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

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.