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Ringo's 10 greatest beats

News
By Chris Burke published 7 February 2014

Starr's best, as chosen by Rhythm's experts

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All I've Got To Do

All I've Got To Do

THE BEATLES IN THE USA: Following Lennon's beautiful vocals and McCartney's bass chords, Ringo's insistent rhythms and effective use of his bass drum punctuate and support the song fantastically.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Long Tall Sally

Long Tall Sally

Like all the band's early, energetic cover versions, Ringo and the other Fab Three give the Little Richard classic pace and raw rock energy.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride

From Help!, this track is memorable for Ringo's perfectly placed tom in the flamed main verse groove and rapid fill to bring the song's chorus to a climax.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Rain

Rain

In drumming terms, Ringo was going through something of a purple patch, with this track one of three recorded on the Revolver sessions to make this list. His machinegun fills punctuate the track and again become a kind of signature. The track was the B-side to Paperback Writer.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Tomorrow Never Knows

Tomorrow Never Knows

Ringo's relentlessly funky beat – which was later sampled by The Chemical Brothers – made The Beatles' mystical, Indian-styled 'Tomorrow Never Knows' truly inspiring.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
She Said She Said

She Said She Said

'She Said She Said', from Revolver, is a great example of Ringo's inventiveness and great touch; his flurrying fill becomes the tune's motif.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Day Tripper

Day Tripper

The AA side with 'We Can Work It Out' is given a solid four-to-the-floor chorus and syncopated verse with some nice little ghosted snare notes and perfectly judged fills.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Get Back

Get Back

Ringo's galloping snare and shuffling fills, punctuated with effective cymbal crashes drive this late Beatles track, which grew from a studio jam, with real finesse.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Come Together

Come Together

The opening track of Abbey Road is, by the common consensus, one of Ringo's very finest moments. It features a recurring drum motif that acts as the song's main hook, based around 16th-note triplets around the hi-hat and toms.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
The End

The End

Closing out Abbey Road is the rarest of things – a Ringo solo, recorded across two tracks in 'true stereo' (drums were normally mixed in mono then hard-panned right in the mix). Just argue with this, Ringo nay-sayers.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Categories
Drums
Chris Burke
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