Collaborations between ex-Beatles

Last updated

After the break-up of the Beatles in April 1970, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr enjoyed success as solo artists and collaborated with each other on numerous occasions, including on both studio and live recordings. [1] However, only three of these collaborations included all four members: "Free as a Bird" (1995), "Real Love" (1996) and "Now and Then" (2023).

Contents

In the early 1970s, collaborations were common between Harrison and Starr, and between Lennon and either Harrison or Starr, but none of the three worked with McCartney over that time. [2] The only album released during Lennon's lifetime that included compositions and performances by all four ex-Beatles, albeit on separate songs, was Starr's 1973 album Ringo . Starr's Ringo's Rotogravure (1976) also included compositions by all his bandmates (although Harrison did not play on the album), and the 1996 Carl Perkins album Go Cat Go! contained individual contributions by McCartney, Harrison and Starr, together with a Lennon recording from 1969. With Starr's participation, Harrison staged the Concert for Bangladesh in New York City in August 1971. [3] Other than an unreleased jam session on March 28, 1974, later bootlegged as A Toot and a Snore in '74 , Lennon and McCartney never recorded together again. [4] Starr and McCartney have performed and recorded together on several occasions since Harrison's death in 2001.

Collaborations by the four ex-Beatles since the break-up are listed below. Collaborations that began before the break-up are included for historical interest. The start date of the collaboration, e.g., the recording start date, governs the initial display sequence. Other display sequences may be seen by clicking the buttons in the column headers.

Albums

Singles

Notes

a Promo single only
b Ono's B-side to Lennon's "Cold Turkey"
c Ono's B-side to Lennon's "Mother"
d Ono's B-side to Lennon's "Power to the People" in the US

Live performances

Live performances featuring collaboration between two or more ex-Beatles. Separate appearance at the same event does not count.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringo Starr</span> English musician and member of the Beatles (born 1940)

Sir Richard Starkey, known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help from My Friends". He also wrote and sang the Beatles songs "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden", and is credited as a co-writer of four others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beatles</span> English rock band (1960–1970)

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock 'n' roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. The band also explored music styles ranging from folk and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era's youth and sociocultural movements.

<i>A Hard Days Night</i> (album) 1964 studio album by the Beatles

A Hard Day's Night is the third studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 10 July 1964 by Parlophone, with side one containing songs from the soundtrack to their film of the same name. The American version of the album was released two weeks earlier, on 26 June 1964 by United Artists Records, with a different track listing that included selections from George Martin's film score. In contrast to the Beatles' first two albums, all 13 tracks on A Hard Day's Night were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, showcasing the development of their songwriting partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaus Voormann</span> German musician and artist (b. 1938)

Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann is a German artist, musician, and record producer.

Apple Records is a British record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger and Billy Preston. In practice, the roster had become dominated by the mid-1970s with releases of the former Beatles as solo artists. Allen Klein managed the label from 1969 to 1973, then it was managed by Neil Aspinall on behalf of the Beatles and their heirs. Aspinall retired in 2007 and was replaced by Jeff Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Ono Band</span> Rock band

The Plastic Ono Band were a rock band formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 for their collaborative and solo projects based on their 1968 Fluxus conceptual art project of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Together</span> 1969 single by the Beatles

"Come Together" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on the band's 1969 album Abbey Road and was also released as a double A-side single with "Something". The song reached the top of the charts in the United States and Australia but peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxwell's Silver Hammer</span> 1969 song by the Beatles

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song is about a student named Maxwell Edison who commits murders with a hammer, with the dark lyrics disguised by an upbeat sound. McCartney described the song as symbolic of the downfalls of life, being "my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yer Blues</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Yer Blues" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, from their 1968 double album The Beatles. Though credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song was written and composed by John Lennon during the Beatles' retreat in Rishikesh, India. The song is a parody of blues music, specifically English imitators of blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Get You</span> 1963 single by the Beatles

"I'll Get You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and released by the Beatles as the B-side of their 1963 single "She Loves You". The song was initially titled "Get You in the End".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen Starkey Tigrett</span> First wife of Ringo Starr

Maureen Starkey Tigrett, also known as Mo Starkey, was a hairdresser from Liverpool, England, best known as the first wife of Ringo Starr, the Beatles' drummer. When she was a trainee hairdresser in Liverpool, she met him at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles were playing. Starr proposed marriage at the Ad Lib Club in London on 20 January 1965. They married at the Caxton Hall Register Office, London, in 1965, and divorced in 1975.

The Beatles were an English rock band, active from 1960 until 1970. From 1962 onwards, the band's members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Their break-up is attributed to numerous factors, including: the strain of the Beatlemania phenomenon, the 1967 death of manager Brian Epstein, bandmates' resentment of McCartney's perceived domineering, Lennon's heroin use and his relationship with Yoko Ono, Harrison's increasingly prolific songwriting, the floundering of Apple Corps, the Get Back project, and managerial disputes.

