Every time The Beatles worked together after their break-up
It’s hard to imagine what music would be like without The Beatles, but it would certainly be immeasurably different.
They emerged at the perfect time, becoming the hottest new act in an instant, aided by matching outfits and haircuts. Their accessible pop songs captivated millions, inspiring an Elvis-like frenzy across the United Kingdom and, soon, way beyond. It didn’t take long for this phenomenon to morph into something even larger and unprecedented – Beatlemania was like nothing people had seen before.
The Beatles managed to achieve such success because they constantly adapted, experimented and remained creatively devoted to their music. If the band had continued to wear the same suits and made the same puppy love hits for the rest of the decade, they would have soon faded into the ether. Instead, they started to exert more and more artistic integrity, bravely incorporating instruments into their music that hadn’t been widely heard in mainstream Western music before. The themes got radical, too.
When it came to writing lyrics, they quickly proved that they were capable of penning clever and considerably more mature songs. Additionally, The Beatles’ experiences with drugs and psychedelic hippie culture further enhanced their take on songwriting. By the end of the 1960s, their discography reflected the changes that had occurred in wider society throughout the decade.
However, by the time the ‘70s knocked at their door, the band was ready to call it quits. Creative disagreements, alongside personal issues, led to The Beatles’ demise, culminating in their final studio album, Let It Be. Fans were devastated, but it seemed inevitable. The band had released 12 albums in the space of seven years – of course, they wouldn’t be able to keep that up forever.
Each member went on to work on different projects, with Paul McCartney forming Wings and George Harrison finding unprecedented success with a solo career. John Lennon made several popular solo records and created several with Yoko Ono, too. Ringo Starr didn’t have as much solo success, but he still kept making music, collaborating and performing.
Naturally, there were times when certain members were drawn back to each other. In 1976, all four members appeared on Starr’s solo album Ringo’s Rotogravure, marking the last time they appeared on a non-Beatles record together. Elsewhere, Starr was quick to join his ex-bandmates in making their solo albums, with the drummer appearing on some of the solo albums released by Harrison, McCartney and Lennon, including Cloud Nine, Tug of War and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
Sometimes, the members collaborated on songs by other non-Beatles musicians, such as Duane Eddy, Yoko Ono, Klaus Voormann, Harry Nilsson, Doris Troy and Bobby Keys. Clearly, the members still enjoyed playing together; they just needed to move on to their own projects and allow themselves to grow independently of each other.
Yet, the connection to their past has always remained strong. The latest collaboration arrives a whopping 56 years on from their split as McCartney and Ringo duet for the very first time. Speaking about ‘Home to Us’, Paul said: “Ringo went round to the studio and drummed a bit. I said to Andrew [Watt, the producer of his new album], we should make a track and send it to him. So this song is done totally with Ringo in mind.”
The result touchingly defines and ties together all the collaborative tendrils from over the years. “In writing the song I’m talking about where we came from,” McCartney recalled. In common with a lot of people, you come from nothing and you build yourself up. Ringo was from the Dingle, and that was well hard. He said he used to get mugged coming home, because he worked. Even though it was crazy, it was home to us.”
In truth, it made them tough cookies and that aided their future journey in pop. “I made the song around that idea and sent it to Ringo. He sent me back a version where he just added some lines to the chorus, so I thought, maybe he doesn’t like it. I rang him and he said he thought I only wanted him to sing one or two lines, and I said I’d love to hear him sing the whole thing.” And with that, a seismic duet rose to the fore – some seven decades in the making.
Discover the full list of collaborations below.
The Beatles collaborations after the band broke up:
- Doris Troy – Doris Troy (Harrison, Starr)
- ‘Stardust’ – Ringo Starr (McCartney, Starr)
- Encouraging Words – Billy Preston (Harrison, Starr)
- All Things Must Pass – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – John Lennon (Lennon, Starr)
- Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band – Yoko Ono (Harrison, Lennon, Starr)
- Imagine – John Lennon (Lennon, Harrison)
- ‘Don’t Worry, Kyoko (Mumm’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)’ – Yoko Ono (Lennon, Starr)
- The Concert for Bangladesh – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- Bobby Keys – Bobby Keys (Harrison, Starr)
- ‘Sweet Music’ – Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (Harrison, Starr)
- Son of Dracula – Harry Nilsson (Harrison, Starr)
- Living in the Material World – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- Ringo – Ringo Starr (Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Starr)
- Shankar Family and Friends – Ravi Shankar (Harrison, Starr)
- ‘So Sad’ – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- ‘Ding Dong, Ding Dong’ – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- A Toot and a Snore in ‘74 (Lennon, McCartney)
- Goodnight Vienna – Ringo Starr (Lennon, Starr)
- Ringo’s Rotogravure – Ringo Starr (Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, Starr)
- ‘All Those Years Ago’ – George Harrison (Harrison, McCartney, Starr)
- Stop and Smell the Roses – Ringo Starr (Harrison, McCartney, Starr)
- Tug of War – Paul McCartney (McCartney, Starr)
- Pipes of Peace – Paul McCartney (McCartney, Starr)
- Give My Regards to Broad Street – Paul McCartney (McCartney, Starr)
- Duane Eddy – Duane Eddy (Harrison, McCartney)
- Cloud Nine – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- ‘This Guitar (Can’t Keep from Crying)’ – George Harrison (Harrison, Starr)
- Flaming Pie – Paul McCartney (McCartney, Starr)
- Vertical Man – Ringo Starr (Harrison, McCartney, Starr)
- ‘I’m in Love Again’ – Klaus Voormann (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘Walk With You’ – Ringo Starr (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘We’re on the Road Again’ – Ringo Starr (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘Show Me the Way’ – Ringo Starr (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘Grow Old With Me’ – Ringo Starr (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘Let It Be’ – Dolly Parton (McCartney, Starr)
- ‘Home to Us’ – Paul McCartney (McCartney, Starr)
