Elvis was definitely an influence on the Beatles, McCartney has made no 
secret about his feelings toward Elvis: "I luv 'im."  His version of "Just 
Because" was great. Lennon talked about Double Fantasy as a return to his 
roots-- "I was doing Elvis and Orbison."  Although it is hard to point to a 
collection of Beatles songs and call them "Elvis-influenced."

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sam Smith" <sam@lullabypit.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: Dexy's & Fabs vs. Floyd


>    Part of what you've written is an interesting question that I
>  personally don't recall hearing posed before.  The Dylan influence is
>  undeniable, but how much did Elvis influence The Beatles?  I've never
>  heard much of a direct connection myself, though it's obvious that
>  both shared a love for the black R&B of the '50s (Elvis's
>  contemporaries), since both covered many such songs.  And perhaps it's
>  difficult to say whether The Beatles were more influenced by Elvis, or
>  by the black artists that Elvis was covering (copying?), but I tend to
>  think it was more the latter.
>
> I'm not sure to what degree they'd say "we were influenced by Elvis," but
> at the very minimum there was this HUGE shadow there, and it would be
> just about impossible to stand in front of a large crowd and sing rock at
> that moment in history without some measure of influence. Even if they
> weren't actively drawing on him, his popularity had kicked in a door for
> them and every other rock act.
>
> Fuzzy, sure, and maybe I'm inferring to much....
>
> --
>
> _______________________
>
> Sam Smith, PhD
>
> [TABLE NOT SHOWN]
>
>