Replacing Ringo? The Story Behind Bernard Purdie and The Beatles

[@dunnettclassicdrums]

I know Bernard. Thank you for making what I consider to be the definitive answer.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Pinning this to the top of the comments section. If a trustworthy source like Ronn Dunnett says this, people should hear it. Thanks man. If you want proof on why this matters, see Purdie himself playing Dunnett drums here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2K7mpSDnrKtrMk

[@dunnettclassicdrums]

You have put into a video what I have often thought about the BP / Beatles connection. And no matter what anyone says, there IS a connection. During a Q&A I asked Bernard directly "What is your relationship with the Beatles?". His answer has remained relatively consistent. Frankly, I chose to give Bernard the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he got some of it wrong. Maybe there was intent, maybe not. But when you remove the Beatles controversy from BP, all that is left is an excellent drummer with a discography that is truly notable. I might also add something - BP himself has been ripped off. Have a listen to the theme song from Mad Men sometime.

[@docwill184]

Interesting that, in this same vein, Wrecking Crew bassist Carole Kaye made MoTown claims that seem easily refuted. Something in that special water only legendary studio-cats drink?

[@arniewince7133]

How come after countless interviews, movies, documentaries, day by day chronologies of the Beatles recordings from beginning to end one and mostly ALL the world's eyes on everything the Beatles did or say in the entire time they were together can even remotely believe that this Purdie guy played with/for the Beatles? The Beatles nor Martin nor Epstein nor anyone in Beatle circles even mentioned this guy. It has nothing to do with his talent, he just conveniently chooses to forget details and makes some proclamation that he drummed for the Beatles.. He did no such thing.

[@dunnettclassicdrums]

You obviously did not watch the video.

[@stevet8121]

I used to write songs but nobody noticed, so I left them in places that John and Paul would find them. I wrote all the songs on Revolver, for instance.

[@jayvonck9757]

Steve T yea yea yea!

[@StevenCarinci]

No, the songs were written by the songwriters at the Brill Bld, NYC and given to the third-world Irish homosexual.

[@jmendi55]

And I wrote Taxman , so they're all plagiarizers.....

[@StevenCarinci]

@ Actually, I was facetiously poking fun at Steve T's comment re Revolver. Like, sarc... Though, having said that Lennon/McCartney were imitating the Brill Bld lad(s) (Goffin and King, specifically) and as for the sexual proclivities of Senior Lennon.... Hmmm...

[@StevenCarinci]

@slip satch Inventing fire was I believe Prometheus.

[@gordonwaite4571]

Good summary. One thing I would add: take a look at the live videos of Ringo from American tours. He's a monster on the drums, and pretty much plays the songs note for note as they are heard on the records. Whether or not you consider him a good drummer, he's got a definite style of his own. It's pretty infuriating to hear Purdy and others try to take credit his considerable output, not to mention the wide ranging influence he had on an entire generation of drummers (including myself).

[@arniewince7133]

Good point.

[@kenkinnally6144]

This is so true. The live performances say a lot.

[@mtp4430]

@@kenkinnally6144 The live performances say it all.

[@mcdonoghrahloh459]

Why are Americans so hooked on these British cats?Oh well I know... Sad

[@armymomheatherc]

Purdie was employed as a union musician, on call. He had a job to do. I know you may think he was bashing Ringo, but all he did was tell you what HE did. Ringo is a solid drummer but lets not confuse him with Keith Moon for example.

[@Lwize]

Ringo was killed in the same car crash that killed Paul in 1966. Both were replaced. By me.

[@jackbailey5304]

Nice to meet you, Paulgo! How are you?

[@ladraper7134]

Stop screwing around...John

[@DoubtfulCertainties]

I have never seen them in the same room... Granted I've never seen them at all, but still.

[@outsidetheline7505]

What you mentioned could be true, a Beatles fanboy couldn't tell the difference anyway

[@sstvms2023]

It’s an honor to meet ya sir

[@richro65]

Hard to believe because Ringo played the parts live just like on the records, same exact style

[@mwilliams1330]

Well get in Stewie's time machine and find the real answer.

[@pepper8671]

Little known fact is that was actually Bernard Purdie in whiteface.

[@jamesrussell5196]

It’s really not

[@outsidetheline7505]

@Brad You're obviously not a drummer.....haha or a very good one- those take left vs right hand and eliminate it. All 4 limbs completely non-dependent or influential on the other. ...hence Bonham, Buddy Rich, Neil Peart etc, REAL DRUMMERS

[@lazrpo]

@@outsidetheline7505 except that Ringo always lead with his left on a right handed kit. You *can* work around that but Ringo obviously either chose not to or couldn't figure it out since he keeps the same goofy fills all the way up to Abbey Road.

