The “weird” Ringo Starr song that The Beatles rejected
Throughout The Beatles’ time together, it became something of a tradition for Ringo Starr, the group’s drummer, to sing at least one track on each album, often giving him and the band the opportunity to experiment and have some fun. However, on one occasion, the Fab Four decided that some things were simply too “weird” to be released.
This unwritten rule wasn’t about pity or making Starr feel more included; intriguingly, it was a savvy marketing strategy. During the initial wave of Beatlemania, the drummer became something of an unlikely heartthrob, with hysteria following him wherever he went. Allowing Starr to sing a track on each album was a calculated move to capitalise on his devoted fanbase, giving him a moment in the spotlight and ensuring his appeal was woven into the fabric of the band’s success.
Notably, however, on the 1965 album Help!, the drummer didn’t have a vocal track included, but that wasn’t the band’s original plan. As we know, Starr was always most comfortable behind the drum kit and wasn’t known for his songwriting. In fact, he only contributed two songs to the band throughout their entire career. For Help!, the group intended for Ringo to record ‘If You’ve Got Trouble’, a track written by Lennon and McCartney. However, the recording session turned into a disaster.
Starr later revealed in Anthology: “I recorded a song for the Help! album that was never released – ‘If You’ve Got Trouble’. George Martin found it in the vaults of EMI studios.”
It was a track the band had forgotten about until George Martin rediscovered it, and it quickly became clear why it had been left behind. When they revisited the recording for Anthology, George Harrison bluntly admitted he had no memory of ever making the song, which says a lot about its quality. “We’ve just come across (‘If You’ve Got Trouble’). I’ve no recollection of ever recording it,” he admitted.
Harrison’s honesty didn’t stop there, and he added: “It’s the most weird song… It’s got stupid words and is the naffest song. No wonder it didn’t make it onto anything.”
After ‘If You’ve Got Trouble’ had been thrown on the scrap heap, Ringo requested The Beatles record a cover of ‘Act Naturally’ by Buck Owens, which didn’t make the cut either. However, it was eventually released as the B-side to ‘Yesterday’.
When they finally released the Lennon-McCartney penned effort on Anthology 2 in 1996, it quickly became apparent why ‘If You’ve Got Trouble’ had been unreleased for three decades.
Harrison’s critique of the track feels somewhat exaggerated, it’s far from the weirdest song in The Beatles’ catalogue, and on the contrary, it sounds relatively ordinary in the context of their other endeavours. While there’s a sense that the song never quite finds its footing, Harrison’s guitar work is tight, Starr’s drumming is solid, and the overall production reflects the polished sound that defined the Help! sessions. The lyrics, though, which revolve around the theme of resilience in the face of adversity, come across as somewhat clichéd by Lennon-McCartney standards, lacking the wit and depth that characterised their best work.
The song’s ultimate shelving speaks volumes about The Beatles’ high standards and their commitment to quality over quantity. In a lesser band’s hands, ‘If You’ve Got Trouble’ might have been a standout track, but for The Beatles, it was simply not up to par. Its eventual release on Anthology 2 gave fans a rare opportunity to hear a different side of the band—a moment when even the world’s greatest pop group struggled to find the magic they so often conjured effortlessly.
In the end, this mishap serves as a reminder that not every Beatles creation was destined for greatness, but even their lesser efforts offer insight into the creative dynamics and high expectations that fuelled their unprecedented success. It’s a song that, while not a classic, enriches our understanding of the band’s journey and the pressures that came with being at the top of the world.
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