The five surprising Beatles songs Elvis Presley covered

Elvis Presley and The Beatles are two of the biggest names in music history, often seen as representatives of different eras. The Beatles famously idolized Elvis, with Paul McCartney once saying, “When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley.”

Elvis wasn’t always vocal about his thoughts on their success, but he did acknowledge their influence - sometimes by putting his own spin on their songs.   Over the years, Presley covered several Beatles tracks, reworking them with his signature sound. Here are five of them, and how he made them his own in different ways:

‘Get Back’

Originally released as a single in April 1969, ‘Get Back’ was later included on Let It Be in 1970. The song was The Beatles’ return to a rawer, live-in-the-studio sound, featuring Billy Preston on keyboards.

Elvis incorporated ‘Get Back’ into a medley with his own song, ‘Little Sister’, during his 1970s Las Vegas residency. This medley was performed frequently during his live shows, with multiple recordings available from the era. Unlike The Beatles’ version, which maintains a steady, bouncing rhythm, Elvis’ take had a looser, more improvisational feel.

‘Yesterday’

‘Yesterday’ is one of the most covered songs in history, with over 2,000 recorded versions by various artists. The Beatles’ version is a simple, melancholic ballad accompanied by an acoustic guitar and a string quartet.

Elvis added it to his Las Vegas setlist in August 1969, performing it alongside ‘Hey Jude’. His version was more piano-driven than the original, with lush backing vocals enhancing the arrangement.

‘Hey Jude’

Source: express.co.uk/Maria Leticia Gomes

Read More<<<