The Beatles 'didn't have a clue' what to do with song Ringo Starr wrote
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the vast majority of The Beatles' songs and were the creative leaders of the group. The two often wrote in tandem in the early years before artistic differences in the second half of the 1960s saw them write more independently and then present songs to one another for tweaks and edits.
About their writing partnership Wilfred Mellors wrote in 1972: "Opposite poles generate electricity: between John and Paul the sparks flew. John's fiery iconoclasm was tempered by Paul's lyrical grace, while Paul's wide-eyed charm was toughened by John's resilience."
But it wasn't just John and Paul who wrote the band's songs. George Harrison was also an accomplished songwriter - even though he had to fight to make his voice heard at times, with Paul and John assuming creative control.
In the early days, the Wavertree-born star had written some songs that The Beatles recorded and was given a quota of compositions for each album. But in the band's later years he delivered classics like 'Something', 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Here Comes the Sun'.
In total, George wrote 22 songs that The Beatles recorded. Drummer Ringo Starr also provided two of his own compositions - famously 'Octopus' Garden' as well as the 1968 track 'Don't Pass Me By'.
The latter song featured on 'The White Album' and was the first song of Ringo's that the band had recorded. However, the drummer had pitched it to the band not long after he joined - and the idea of recording it was mentioned in interviews in 1963 and 1964.
In 'The Beatles Anthology', Ringo explained the song's origins, saying: "I wrote ‘Don’t Pass Me By’ when I was sitting round at home. I only play three chords on the guitar and three on the piano.
"I was fiddling with the piano – I just bang away – and then if a melody comes and some words, I just have to keep going. That’s how it happened: I was just sitting at home alone and 'Don’t Pass Me By' arrived.
"We played it with a country attitude. It was great to get my first song down, one that I had written. It was a very exciting time for me and everyone was really helpful, and recording that crazy violinist was a thrilling moment."
For whatever reason it took until 1968 for it to be recorded. The country rock tune came together over a number of sessions in June and July of that year, with Ringo singing.
It had been recorded with the working titles 'Ringo’s Tune (Untitled)' and 'This Is Some Friendly'. The Beatles' producer George Martin also wrote an orchestral introduction for the song, which he explained was a result of the band not knowing what to do with it.
Mr Martin explained: "It was for John that I did an off-the-wall introduction, because we hadn’t a clue what to do with Ringo’s song.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk/Dan Haygarth
