# In 1963, a pop song barely dented the charts. John Lennon called it “the greatest lick ever written”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1963-a-pop-song-barely-dented-the-charts-john-lennon-called-it-the-greatest-lick-ever-written/
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T17:27:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1963-a-pop-song-barely-dented-the-charts-john-lennon-called-it-the-greatest-lick-ever-written/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- DeShannon’s 1963 single barely reached the US charts.
- Lennon reportedly loved its chiming guitar riff.
- The sound influenced the Beatles’ ‘Every Little Thing’.

## Summary

Jackie DeShannon’s 1963 song ‘When You Walk in the Room’ made little impact on the US charts, but its chiming guitar riff left a strong impression on John Lennon. He reportedly called it “the greatest lick ever written” and played it for DeShannon when they met on a flight.

The article says Lennon drew on that sound for ‘Every Little Thing’, released on the Beatles’ 1964 album *Beatles for Sale*. It also places the song amid the era’s growing jangle-pop sound, noting parallels with the Byrds’ guitar style and the musical influences that shaped Lennon’s songwriting.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.