Which Songs Did The Beatles Cover? A Short List
The Beatles covered a fairly large number of songs, especially early in their career, but the best-known ones include "Twist and Shout," "Anna (Go to Him)," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Please Mr. Postman," "You Really Got a Hold on Me," "Money (That's What I Want)," "Long Tall Sally," "Words of Love," "Honey Don't," and "Act Naturally."
What the Beatles covered
The Beatles were a live band first, so their covers came from the rhythm-and-blues, country, rock and roll, and girl-group records they played in clubs before they became famous. Their early albums contained many covers, and one source notes that the group's main catalogue includes 25 covers among 211 songs, with additional post-breakup releases bringing the total of recorded group covers higher.
Short list of famous covers
- "Twist and Shout" - originally by The Top Notes, later popularized by The Isley Brothers.
- "Anna (Go to Him)" - originally by Arthur Alexander.
- "Chains" - originally by The Cookies.
- "Boys" - originally by The Shirelles.
- "Baby It's You" - originally by The Shirelles.
- "A Taste of Honey" - originally associated with Bobby Scott and Lenny Welch.
- "Roll Over Beethoven" - originally by Chuck Berry.
- "Please Mr. Postman" - originally by The Marvelettes.
- "You Really Got a Hold on Me" - originally by The Miracles.
- "Money (That's What I Want)" - originally by Barrett Strong.
Beatles cover table
| Beatles version | Original artist | Album or release | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Twist and Shout" | The Top Notes / The Isley Brothers | Please Please Me | 1963 |
| "Anna (Go to Him)" | Arthur Alexander | Please Please Me | 1963 |
| "Roll Over Beethoven" | Chuck Berry | With the Beatles | 1963 |
| "You Really Got a Hold on Me" | The Miracles | With the Beatles | 1963 |
| "Long Tall Sally" | Little Richard | Long Tall Sally EP | 1964 |
| "Honey Don't" | Carl Perkins | Beatles for Sale | 1964 |
| "Act Naturally" | Buck Owens | Help! | 1965 |
Why these songs mattered
The Beatles' covers were not random filler; they were part of the band's identity and stagecraft. A later summary notes that the first two Beatles albums included roughly 40% cover songs, reflecting the group's reliance on its live set and its deep connection to American rock and R&B traditions.
"The Beatles started as a live band that learned by playing other people's songs."
That approach helped the group sharpen their harmonies, guitar breaks, and pacing before their original songwriting took over. It also explains why many of their most memorable covers were uptempo crowd-pleasers or emotionally direct ballads that fit naturally into early-1960s setlists.
Most covered sources
The Beatles repeatedly returned to a handful of artists, especially Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, and Arthur Alexander. Those names show up again and again because the band admired their songwriting, borrowed their energy, and used their material to bridge skiffle, rock and roll, and rhythm-and-blues.
- Chuck Berry for guitar-driven rock energy.
- Carl Perkins for rockabilly material.
- Little Richard for raw performance power.
- Arthur Alexander for soulful, understated ballads.
Common questions
Best-known albums
The Beatles placed most of their covers on Please Please Me, With the Beatles, Beatles for Sale, and Help!, which is why those records are the best starting point if you want to hear the group's strongest interpretations of other artists' material.
In practical terms, the easiest answer to "what song did the Beatles cover" is this: they covered many songs, but the most famous ones are "Twist and Shout," "Anna (Go to Him)," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Please Mr. Postman," "Money (That's What I Want)," "Long Tall Sally," and "Act Naturally."
What are the most common questions about Which Songs Did The Beatles Cover A Short List?
How many songs did the Beatles cover?
One widely cited catalog count says the Beatles' main recorded output includes 25 covers among 211 songs, with more covers released later after the breakup.
Did the Beatles cover a lot of songs early on?
Yes. Their first two albums relied heavily on covers, with one source estimating that covers made up around 40% of those records.
What is the Beatles' most famous cover?
"Twist and Shout" is often treated as their signature cover because of its explosive vocal performance and its lasting association with the band's early success.
Which artists did the Beatles cover most often?
The most frequently revisited names included Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, and Arthur Alexander, all of whom strongly shaped the band's early sound.