll style.

Elvis recorded his own interpretation of ‘Lady Madonna’ in 1971 as an informal studio jam session. This spontaneous take remained unreleased until 1995, eventually surfacing on the box set Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential ’70s Masters. Elvis’s version infused a Southern flavor into the track, accentuating the song’s inherent blues nuances.