[@radio22king]

I usually don't comment on issues like this but I was playing a gig at Hyde park in London. Paul McCartney was also on that event. I asked Paul if he could answer a question. He was very gracious and said "of course" I said did Bernard Purdie play on any Beatles tracks? He said absolutely not. He went on to say he was at every session the Beatles did and would know if there were another drummer on any of the tracks. I think that sums it up. I am amazed this has went this far.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Thanks for chiming in, Bobby. I’ve heard from at least ten pro musicians at your level (some in these comments, some via email), and who have ties similar to yours, and they tell similar stories. For a number of reasons, it’s reasonable to call all this a giant lie.

[@GraniteHalos]

I think Purdie has just gotten a little lost in his head over the years.

[@regaltip8A]

@@GraniteHalos Its well known in the industry how delusional Purdie is.

[@MrJamberee]

I believe he may have some work for the recordings, but his story just kept getting more grandiose. I am calling bullshit.

[@markcheetah4960]

It'd be pretty difficult to overdub drum parts in the days before "click tracks," wouldn't it?

[@JonathonNeville]

Short answer: Bernard overdubbed Pete Best (The Beatles' first drummer), not Ringo, in one session with no hits. Also note: Ringo live = Ringo on record.

[@Rick-zw7zv]

Obviously this implies Bernard is senile and thought that Ringo looks like Pete. By the way, it would have been fair to mention that Quincy Jones confirmed Bernard's story.

[@TribalSaints]

@@Rick-zw7zv Do you think he ever saw the original drummer? As if they brought Purdie in to fix the drums in front of Best? SMH

[@EltonoutoftheclosetOfficial]

Rick Well, Purdie would never have *seen* Best (or any other Beatle) if he dubbed his drumming onto those 1961 masters in New York.

[@dansvideovault2186]

Its impossible with no bleed through from the original drum takes already in the mix.Im not hearin it?

[@thekitowl]

Jonathon Neville so technically it’s not the Beatles Bernard overdubbed , it’s the Beat brothers as they were billed on the Tony Sheridan album.

[@beyer66]

"You may say I'm a drummer, but I'm not the only one" -John Lennon

[@FabFourArchivist]

😂😂😂

[@christopherpennington106]

Bryan Beyer this is all true. Yoko actually wrote all Beatles songs from 1967 on. Well her and Pete Best

[@FelixDegenaar]

Yoko: Yolo.

[@63Baggies]

Bryan Beyer Well crafted....

[@cotswoldcuckoo775]

Christopher Pennington Yep, I can see her style in I'm a User, I Wasabee your Man , Eight Days a Freak, and A Day in the Rice.

[@hitmanbluesband]

Bernard was the drummer on my first album, "Blooztown". I had the pleasure of playing with him a few times, some of which I was on bass (I play guitar and bass). After one gig, the bandleader said to me "Hey, have you been practicing? You sounded great!" I pointed at Purdie. "It was him", I said. "HE makes any bassist sound better..."

[@SecretAgentPaul]

Please show some respect to Purdie. After all, he was the first man on the Moon.

[@tuncakstar]

So great!

[@Ubu987]

I didn't know that Brigitte Bardot had a foot-long cock!

[@templar99]

Pretty sure I saw him in the Zapruder film, pointing a rifle in Kennedy's direction.

[@tonyciantar6417]

No one went to the moon.

[@commentfreely5443]

too much lsd

[@IFHorus]

Purdie is right. He did play on all of these Beatles songs he claims. But it was decided that Purdie's contributions, great as they were, were not enough, so I WAS CALLED IN TO REPLACE PURDIE. I also played on many tracks attributed to Purdie and never got the credit. I was flown to England many times to play drums that ended up on Zeppelin albums, that's me on Fool in the Rain, Heartbreaker, and the entire Physical Graffiti album. All studio performances by the Who, yours truly, except for the track ''Relax'', because I was too busy recording the drums for Cream, Pink Floyd, Beatles, and Pretty Things at the time. I also covered for Hal Blaine. I think I did the drums on the Paranoid lp but I honestly don't remember. Sabbath Vol IV and everything after that, I did play on for sure. I played on every Rush album except the first one which is in fact John Rutsey. I was the original ''drum machine'' until they invented an actual machine that could replicate my playing. Mick Fleetwood doesn't really exist. He is actually me on stilts appearing much taller than I really am, I wore a fake beard/wig, and I played every Mac live show and studio session.

