The Beatles are often viewed as the ultimate source of musical influence, shaping rock history in just eight short years. But even the Fab Four drew inspiration from others — and one of their most overlooked tracks, ‘Sun King’ from 1969’s Abbey Road, has a surprising link to Fleetwood Mac.
While John Lennon would later dismiss ‘Sun King’ as “a piece of garbage I had around,” fans have since embraced its whimsical charm. And as George Harrison revealed, the song’s origin traces back to Fleetwood Mac’s 1968 instrumental hit ‘Albatross’.
The Beatles Were Also Fans
Throughout their career, The Beatles openly borrowed ideas from contemporaries. They absorbed Bob Dylan’s folk sensibilities, admired Brian Wilson’s harmonic genius in The Beach Boys, and, occasionally, took inspiration from whatever was topping the charts.
By the late 1960s, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ had caught their attention. It was a dreamy, reverb-soaked instrumental that marked a departure from the band’s earlier blues-rock sound. Its slow, hypnotic guitar lines created a laid-back, oceanic atmosphere — a vibe Harrison and Lennon wanted to capture.
From ‘Albatross’ to ‘Sun King’
Originally titled ‘Here Comes the Sun King’ (changed to avoid confusion with Harrison’s ‘Here Comes the Sun’), the track sits on Abbey Road’s Side Two as a gentle, surreal interlude. It fades in from the harbour sounds of ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’ and closes with a distinctive Ringo Starr drum fill.
“At the time, ‘Albatross’ was out, with all the reverb on guitar,” Harrison said in 1987. “So we said, ‘Let’s be Fleetwood Mac doing Albatross, just to get going.’ It never really sounded like Fleetwood Mac… but that was the point of origin.”
The opening guitar motif mirrors the languid, drifting quality of ‘Albatross’, but The Beatles layered in their signature three-part harmonies, faux-Romance language lyrics, and playful nonsense phrases like “chicka ferdy.”
John Lennon’s Mixed Feelings
Despite its easy charm, Lennon never held ‘Sun King’ in high regard. “I never liked that sort of pop opera on the other side [of Abbey Road],” he told Rolling Stone. “It was just bits of song thrown together… none of the songs had anything to do with each other.”
Yet over time, ‘Sun King’ has earned a cult following. Fans appreciate its relaxed mood, surreal humor, and the glimpse it offers into The Beatles’ lighter side during their final album sessions.
A Hidden Link Between Two Rock Legends
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ and The Beatles’ ‘Sun King’ may not sound identical, but the connection reveals a simple truth: even the most influential band in the world found inspiration in the music around them.
In the end, ‘Sun King’ stands as a playful moment of calm on Abbey Road, bridging two legendary British bands in a way casual listeners might never notice.
