John Lennon admitted to liking one of the Electric Light Orchestra’s tracks. Furthermore, he equated the track to one of The Beatles’ classic songs. John also stated that the music sounded like a Marvin Gaye piece.
John was interviewed on a radio program in 1974, and according to book Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon. He selected a few songs that he desired the radio to air. “ We’re going to play Electric Light Orchestra, from last year,” he said. “‘Showdown,” which I thought was a great record, and I was expecting it to be No. 1, but I don’t think UA [United Artists] got their fingers out and pushed it.”
John shared his thoughts on the Electric Light Orchestra overall. “And it’s a nice group,” he opined. “I call them Son of Beatles, although they’re doing things that we never did, obviously.”
The ELO’s “Showdown” was compared to The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” and a Marvin Gaye track by John Lennon.
John talked about the ELO’s connection to The Beatles’ tunes. “I remember the statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where The Beatles left off with ‘[I Am the] Walrus,’ and they certainly did,” he said.
John made some comparisons between “Showdown” and other tracks. “Now, for those people who would like to know where licks and things come from, like I do, because I’m always nicking little things myself,” he said. “This is a beautiful combination of ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye and ‘[Lightnin’] Strikes’ … Lou Christie, and it’s a beautiful job with a little ‘Walrus’ underneath.”