The 60s Pop Song John Lennon Said Had the Greatest F***ing Guitar Lick Ever Written
The Beatles might have been busy making their mark on the musical world in the early 1960s, but that didn’t stop the band’s primary songwriters, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from paying close attention to other ‘60s pop songs, er, popping up in the U.K. and across the pond in the States. One song in particular captured the heart of both Beatles guitarists.
Fortunately for Lennon and lead guitarist George Harrison, they were in quite good cahoots with the singer behind one of their favorite American pop tunes. So, they were able to get their lessons up close and personal (and free). John Lennon Loved The Guitar Riff On This ‘60s Pop Song
We often credit the Beatles for being one of the driving forces behind the popularity of jangly rock music. And while that’s true to an extent, they weren’t the only (or even first) artists producing this quintessentially 1960s sound. During an interview with Rick Beato, Doobie Brothers vocalist and keyboardist Michael McDonald described the influence that American pop artist Jackie DeShannon had on the Fab Four during their earliest days in the U.S.
“[Jackie] had a great big hit record, and it had this great guitar lick.” (The great big hit McDonald was talking about was DeShannon’s 1963 hit single, “When You Walk in the Room.”) “John Lennon loved that record. You can almost hear his affectation of that on “Every Little Thing.” [Jackie would say], “‘When I’d get on the 707 trying to make my way down the aisle, and, all of a sudden, [John] would pop out right in front of me with his guitar. He’d play the lick, and he’d go, ‘The greatest f***ing guitar lick ever written.’”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis
