Forty years ago on this date, Elton John rose to no. 1 on the Hot 100 with his hit single "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." Most music fans born anytime after 1975 realize that "Lucy In The Sky" wasn't written by John but rather was a standout track on The Beatles on what many consider to be the best album ever made: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Ironically however, the song never charted for its original act and of course John took it to the top. Seems ridiculous that less than ten years after the song emerged, other big name musicians were already covering it-can you imagine Ariana Grande covering Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" during 2014?-but this was actually common practice back in the day. In fact, at least five other Beatles tracks went to no. 1 somewhere under someone else's name.
"Do You Want To Know A Secret" by Billy Kramer (1963)
The Beatles were a hot young band circa 1963, and hadn't yet managed to get to the United States. Perhaps the inaccessibility made the group's music even more desirable in the United States, leading to several no. 1 singles on the Hot 100. "Do You Want To Know A Secret" only got to no. 2 on that chart however but less than a year later Billy Kramer and The Dakotas took it to no. 1 in the UK (by NME's charts...somehow Record Retailer only tracked it at no. 2). It's all about who you know: Kramer and co. were managed by Brian Epstein, the same guy handling affairs for The Beatles and consequently passed around tracks by the Lennon/McCartney combo. Kramer would top the charts one more time, with Mort Shuman's "Little Children."
"Michelle" by The Overlanders (1966)
The Beatles were in control of the world by 1966 although it still didn't necessarily top the chart with every song it released. Sometimes the band just had to make do with a Song of The Year Grammy and coming up at no. 1 on the Norwegian Singles Chart, if not at home or in the United States. One band managed to turn "Michelle" into a chart topping hit however: The Overlanders. The group had formerly played folk but seemed to realize that wasn't selling in the UK anymore so it switched over. The Overlanders released a dozen singles throughout its career but only "Michelle" had any traction. Interestingly, the same week it topped the UK charts, a cover of "Michelle" by David and Jonathan came in at no. 11.
"With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker (1968)
We mentioned recently while looking at a Joe Cocker greatest hits collection that the songwriter was perhaps best known for his Beatles covers, notably his take on the 1967 single "With A Little Help From My Friends." We might even take a risk an suggest that Cocker's slowed down version is better than the original (thanks to Jimmy Page and Procul Harum drummer B.J. Wilson). Still, that doesn't make it any less interesting that although The Beatles never topped the charts with its classic single, three other bands did manage to get to no. 1 in the UK with a cover of it: Cocker in '68, Wet Wet Wet during 1988 and Sam & Mark during 2004.
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by Marmalade (1969)
Another classic Beatles track only managed to get to no. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Of course that might've been because Apple didn't push the song as as single until 1976. Pop band Marmalade realized the hole in the market for a song as confusingly titled as "Ob-La-Di" and sprang to fill it during 1969, topping the UK charts. What makes this release particularly interesting is that it made Marmalade the first Scottish act ever to top the UK charts. So congratulations to The Beatles, if not for topping the singles chart, for breaking down barriers for Scottish performers.
"Stars On 45" by Stars on 45 (1981)
No, The Beatles never recorded a song titled "Songs on 45." In fact, this title was given to the single in question just as a nickname. It was officially titled "Medley: Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45." Which, yes, is the longest title to ever get onto the Hot 100. As you might be able to tell, the four-minute single is a medley of nine Beatles tracks (Apple licensing required the listing of every song in the title). This was the brainchild of William van Kooten, who owned one pod the copyrights and was looking to combat disco bootlegs. The song, wouldn't you know it, went to no. 1.
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