What Happened
Throughout their careers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote dozens of songs for other artists, many of which became major hits without most listeners knowing their true origins. These songs, credited to the famous Lennon-McCartney partnership, helped launch careers and topped charts around the world.
The seven most surprising hits include:
‘Fame’ by David Bowie (1975) - Lennon co-wrote this funk-driven track and played guitar and vocals on it. The song became Bowie’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Only One’ by Kanye West (2014) - McCartney collaborated with West on this emotional tribute to West’s daughter, North, providing organ and background vocals while co-writing the deeply personal track.
‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ by The Rolling Stones (1963) - Originally written for Ringo Starr to sing with The Beatles, Lennon and McCartney famously finished writing this song in front of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards during a chance encounter, giving it to the Stones as their second single.
‘A World Without Love’ by Peter and Gordon (1964) - This McCartney composition became one of only two Lennon-McCartney songs to reach number one in the US by an artist other than The Beatles.
‘Bad to Me’ by Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1963) - Lennon wrote this while on holiday in Spain, and it became Kramer’s first UK number-one hit.
‘Come and Get It’ by Badfinger (1970) - McCartney wrote this for the film ‘The Magic Christian’ and insisted Badfinger record it exactly like his demo version. It reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Say Say Say’ by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (1983) - While technically a McCartney song, this collaboration showcased the ongoing songwriting prowess of the former Beatle well into the 1980s.
Why It Matters
These songs reveal the incredible scope of Lennon and McCartney’s influence on popular music beyond their work with The Beatles. Their songwriting partnership, which began in the late 1950s, created a catalog that shaped not just one band’s legacy but the entire landscape of rock and pop music.
The fact that these songs succeeded across different genres and decades—from the Rolling Stones’ rock and roll to Kanye West’s hip-hop—demonstrates the universal appeal and timeless quality of Lennon-McCartney’s songcraft. Many of these tracks became defining moments for the artists who recorded them, showing how generous the duo was with sharing their musical gifts.
Background
The Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership was incredibly prolific, producing not just The Beatles’ catalog but hundreds of songs for other artists. In the early 1960s, it was common practice for successful songwriters to provide material for up-and-coming acts, especially those signed to the same management or record label.
Brian Epstein, The Beatles’ manager, also managed several other acts including Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, which explains why they received multiple Lennon-McCartney compositions. Apple Records, The Beatles’ own label, signed acts like Badfinger, who became natural recipients of unused Beatles material.
The practice continued even after The Beatles disbanded. McCartney’s willingness to collaborate with artists like Michael Jackson and later Kanye West shows how the songwriting legacy lived on, adapting to new musical styles and generations.
What’s Next
While both Lennon (who died in 1980) and McCartney (still active today) have been generous with sharing songwriting credits and stories, music historians continue to discover previously unknown Lennon-McCartney contributions to other artists’ work. Recent archival releases and interviews have shed new light on the extent of their collaborative work outside The Beatles.
For modern artists, the Lennon-McCartney approach to songwriting—melodic sophistication combined with universal themes—remains a blueprint for creating lasting hits. McCartney’s recent collaborations with contemporary artists like Kanye West suggest this tradition of cross-generational musical partnership will continue.
Music fans can expect more revelations about hidden Lennon-McCartney compositions as archives are opened and artists share their stories. The enduring appeal of these songs proves that great songwriting transcends any single performer or era.