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.

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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.’”

DeShannon and the Beatles shared plenty of plane rides together in 1964, when the former pop artist opened for the Fab Four on one of their first U.S. tours. She shared stories of their pleasant rapport in an interview with ClassicBands.com, describing the Beatles visiting her and her band on the plane, showing them new songs, and asking about DeShannon’s. “I remember George [Harrison] saying, ‘Show me that “When You Walk Into the Room” lick, riff.’ They’d all come from time to time. It was really a lot of fun.”

The Pop Star Powered Through The Beatles’ Tough Audiences

At the height of Beatlemania, audience anticipation for the Fab Four would become so feverishly high that they would often boo and jeer at the opening acts. Even musical acts that were popular in their own right weren’t immune to the Beatles’ tough crowds. The Righteous Brothers once said opening for the Rolling Stones was more enjoyable than the Beatles because of how impatient the Fab Four’s audiences could be. Jackie DeShannon’s experience on the Beatles’ North American tour was no different.

In her interview with ClassicBands.com, DeShannon recalled the crowd booing and shouting “Beatles” at her. “The thing I was grateful for was that I had a chance to get out there and do my thing in front of that many people. A lot of times, I would do things like stand up, and I did “Shout” at the time. I expected it. It was not something I was surprised at. It was not a surprise to me. I think some of the acts were put off. A couple of ‘em were pretty unhappy because they would be booing and screaming all through the numbers. But it didn’t bother me at all. I just plowed ahead. I was happy.”

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