Ringo Starr Reveals His Favourite Elvis Presley Song

Few artists had as profound an impact on The Beatles as Elvis Presley. Often credited as the spark that ignited the band’s passion for rock and roll, Presley helped transform the young Liverpool musicians from scrappy teens into revolutionary artists.

John Lennon famously said: “Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles.” The band even met Presley in 1965, in what has been described as a slightly anticlimactic encounter, yet their admiration for him never waned.

The Beatles’ Memorable Meeting with The King

Recalling the meeting decades later, Lennon described it vividly:

“It was very exciting, we were all nervous as hell, and we met him in his big house in LA – probably as big as the one we were staying in, but it still felt like, ‘Big house, big Elvis.’ He had lots of guys around him… and he had pool tables! It seemed amazing to us; it was like a nightclub.”

While the encounter didn’t meet all their expectations, Presley’s influence remained deeply ingrained in their music and personal lives.

‘Don’t Be Cruel’: Ringo Starr’s Favourite Song

In a 2009 interview with ABC News, Ringo Starr shared his lifelong love of music, noting that it was impossible to limit his favourite songs to a simple “top ten.” Among the thousands he cherished, one track stood out: Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel.”

Ringo recounted a nostalgic memory connected to the song:

“I was working in this factory, and I took this girl to the movies because I had no money. The only seats left were two in the front… I was trying to impress her. She worked in the office, and I snuck up into her office and, on the dictaphone, I recorded ‘Don’t Be Cruel’. So that’s an important song. And Elvis was the best, Elvis the King.”

This story highlights not only Starr’s admiration for Presley but also the personal significance the song held during his formative years.

The Beatles’ Relationship with Elvis’ Music

Despite their admiration, The Beatles never officially recorded an Elvis cover on their studio albums. While a few covers appeared on radio programs like Pop Goes The Beatles, the Fab Four largely chose to develop their own sound rather than reinterpret Presley’s catalog.

Still, Elvis’ influence resonates throughout their work, from their energetic rock-and-roll beginnings to the stylistic boldness of later albums.

Conclusion

Ringo Starr’s favourite song, Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel,” exemplifies the profound impact The King had on The Beatles. From Liverpool youth to global superstardom, Presley’s music inspired one of the greatest bands in history and left an indelible mark on Starr’s musical journey.