3 Artists Who Wouldn’t Have No. 1 Hits Without The Beatles

Few bands have shaped modern music the way The Beatles did. With 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 34 more reaching the Top 10, their catalog remains unmatched. Their songs became blueprints for generations of musicians—and in some cases, they directly helped others reach the top of the charts.

Several artists found major success by reinterpreting Beatles songs, earning their own No. 1 hits along the way. Here are three who owe part of their chart-topping history to the Fab Four.

Elton John – “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”

Elton John has long been known for his distinctive voice and flamboyant stage presence, but in 1975, he turned to The Beatles for inspiration. His cover of the psychedelic classic “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” gave him his third No. 1 single in the United States.

The track, which featured John Lennon on backing vocals under the pseudonym “Dr. Winston O’Boogie,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1975. It became one of Elton John’s nine chart-topping hits and proved that even a Beatles cover, when done right, could feel entirely new while honoring the original.

Peter and Gordon – “A World Without Love”

Not every Beatles-related hit came from a song they released themselves. Paul McCartney wrote “A World Without Love” when he was just 16 years old, though The Beatles never recorded it. Instead, he passed the song to the British pop duo Peter and Gordon—his then-girlfriend Jane Asher’s brother was Peter Asher.

The track became an instant success. Released in 1964, “A World Without Love” climbed to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Singles Chart. For Peter and Gordon, it was the song that launched their international career and made them one of the standout acts of the British Invasion.

Joe Cocker – “With A Little Help From My Friends”

Joe Cocker’s soulful take on “With A Little Help From My Friends” is often considered the definitive version of the song. Originally a Beatles tune sung by Ringo Starr, Cocker transformed it into a raw, emotional anthem that showcased his powerful voice and blues-inspired delivery.

Released in 1969, Cocker’s version didn’t make a big splash in the U.S., peaking at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. But in the U.K., it became a phenomenon—rising to No. 1 and giving Cocker his first chart-topping single. The song went on to define his career and even became the opening theme for the hit TV show The Wonder Years decades later.