People cover Paul McCartney, Wings, and The Beatles all the time. Honestly, much of the work he’s produced is just fun to cover. However, some of those Paul McCartney covers out there come close to topping the quality of the original, though I doubt anyone can truly do Macca better than Macca. And when it comes to the following four Paul McCartney covers, I bet you’ve never heard them before. Let’s dive in!

This is not the kind of band you’d expect Foo Fighters to cover, but they did a killer job with it. They don’t shy away from the bluesy elements, either, making this both a faithful cover of “Band On The Run” and a uniquely Foo Fighters release.

The original version of “Band On The Run” was released by Paul McCartney and Wings in 1973.  “Dear Boy” by Death Cab For Cutie

An underrated cover of an underrated song from Paul McCartney. Death Cab For Cutie did a great job with the overall instrumentation of this cover, as well as those reverb-y vocals that really do sound just like something Paul McCartney would produce.

“Dear Boy” is one of many excellent songs from the 1971 album Ram, featuring both McCartney and his then-wife, Linda McCartney.
“Coming Up” by Ginger Root

This is an incredibly underrated cover for a musician who deserves a bit more recognition. I came across this YouTube video ages ago by chance, and I was blown away by Ginger Root’s cover of Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up”, recorded from inside a car, no less. It’s got a lo-fi vibe that is perfect for this particular song.  “Coming Up” was originally released on the delightfully synthy McCartney II back in 1980.
“Live And Let Die” by Guns N’ Roses

I have to admit, this entry on our list of Paul McCartney covers surprised me. I never expected Guns N’ Roses to take on a Wings classic. And yet, they did it in a way that didn’t betray their very early 1990s hard rock sound. It’s got an edge that the original song doesn’t quite have. Axl Rose’s vocals couldn’t sound more different from McCartney’s. And yet, it just works.

“Live And Let Die” was originally composed by Paul and Linda McCartney for the James Bond film of the same name back in 1973.

Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com

Before The Beatles became massively popular in 1963, Beatlemania had not quite kicked off yet. They were nearing closer with their first big hit, “Love Me Do”, in 1962. But for the most part, the Fab Four were just a regular ol’ band full of young men that also happened to be friends. And, naturally, young men love to play pranks on one another.

That’s exactly what George Harrison did by sending a handwritten letter to a fan of The Beatles, asking them to thoroughly trash Paul McCartney’s car. And, thankfully, that letter has been preserved for music history buffs and Beatles fans alike to have a laugh at today.
The Beatles Started Out as a Regular Band, and Regular Bandmates Often Prank Each Other

George Harrison, like the rest of The Beatles before they became insanely famous, often responded to fan mail while they were on the up-and-up. Harrison came across a letter from one Susan Houghton, who had contacted the band to wish them well during the holidays and send some flowers to Harrison’s mother. And, strangely, Houghton also asked for some advice on how to properly wash a car. Harrison obliged, but not without ulterior motives.

He was quite thorough, too. Which isn’t surprising, as Harrison owned a 1964 Jaguar E-Type and likely cared about keeping it spotless. You can read the letter yourself here.

To summarize, Harrison wrote out each step quite clearly, instructing the fan to use soapy water, polish, and a vacuum cleaner. But the final steps were where things got interesting.

“Now proceed to 20 Forthlin RD, with about 6 buckets full of dirty muddy greasey water, where a shiney Ford Classic will be seen,” the letter reads. “Spread contents of the buckets evenly, so as to leave a nice film of muck over the car. You can now return home knowing you have done your deed for the day. Thank you!!! Proceedings should be carried out about the 8th of January.”

That location mentioned is (allegedly) where Paul McCartney parked his Ford Classic. We’ll probably never know if that’s 100% true, but if it is, George Harrison really pulled a fast one on Paul McCartney. Who knows if the fan followed through with Harrison’s in-depth instructions? I’m sure McCartney was fuming if she did.

Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com

George Harrison was, without a doubt, one of the reasons the Beatles remain an unforgettable and remarkable band. While often overshadowed by the group’s primary songwriting duo, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the guitarist proved he could write original songs just as well. In fact, he is the songwriter behind some of the band’s most beloved tracks, including “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and the massive fan favorite — and currently the most-streamed Beatles song on Spotify — “Here Comes the Sun.” Although considerably underappreciated at first, Harrison emerged as the Fab Four’s greatest lyricist, even arguably surpassing the Lennon-McCartney partnership. Unsurprisingly, his solo career took off immediately after the band disbanded, thanks not only to his time with the Beatles but also to his exceptional talent for writing meaningful, introspective songs. And some of his most tender material was inspired by a far more personal source: his son, Dhani Harrison. "Soft Touch" Is a Tender Ode to Early Parenthood

Some of the best songs from our favorite artists are often inspired by their personal experiences. Some write about heartbreaks, relationships, loss, and even the pressures of fame. In Harrison’s case, it’s one written about early fatherhood. In the song, he sings about his unconditional love for his newborn son and the joy of welcoming his little one into the world. The lyrics read, “My whole heart is melting / As a warm sun rises into joy / I'm sailing / To your soft touch baby.” “Soft Touch” — from Harrison's self-titled eighth studio album — is perhaps one of the singer-songwriter's most emotional songs, though it wasn’t initially intended to be about Dhani. Eventually, however, he switched things up to reflect his experience as a new father.