"I'm the Greatest" is a song written by English musician John Lennon that was released as the opening track of the 1973 album Ringo by Ringo Starr. With Starr, Lennon and George Harrison appearing on the track, it marks the only time that three former Beatles recorded together between the band's break-up in 1970 and Lennon's death in 1980. Lennon wrote the song in December 1970 as a wry comment on his rise to fame, and later tailored the lyrics for Starr to sing. Named after one of Muhammad Ali's catchphrases, the song partly evokes the stage-show concept of the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

<i>Let It Be</i> (1970 film) 1970 documentary by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Let It Be is a 1970 British documentary film starring the Beatles and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The film documents the group's rehearsing and recording songs in January 1969 for what was to become their twelfth and final studio album Let It Be. The film includes an unannounced rooftop concert by the group, the last public performance of the four together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Off Boogaloo</span> 1972 song by Ringo Starr

"Back Off Boogaloo" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as a non-album single in March 1972. Starr's former Beatles bandmate George Harrison produced the recording and helped Starr write the song, although he remained uncredited as a co-writer until 2017. Recording took place in London shortly after the pair had appeared together at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh shows in August 1971. The single was a follow-up to Starr's 1971 hit song "It Don't Come Easy" and continued his successful run as a solo artist. "Back Off Boogaloo" peaked at number 2 in Britain and Canada, and number 9 on America's Billboard Hot 100. It remains Starr's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.

The Beatles were originally a quartet, but only Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early 1970</span> 1971 single by Ringo Starr

"Early 1970" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as the B-side of his April 1971 single "It Don't Come Easy". A rare example of Starr's songwriting at the time, it was inspired by the break-up of the Beatles and documents his relationship with his three former bandmates. The lyrics to the verses comment in turn on Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison as individuals, and the likelihood of each of them making music with Starr again. In the final verse, Starr offers a self-deprecating picture of his musical abilities and expresses the hope that all four will play together in the future. Commentators have variously described "Early 1970" as "a rough draft of a peace treaty" and "a disarming open letter" from Starr to Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.

<i>The Beatles Tapes from the David Wigg Interviews</i> 1976 live album spoken word by the Beatles

The Beatles Tapes from the David Wigg Interviews is an audio album of interviews with each of the four members of the Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. British journalist David Wigg interviewed the individual Beatles at various points from December 1968 or January 1969 to December 1973, and excerpts from some of these recordings constitute the album's spoken words. Although he was a columnist for the London newspaper The Evening News, most of the interviews were recorded for the BBC Radio 1 series Scene and Heard. Interspersed among the interview excerpts are instrumental performances of Beatles songs played by other musicians. The Beatles tried to prevent the album's publication, but it was released in the United Kingdom on 30 July 1976 under the Polydor label and in the United States in 1978. Both George and Ringo did attempt to sue the Recording label, however, both of them lost the case because the interviews were done on public radio on the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fest for Beatles Fans</span> American music festival

The Fest for Beatles Fans is a twice-annual, three-day festival that honors the lasting legacy of the Beatles. The festival takes place in the New York metropolitan area, ordinarily in March or April, and in Chicago, Illinois, each August. Running Friday through Sunday, the Fest features special guests, live concerts, exhibits, art contests, a Beatles marketplace, a sound-alike contest, a Battle of the Beatles Bands, and more.

<i>Whats My Name</i> (Ringo Starr album) 2019 studio album by Ringo Starr

What's My Name is the 20th studio album by English singer-songwriter Ringo Starr. It was released on 25 October 2019 through Roccabella and Universal Music Enterprises. The album was again recorded at Roccabella West, Starr's home studio, and features collaborations with Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, and Warren Ham. It also includes a cover of John Lennon's "Grow Old with Me", on which Starr invited Paul McCartney to sing and play bass guitar, and a solo version by Starr of "Money ", a Motown song previously recorded by the Beatles. Starr has stated that What's My Name will likely be his last full-length album, with plans to release EPs in the future instead.

References

  1. Gould 2007, pp. 601–604.
  2. Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980. Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. p. 24. ISBN   978-1-4165-9093-4.
  3. Gould 2007, pp. 603–604.
  4. Sandford 2006, pp. 227–229.
  5. 1 2 3 For detailed dates, see article or link
  6. 1 2 Where release years differ by country, the earliest year. For detailed dates, see article or link
  7. 1 2 Nicholson, Jessica (2023-05-09). "Dolly Parton's Star-Studded Album 'Rockstar' Finally Has a Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  8. 1 2 "Ringo Starr Biography - After The Beatles". Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. "GEORGE HARRISON LONDON LIVE 1992" . Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  10. KAYE, JEFF (April 8, 1992). "They Love Him (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) Pop music: George Harrison uses his first London show since 1969 to promote the Natural Law Party in Britain's national elections on Thursday". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.
  11. "Apr 16 1993 – Paul McCartney headlines an Earth Day concert" . Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  12. "Concert Review: Change Begins Within". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  13. "Amazing Ringo 70th Birthday show – McCartney, Yoko, Joe Walsh, Little Steven and much more". Rock Art Show. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  14. "Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Share Grammy Stage for Rare Performance". RollingStone.com. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  15. "McCartney and Starr Team Again as Eurythmics, Grohl Honor the Beatles". RollingStone.com. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  16. "A Beatles mini-reunion! Ringo Starr, Ron Wood join Paul McCartney onstage in London". USATODAY.com. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  17. "Paul McCartney Brings Ringo Starr to the Stage for End-of-Tour Surprise (Watch)". Variety.com. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

Sources