[@rushbeat14]

I just shat and pissed myself at the same time and i never thought that was possible. You are indeed a great drummer!

[@ronj9448]

I"m always learning good shit on KZbin

[@cordellsenior9935]

Hilarious.

[@Scottie_S]

I love you. My new hero! I have sighted you at my grocery store, at my Subway 6 inch or 1 foot diner, at my day-spa...so unassuming, so humble. I will wait for you in quiet meditation until that moment when you finally come forth and make your presence felt and I will be blinded by your brilliance and will give myself up to you oh mighty Horus!!

[@scottkasper6378]

Epic troll

[@rhythmfield]

I’ve met Bernard and I love him, he’s one of the greatest drummers ever. I’m a pro drummer and I know what’s good. But I’ve listened to some of the bootlegs illegally released from multiple Abbey Road Beatles sessions and this needs to be clear to all the world: Ringo played on all Beatles material during their major period of fame, with some additional drumming by Mr. Paul McCartney. Ringo is a superb drummer, with a very deep pocket and a killer backbeat with a flavor that’s completely unique. Fantastic drummers like Steve Jordan have confirmed this over and over. Bernard is a character with a vibrant imagination and has maybe stretched the story to the point where he believes his own BS. I do definitely believe he may have added drums to the early Moptops Atco reissues. RIP “21 Beatles songs played by Pretty Purdie and not Ringo.” Now it’s time to say goodnight.

[@gearhead0800]

I replaced Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, Later when people realized that I was out of my mind they started to call me Jimmy Fallon. Then I woke up

[@rhythmfield]

@@gearhead0800 Wait I thought that was me all the Tonight Show??

[@TheWorldTeacher]

@@rhythmfield Sir Paul McCartney. ☝️

[@talltim9579]

Just your opinion - you have zero proof unless you were in the sessions.

[@fourthtunz]

@@talltim9579 read Mark Lewiston‘s book the complete Beatles recording sessions, or the huge book recording the Beatles. Purdie is not mentioned in either of those books, nor any of the other fortysomething Beatle books I have. He overdubbed on some of the Decca sessions that had Pete best, but none of the actual Beatle recordings.

[@qqkk5581]

This is an old story that first appeared in Modern Drummer Magazine about 35 years ago. Remember, there was no multi-track recording available to overdub instruments until the latter half of the 60's and even then it was only 4 tracks - very few studios had it. This story won't go away and get rehashed every few years.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Hopefully it’s on its way out now. Not a single previous book or magazine article did the research in debunking the myths - they just repeated the legend without facts. That’s why it’s continued to circulate. As for overdubbing, that could indeed happen without multis, as evidenced here in the Atco recording.

[@markdoty3196]

All anyone has to do is check the payment logs at EMI/Abbey Road studios. Every musician recording there gets paid per union rules. Andy White is there. No mention of anyone but Ringo after that.

[@johnburns4017]

Mark Doty Pete Best is at Abbey Rd as well - once.

[@PeterGrenader]

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark

[@gvgv3515]

Bernie did it for free, so no payroll listing. He also invented paper money and bookkeeping.

[@johnnhoj6749]

When Purdie first made his claim, recorded evidence from Beatles recording sessions, outside of the officially released tracks, available to the general public was almost zero. Since then however tapes from the original recording sessions, only available for many years on obscure bootlegs, are now all over the internet - not least on this site. There are hundreds of unused takes and false starts that anyone can hear from the earliest Parlophone recordings - all consistent with leading up to the released finished tracks and all consistent with them being played by the usually credited drummer (almost all Ringo of course). For anyone to still claim that Purdie overdubbed on 21 Beatles tracks, including some of the most famous, would have to convince us that each and every one of those hundreds of hours of session tapes involving Ringo was laboriously doctored by the early 1970s on analogue equipment solely to keep them consistent with the released tracks (and conceal Ringo's supposedly fatally inadequate drumming throughout 7 years!). Why? Just in case they were leaked as obscure bootlegs that hardly anyone would hear? Insanity.

[@gvgv3515]

I have such a copy of these obscure recordings which I play on my left handed record player!

[@PotrzebieConolly]

That's exactly the point that came to my mind (although you certainly expressed it better).

[@SnowghostFilms]

It would have to be a cover up comparable to what “Paul Is Dead” believers think happened after 1966

[@dirtbrainrecordings]

When Lennon went solo he could have picked any drummer in the world to work with. There was no manager telling him what to do or who had the right look. He picked Ringo to play on his great Plastic Ono album and Ringo played really well on it. Why would he have done that if there was anything second rate about Ringo's musicianship? Ringo had a great musical mind and is often underrated because he supported the song rather than trying to take over the song. The Beatles are the greatest band ever, you don't achieve that by carrying 2nd rate musicians.

