[1][2] Early in his career, McFarland wrote several songs for Bill Haley and His Comets: "Rockin' Rollin' Rover", "You Hit The Wrong Note Billy Goat", co-writing "Teenager's Mother" with Curtis R. Lewis.
[3] In 1959, he co-wrote "Wang Dang Taffy Apple Tango" with Aaron Schroeder, and the song was recorded by Pat Boone.
The single rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late-April of that year, and became Presley's thirteenth hit overall.
McFarland arranged the songs on Aretha Franklin's debut album for Columbia Records Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo and wrote six songs for the album: "Won't Be Long", "Love Is The Only Thing", "Sweet Lover", "Right Now", "Maybe I'm A Fool", and "Blue By Myself".
[11][12][13] In 1967 he co-wrote "Long Legged Girl (with the Short Dress On)" with Winfield Scott for Elvis Presley, and it reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100.