Every generation has its canon of songs, and The Beatles have been on of the major contributors to today’s songbook. Like Joni Mitchell (another contributor to the canon), The Fab Four composed songs with clever melodies for musicians and thoughtful lyrics for vocalists with an ability to be interpreted in a variety of ways.
Here is a list some of the most successful artists that have released either albums or songs that show the rich and wide palate of colors John, Paul, George and RIngo inspire. Have some fun comparing the reverence and playfulness of the musicians’ interpretations.
George Benson:The Other Side of Abbey Road-Still possibly the best (and first) collection of covers. Released within a year of the classic album, it features Benson’s first important vocals in “Little Darling” as well as some cooking guitar work on “Come Together.”- John Pizzarelli: Meets The Beatles-This winsome gem has the
guitarist/crooner even mimicking the Hard Days Night album cover, but the real joy is in the music, with hip reads of “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” and “Oh! Darling.” - Booker T and the MGs: McLemore Avenue-The Memphis soul band put some dry rub BBQ sauce
on Abbey Road and jammed through a hip hugger of “Because/You Never Give Me Your Money” with Steve Cropper’s guitar work on “Something” a true joy. 
Buddy Rich Big Band: “Norwegian Wood”-from his Big Swing Face album, this version is possibly the most bacchanal you’ll ever experience. WHEW!- Grant Green: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “A Day In The
Life”: From two sublime albums from his Blue Note period, and they are sublime and deep. - Jaco Pastorius: “Blackbird”-A gorgeous
rendition from his Word of Mouth album - Al Di Meola: All Your Life-The legendary guitarist mixes sounds of Latin America a la Astor Piazzolla with hard driving fusion. He even does a
take of “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”! - Bill Frisell: All We Are Saying-Impressionistic guitar musings from the John Lennon songbook
- Ramsey Lewis: “A Hard Day’s Night” and Mother Nature’s Son-The single from his concert trio album is a grooving hoot. His complete album with orchestra includes wondrous versions of pieces like the obscure “Sexy Sadie” and “Good
Night”. - Denny Seiwell Trio & Soulive: Here are a pair of cooking organ trios that put some grooves into Beatlemania. Seiwell was the drummer for Wings, and his two albums feature cooking covers of material like “Bip Bop” and “Live and Let Die.” Soulive’s album Rubber Soulive does the Beatles’ songbook with a neat
little “Taxman” and “Drive My Car” with the B3 on all albums Varooming. - Brad Mehldau Trio: “Blackbird”, “Dear Prudence” and “Mother Nature’s Son”-pianist Brad Mehldau’s early trio albums usually included a cover of a Beatles tune, and
each one is a rich and thoughtful post bop journey - SPECIAL MENTION…Wilson Pickett: “Hey Jude”: This 1969 single from the lp of the same name includes Duane Allman on guitar. After a deep and soulful chorus, he pops the clutch and swirls into a hurricane of a closing shout and scream, instead of the usual “Na Nas” and it’s something you’ll never forget.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!