Source: Ryan Louis Mantilla/collider.com

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After The Beatles broke up in 1970, the chance of a reunion seemed very low. This is due to multiple factors, but the main one is that all four of the members were actively involved in a lawsuit that aimed to dissolve their creative partnership. That lawsuit was finally resolved in 1974 after John Lennon signed the final documents; this transpired four years after Paul McCartney filed the suit in 1970. Contrary to popular belief, a year before that lawsuit was settled, John Lennon revealed that a Beatles reunion was in fact possible.

The year was 1973, and Lennon sat down with his friend and American radio personality, Elliot Mintz, for an interview. Later on, Mintz published that interview in the 2024 book, We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me. During that interview, the major soundbite that caught the attention of rock historians and Beatles fans was that John Lennon teased a potential Beatles reunion before he signed, sealed, and delivered the final documents closing their lawsuit.
Despite His Displeasure, John Lennon Never Definitively Shut Down the Idea

Following The Beatles’ breakup, John Lennon was very verbal about his irritation with his former bandmates, particularly Paul McCartney. In 1971, Lennon famously released “How Do You Sleep?”, a diss track directly targeting his friend and bandmate.

Despite these actions and others like it, John Lennon seemingly still never shut down the idea of a reunion. After Mintz posed the question everyone wanted the answer to, Lennon replied, “It’s quite possible, yes. I don’t know why the hell we’d do it, but it’s possible.”

“I go on instinct,” Lennon said. “If the idea hits me tomorrow, I might call them and say, ‘Come on, let’s do something.’ So, I couldn’t really tell you. If it happens, it’ll happen.” Regarding the internal complications, Lennon added, “No, no, all my memories are now all fond and the wounds have all healed. If we do it, we do it. If we record, we record.”

Source: Peter Burditt/americansongwriter.com

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When The Beatles burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, they had a clear image. Their mop-top hair and love songs aimed at the seas of screaming fans made them the ultimate teenage heartthrobs, fueling Beatlemania. Their lyrics spoke directly to a version of “you,” teasing flirtation. But as the band grew, the device of using women’s names evolved into a sophisticated literary device to romanticize the mundane every day. In their almost-decade together, The Beatles used women’s names in the titles of 18 songs, meaning that it was never just a phase. From “Lovely Rita” to “Eleanor Rigby,” “Sexy Sadie” to “Michelle,” the named figures helped the band grow into sharp storytellers who found magic and power in the ordinary.

The Beatles had matured sonically and narratively by the time Revolver came around in 1966, and “Eleanor Rigby” is a great example. They were smart enough to stick to a technique that worked for them—using a specific name in the title. But they had developed the substance to go beyond romance, using Eleanor to amplify the voices of “all the lonely people.” Of course, they continued with romantic narratives. Even so, the serenades of “Julia” and “Dear Prudence” are wonderfully tender. They evoke a much more tender connection than the rock and roll spectacle of other releases named after the women in their lives or imaginations.
The Beatles Had Magic of the Mundane

The simple technique of using an individual name to connect with the masses makes each listener feel special. They feel like they are being let in on a private story because of the specific details in the lyrics. I mean, Paul McCartney was singing about his “Michelle,” not yours. So, even if you don’t connect with the girl, you connect with whoever is singing and their intimate stories.

The Beatles knew how to make listeners feel special, and that’s why everybody loves them. The Fab Four took everyday professions, like a meter maid, and situations, like “robbin’ the homeward bounder,” and elevated them into tales of wonder. By giving short stories and feelings an identity, often fictitious, they romanticized regular experiences into moments of magic.

Source: Fiona MacPherson-Amador/collider.com

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1975 was the year one of the greatest collaborations in the history of music happened. David Bowie was at the peak of his career. He'd had his commercial breakthrough in 1972 with the release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and had previously enjoyed great success with his legendary single, "Space Oddity." But he had yet to conquer the American charts. That didn't happen until 1975, and in a way that surprised even Bowie himself. In 1974, he got to meet one of his greatest heroes, and thanks to that meeting, a number-one single was born.  David Bowie Was Terrified to Meet John Lennon

"I think we were polite with each other, in that kind of older-younger way," Bowie explained. Apparently, he didn't have to introduce himself, since Lennon knew who he was, and treated him like an up-and-coming artist, which intimidated Bowie. "I was sort of, ‘It’s John Lennon!’ I don’t know what to say. ‘Don’t mention The Beatles, you’ll look really stupid.’”

Visconti explained that, despite the awkward first meeting, Lennon took a liking to Bowie. The pair became friends, and months later, when Lennon invited him to hang out in his hotel room, Bowie once again asked his producer to join, since he was nervous about being alone with the Beatle. The two musicians spent hours in silence, just drawing caricatures of each other with charcoal. It was a confusing but clearly intimate friendship. The next year, Lennon visited his friend when he was recording his album Young Americans in New York City, and that meeting sparked a collaboration that changed Bowie's career forever. 

That day changed Bowie's life forever, not just because of the incredible success of the song, but because Lennon shared some great songwriting advice, which paved the way for his '80s transformation. In the '80s, especially in 1983 with Let's Dance, he switched from avant-garde to dance music, and it was Lennon's advice that made that possible.

Source: Val Barone/collider.com

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