7 Hit Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written by The Beatles’ Lennon and McCartney

John Lennon and Paul McCartney, famous for their work with… The Beatles As solo artists, he has also written for a variety of musicians over the decades. Their songwriting genius shines across multiple genres, with their distinctive style leaving a distinct mark on the music The songs they gave to others.

Liverpool natives Lennon and McCartney performed with The Quarrymen in the late 1950s before bringing on George Harrison and Ringo Starr to form The Beatles in 1962. The friends-turned-bandmates were responsible for some of the music’s most iconic works. Favorite Beatles tracksincluding “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “In My Life,” to name a few. when The Beatles broke up in 1970Lennon and McCartney They often found themselves at oddsBut they rekindled their friendship in the years before Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.

While their own releases are cemented in music history, so are many of the hit songs they wrote for them Other artists It remains relatively obscure as well Lennon McCartney’s compositions.

Listen closely, and you’ll hear their distinctive vocals echo in each of these seven songs, no matter who’s on the mic.

1. “Fame” (David Bowie)
2. “Say Say Say” (Michael Jackson)
3. “I Wanna Be Your Man” (The Rolling Stones)
4. “Come and get it” (Badfinger)
5. “A World Without Love” (Peter and Gordon)
6. “Veronica” (Elvis Costello)
7. “Just One” (Kanye West)

“Fame” (David Bowie)

To the untrained ear, it may not be very obvious who wrote this song with David Bowie, but Beatles fans know it. Lennon not only helped write the tune, but appeared as a vocalist and guitarist. “Fame” was released in the mid-1970s as the lead single for Bowie’s Young Americans Album. Lennon and Bowie always had great respect for each other. Lennon praised Bowie’s talentBowie was impressed by Lennon’s exceptional songwriting.

“Fame” was for Bowie First song to top the Billboard Hot 100and remains a fan favorite.

“Say Say Say” (Michael Jackson)

Paul McCartney wrote “Say Say Say” with Michael Jackson, two years before they began feuding over the Beatles’ catalog. The track featured McCartney Peace pipes In 1983, he was accompanied by Short film Where the duo played the role of “Mac and Jac”. The collaboration between the industry greats has remained intact No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 For six weeks.

During their friendship, McCartney encouraged Jackson to become involved in music publishing. Ironically, in 1985, Jackson outbid McCartney for the Beatles’ catalogue, leaving McCartney very disappointed. After the sale, McCartney sent Jackson several letters That went unansweredWhich ultimately led to their downfall.

“I Wanna Be Your Man” (The Rolling Stones)

Paul McCartney and John Lennon dedicated the song to the Rolling Stones in 1963. Although Mick Jagger and Lennon remembered the moment differently, both accounts begin with McCartney and Lennon playing the track for Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards during a Rolling Stones rehearsal. At the time, the Rolling Stones were looking for a more “commercial” follow-up to their Chuck Berry cover, “Come On,” and Lennon and McCartney had the solution. They played an unfinished version of “I Wanna Be Your Man,” which immediately impressed Jagger and Richards. According to Lennon, he and McCartney backed into a corner and immediately finished the song, completing it.”Right before their eyes“.

The Rolling Stones released “I Wanna Be Your Man” as their second single in November 1963. It peaked at No. 12 On the UK Singles Chart. Later that month, the Beatles released their album Their version of the track.

“Come and get it” (Badfinger)

“Come and Get It” is a classic example of McCartney’s unique approach to songwriting. He wrote the tune in 1969 for the film Christian MagicStarring his bandmate Ringo Starr. At the time, Badfinger, then known as The Iveys, had recently signed with the Beatles. Apple records And they were Seeking more recognition. McCartney gave them “Come and Get It” as a single, which became their first international hit. As noted in Beatles AnthologyMcCartney insisted that Badfinger record the song exactly as he demoed it. As a result, the Badfinger and Beatles versions sound almost identical.

Bad Finger’s “Come and Get it” reached number seven on the charts Billboard Hot 100 And number 4 on UK Singles Chart In 1970.

“A World Without Love” (Peter and Gordon)

In 1964, while dating Actress Jane AsherPaul McCartney lived in her family’s home and She shared the upstairs with her brotherPeter. Peter, also a musician, was one half of the duo Peter and Gordon, which formed in 1962. McCartney shared his song “A World Without Love” with Peter, who soon realized that the Beatles themselves had moved on, as had other artists. When Peter and Gordon got a recording deal, Peter asked McCartney if they could record the song. The hitmaker agreed, although it took a few more weeks to finish writing the bridge.

Release the duoA world without loveas their first single, which reached number one on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

“Veronica” (Elvis Costello)

Did you know that one of Elvis Costello’s fan-favorite songs, “Veronica,” was co-written by McCartney? The tone that appeared in the eighties It’s risingwritten about Costello’s grandmother, who was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. We look forward to broadcasting the song with a bright and cheerful tone that hides the underlying sadness, The artist asked McCartney for helpIt was no surprise that he knew exactly what to do. The Beatles legend also appeared on bass.

“Veronica” peaked at number nineteen Billboard Hot 100 It reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.

“Just One” (Kanye West)

Released in 2014, this Kanye West song has the hallmarks McCartney’s art From start to finish, with McCartney adding his skills on organ and background vocals. The song, dedicated to Kanye West’s eldest daughter, North West, was penned during a writing session in which McCartney shared the story behind “So be itAnd his mother’s dream inspired the classic. This resonated deeply with Kanye, who, having also lost his mother, created “Only You” from the point of view of the late mother. McCartney enjoyed collaborating with Kanye so much that Compare experience To write songs with Lennon.

The emotional tune debuted at number 35 on the chart Billboard Hot 100 It peaked at No. 28 on UK Singles Chart.