Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
In 1969, The Beatles copied a Fleetwood Mac instrumental. In 2026, both songs have become very different classics
George Harrison said Fleetwood Mac’s 1968 instrumental ‘Albatross’ inspired the guitar sound at the start of The Beatles’ ‘The Sun King’, recorded in 1969. The connection shows how the band, despite their influence on other musicians, also drew ideas from contemporary artists.
Harrison recalled that the group began by trying to play ‘Albatross’, whose reverb-heavy guitar sound had caught his attention, before the piece developed in a different direction. John Lennon later dismissed ‘The Sun King’ as “a piece of garbage”, while Beatles fans have since embraced it as a cult favourite; ‘Albatross’ is described in the article as the best-selling instrumental track of all time.
In short
- ‘Albatross’ inspired the guitar sound in ‘The Sun King’.
- Harrison said the Beatles began by imitating Fleetwood Mac.
- The two tracks evolved into distinct classics.
Explained simply
The Beatles were a British band whose songwriting and recording experiments made them one of the most influential acts in popular music. Fleetwood Mac were also active in Britain in the late 1960s, initially as a blues band; their instrumental “Albatross” featured a spacious, echoing guitar sound.
The Beatles’ “The Sun King” appeared on their 1969 album Abbey Road. George Harrison later said its opening guitar sound grew out of the band trying to play “Albatross”, showing how musicians can borrow ideas from one another as well as influence others. The songs have since found different places in music history: “Albatross” became a major instrumental hit, while “The Sun King” developed a following among Beatles fans.