The Beatles Song Paul McCartney Says Was Inspired by Motown — 'It Was Very Motown-Flavored'

The Beatles often incorporated other genres of music into their work, including the blues and folk music. Songs like “Yer Blues” show the band’s interest in experimenting with different sounds to create a versatile catalog. Paul McCartney said that one Beatles song was inspired by Motown and a Motown bass player who he had tremendous respect for. 

Motown is a record label that was founded in 1958 by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit. The label found tremendous success in the 1960s through primarily African American artists who produced soul and blues music with mainstream appeal. Many of the artists who propelled Motown in the 1960s included Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. 

While The Beatles dominated the U.K. before becoming popular in the U.S., Motown was topping the charts in the U.S. Since its inception, Motown has incorporated many genres, including rock, hip-hop/rap, R&B, and country. The label was absorbed into Universal Music Group in 1998 and was relaunched in 2011.

Source: Ross Tanenbaum/cheatsheet.com

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