Did Ringo Starr really play on The Beatles’ song ‘Love Me Do’?
Before EMI’s Parlophone label took a punt on the little Merseybeat quartet making waves in their Liverpool hometown in 1962, The Beatles were already an experienced and well-versed live act with a capable grasp of pop songcraft.
Across five dizzying years, from the moment a 15-year-old Paul McCartney first crossed paths with John Lennon fronting his boyhood The Quarrymen band at St Peter’s Church fête in 1957, The Beatles’ trajectory rapidly took a mammoth shape. Recruiting art-school friend Stuart Sutcliffe on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar and part-time forklift truck driver Tommy Moore behind the drum kit, the then-named The Silver Beetles formed crooner Johnny Gentle’s backing band for his Scottish mini-tour in 1960.
Following Moore’s departure to the bottleworks industry, a spate of scheduled gigs in Hamburg demanded a replacement drummer pronto. Having rehearsed in his family cellar as The Quarrymen, Pete Best accepted The Beatles’—having dropped the ‘Silver’ in their name—invitation and began a 48-day stretch at Große Freiheit’s Indra Club. A routine jump between Liverpool’s Cavern Club and Hamburg’s litany of small venues would continue til 1963, a good few months after Ringo Starr’s entry into the group.
After a near signing with Decca, it took EMI’s in-house producer George Martin to take a chance on The Beatles. At this point, Best was adored by the fans and a much-loved figure in the Merseybeat scene, but a reserved character that clashed internally with the band’s big egos, as well as resistance to manager Brian Epstein’s marketable fashion recommendations, spelt grumbles from Lennon and McCartney.
Upon Martin’s advice, Best was dismissed from the band due to his insufficient playing in the studio and replaced with old Rory Storm and the Hurricanes’ drummer, Ringo. Having filled in already in Best’s absence for odd gigs, Ringo officially joined The Beatles in August 1962 and played his debut performance in Birkenhead’s Port Sunlight Horticultural Society’s annual show.
It was during the recording of The Beatles’ debut single ‘Love Me Do’ at EMI Studios that sealed Best’s fate and brought Ringo into the fold. Taking three sessions to record across the switch of drummers, it can be unclear even to longtime fans who all are exactly playing on their landmark single.
So, did Ringo really play drums on ‘Love Me Do’?
Depends on which version you’re listening to. ‘Love Me Do’s’ first attempt was on June 6th with Best on drums. Available to hear years later on 1995’s Anthology 1 compilation, it was these sessions that prompted The Beatles to search for another drummer.
Three months later, and with Ringo an official member, a second stab was made with him behind the kit. A week later, a third and final ‘Love Me Do’ session was undertaken with Scottish drummer for hire Andy White on drums and Ringo handling the tambourine; White was paid £5 and an extra 10 shillings for bringing his own kit.
The latter two versions exist in The Beatles’ recording canon. Ringo’s version was the ‘Love Me Do’ single as it was issued ahead of their first album, while the White cut is what can be heard on the Please Please Me album and as the US-released single. This would be the only Beatles cut he didn’t play the drums on for six years until the turbulent drama during 1968’s The Beatles double LP, when a brash exit of the band on Ringo’s part forced McCartney to step behind the kit for ‘Back in the USSR‘ and ‘Dear Prudence’.
It might not be a clear-cut answer, but you at least have your pick of versions.
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