Strongest Beatle per album | Page 4 | Fab forum

This has been a fascinating thread to read…. and certainly shows how passionate people can be for The Beatles -- and for their favourite member of the band. But I always think that it sort of reduces the enjoyment and understanding of The Beatles' magic to a sporting competition ("who 'won' this album or that album?").  Not surprising, I suppose, since the band members themselves (especially John and Paul) admitted they were highly competitive.

I have been a Beatles' fan since the Ed Sullivan days, and my favourite Beatles have always been John Lennon & George Harrison.   Yet I cannot deny how huge Paul McCartney was to pretty much every recording.    

Convincing arguments can always be made for either Lennon or McCartney being the most important member of the band.   But what made The Beatles the biggest rock band in history was the incredible four-way chemistry.  If you don't believe it, then imagine how successful "Paul and the Pacemakers" or "John and the Pacemakers" would have been.  I doubt any of us would be talking about them the way we are today.  They'd have been big.. but not the biggest of all time.

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and SGT PEPPER are perfect examples of what I mean.   Based on quantity, John clearly "won" HARD DAY'S NIGHT -- Paul only sang lead on three compositions.  But those three ("And I Love Her", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Things We Said Today") rank among the best songs on the album (along with John's "If I Fell", "You Can't Do That", "I'll Be Back" and the stunning title track).   

Likewise, Paul was clearly the "winner" of SGT PEPPER based on song output (and the whole concept of it).  But without John's contributions ("A Day in the Life", "Mr Kite", "Lucy in the Sky", "Good Morning" and his Greek chorus thing on "She's Leaving Home"), the album becomes VERY ordinary, in my opinion.   

As for George, I could easily argue that the most memorable songs on ABBEY ROAD and THE BEATLES were his ("Something", "Here Comes The Sun" & "Guitar Gently Weeps") so perhaps George "won" those albums, despite being vastly outnumbered, as always, by Paul & John.   

And when we're talking about George's contribution to the songs, it's interesting (and very heartwarming) to read what Paul had to say about them in an interview with "Mojo" last year.  For instance, George came up with the memorable acoustic intro to one of Paul's great ballads "And I Love Her" -- Paul's concept of the song is the version you hear on ANTHOLOGY 1.  As Paul said, the released version wouldn't be the same without George's contribution. 

(Read interview:   http://www.mojo4music.com/blog…..n_eye.html ).  

(Part two is also very interesting:   http://www.mojo4music.com/blog…..harri.html )

And then there's Ringo, who rarely gets the appreciation he deserves for his inventive and distinctive drumming.   Again, I don't think The Beatles would have had the same magic or impact with Pete Best occupying the drummer's stool.