Mick Jagger has reflected on the songwriting of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, describing the Beatles as being in a class of their own during the 1960s. Speaking about that era of music, the Rolling Stones frontman said no other band, singer or songwriter could rival the pair, whom he called the most "prolific" songwriters of the time. His comments underline the mutual respect between the two bands that helped define one of rock's defining decades.

Jagger noted that Lennon and McCartney not only wrote a steady stream of hits for themselves but also supplied songs to other artists, including Cilla Black and the Rolling Stones. He recalled that acts were glad to receive a call from the pair, and acknowledged the commercial logic involved, remarking that "when they're giving you the song, they're also making money." A notable example was "I Wanna Be Your Man," written by McCartney and Lennon and first released by the Rolling Stones in November 1963, before the Beatles recorded their own version on their second album, With the Beatles.