Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles. While a sensational idea, the sentiment is hardly a sensationalization. On the contrary, it’s an undeniable recounting of rock ‘n’ roll’s lineage from the early 1950s to the Beatles’ U.S. debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Moreover, the notion came from a former Beatle himself, with John Lennon expressing those exact words in a 1980 interview with David Sheff. Elvis’ influence was unavoidable and a tangible presence in the Fab Four’s earliest music.
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By the late 1960s, the Beatles were returning the favor by inspiring Elvis. Interestingly, some of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s favorite Fab Four tunes were far removed from the American rock sound that initially influenced the Liverpudlian band. Elvis’ top picks also showed a clear preference for one Beatle in particular (and not the one you might think).
Elvis’ Favorite Beatles Songs Proved He Had A Favorite Beatle
The relationship between Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the Beatles, who began their musical career as his loyal subjects, is a complex one. Growing up in Liverpool, the founding members of the Fab Four took great inspiration from the American rock ‘n’ roller who seemed to ooze all things cool, bold, and anti-authoritarian (until Elvis got his draft notice, anyway). But by the end of the 1960s, the Beatles had reached such tremendous stardom that they were now in direct competition with their childhood idol. Elvis, by that point in his career’s final descent, began denouncing the Fab Four as anti-American hippie enthusiasts.
But according to Presley’s step-brother, David Stanley, the King still had a soft spot for some of the Beatles’ discography. Most notably, Stanley told the Daily Express in a March 2025 interview that his step-brother “loved George Harrison. He thought George was the most prolific writer. He really liked his writing.” And indeed, the four songs Stanley listed as being his sibling’s favorite tracks were almost exclusively penned by the Quiet Beatle.
Per Stanley, Elvis’ favorite Beatles songs included “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” from Abbey Road (1969) and “If I Needed Someone” from Rubber Soul (1965). The final song on the list of Elvis’ favorite Beatles tracks was technically one of John Lennon’s: “Norwegian Wood” from Rubber Soul. However, Harrison played a critical role in that song’s distinct sound by contributing the iconic and groundbreaking sitar part.
The King Made An Equally Notable Impression On George Harrison
For George Harrison, earning the respect and admiration of Elvis Presley wasn’t just validation from a peer. It was an affirmation from one of Harrison’s earliest idols—a musician who would ultimately inspire the young Liverpudlian to pick up a guitar of his own. During an interview in his later years, Harrison described the “incredible impact” Elvis had on him as a teenager diving into American rock music from across the pond.
“I’d never heard anything like it,” Harrison recalled. “Coming from Liverpool, obviously, we didn’t really hear the very early Sun records. The first record I can remember hearing is probably the big hit by the time it got across the Atlantic. It was “Heartbreak Hotel.” Heartburn motel, as some of us called it.”
The full-circle moment of Elvis Presley’s 1956 hit inspiring Harrison to pick up the creative pursuit that would eventually lead to some of Presley’s favorite songs is an incredibly gratifying example of music’s cyclical nature. There might have been no Beatles without Elvis. But without the Beatles, some of Elvis’ favorite music might never have existed, either.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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