Long before The Beatles stormed the world stage, there was one unmistakable figure who paved the way for rock ’n’ roll royalty—Elvis Presley. To Paul McCartney, Elvis wasn’t just a musical icon; he was a deep well of inspiration and emotion, captured in a few unforgettable songs that still resonate with him today.

The Electrifying Shock of Heartbreak Hotel

The first track Paul recalls is “Heartbreak Hotel”, a song that delivered an electrifying shock to the music world and to a young McCartney himself. With its eerie echo, haunting piano, and Elvis’s raw vocal power, it was unlike anything heard before. For Paul, it was a revelation, a stripping away of all pretenses—a new kind of emotional honesty that would shape his own songwriting forever.

The Healing Magic of All Shook Up

Next came the upbeat and infectious “All Shook Up”, a track that captured Elvis’s magnetic energy and joy. Paul remembers how this song brought a sense of release and healing, a moment of pure fun amid the turbulent changes happening around them. Its playful rhythm and Elvis’s charismatic delivery made it impossible not to smile, an essential spark in Paul’s own creative journey.

The Ballad That Brought Elvis to Tears

Finally, Paul speaks of a deeply personal ballad by Elvis—one that moved the King to tears decades later. Though unnamed by Paul, this song symbolizes the emotional depth and vulnerability Elvis could reach, reminding Paul and millions of fans that beneath the swagger was a sensitive artist with a heart laid bare.

“It Stripped It All Away”

For Paul McCartney, these three songs don’t just represent a playlist; they embody a profound influence that shaped how he viewed music and artistry. “It stripped it all away,” he said, capturing the moment Elvis’s sound made music about truth, emotion, and raw human experience.