[@mikehouser2518]

While Ringo plays well and the Beatles could arguably have been the greatest pop band ever(debatable) , they are not the greatest band ever . Maybe widen your musical scope .

[@redflag8970]

my thought exactly

[@Rick-zw7zv]

Yeah, that really explains why there's always a second drummer in his 'All Starr Band'.

[@redflag8970]

@@Rick-zw7zv thats probably because he is upfront to. he csn play drums the beatles music wasnt demanding most drummeers of a basic level can play to that

[@Rick-zw7zv]

@@redflag8970 The only evidence we have is that he can keep a beat going but he won't carry a band, look at the 'Concert for George', he won't go onstage without a back-up drummer, I'd say that's evidence that sways in BP favor.

[@Sadministrator]

It was also Bernard Purdie, not Ringo Starr, who played the lead in the film 'Caveman'.

[@Din021]

Nice one

[@emptyspotlight]

Bernard Purdie also narrated the first 2 seasons of Thomas and Friends

[@Din021]

Purdie also shaved his head and eyebrows after a mental breakdown

[@notdead12]

Purdie also as on Rory Storm and the hurricanes before the beatles

[@richiebricker]

Oh Fudge

[@RevolverAnthology]

I wrote and sang on all the Beatles songs

[@beatlejim64]

You have talent sir!!!

[@jamesdunn9714]

Are you Bernard Purdie?

[@RevolverAnthology]

yes, I am

[@margaretcronin5581]

Ackyman i always thought i was responsible for all the beatles songs.if you you wrote them im willing to blindly accept that has fact.well done

[@RevolverAnthology]

the only one I didn't write was Let It Be...my brother wrote that

[@goofparade]

Yeah they had a tons of spare tracks still open for overdubs in 63 on that mono tape deck!

[@wingracer1614]

It's actually doable. But then Martin and the Beatles were using a lot of 2 track recording in 63 anyway.

[@kingslaphappy1533]

They didnt have a way ro remove Ringo, since he was already merged in the sub-mix with other instruments and vocals, only possibly add to him.

[@eddiemowery8777]

Look up "bouncing tracks" and you will get your answer. It was very common back in those days to mix everything that had been recorded down to a single track to free up more tracks to record.

[@Ptpop]

Eddie Mowery once they bounced the tracks it would have been impossible to remove Ringo’s drums. If they put another track of drums on top of Ringos it would have sounded like a mess.

[@kingslaphappy1533]

Agreed!

[@judmcc]

It is technically impossible for Purdie to have replaced Ringo's drums on songs like "She Loves You". These were recorded in two tracks, with the drums mixed in with other instruments.

[@keviniles8748]

THANK YOU! I was just about to say the same thing. All of the Beatles recordings made before A Hard Days Night (1964) were recorded to 2 track tape. The band (drums, bass, & guitars) were all on track 1, and vocals on track 2. It would have been absolutely impossible to replace the drums. They would have had to have just recorded the new drums on top of what Ringo already played originally, and that would be pretty obvious. Even the least musically inclined person can tell that there's only one drummer on those recordings.

[@curbmassa]

Not impossible at all when more than one tape machine is used. You simply play along with the tape and record it all on a second machine. This was a common recording technique that had been used for years before the Beatles ever showed up. They themselves used the technique extensively even after going to 4-track.

[@perudolux]

curbmassa actually, it is impossible, ecause, the drums would be on the first tape, you couldn’t delete them

[@curbmassa]

@@perudolux Please see my response to Mark Cheetah below in the thread started by Bobby Ruggiero, my reply was a little long.

[@keviniles8748]

@@curbmassa Yes, it would be possible to add new drums to the recording, but still impossible to erase what Ringo played originally. Also, EMI Studios, London was not implementing multi-machine recording in 1963. On all of the Beatles' session until 1964's A Hard Days Night they were using a single, 2-Track, 1/4" tape machine. Drums, bass, and guitars were all summed together on the mixing desk and recorded directly onto track 1 of the 1/4" tape. There would be no possible way to separate the drums from the guitar and bass. The ONLY way they could have added overdubbed drums would be to transfer the 2 track recording to a 4 track tape OR sum tracks 1 & 2 on the 1/4' tape to a single track and overdub the new drums onto an empty track. So either way, you would be hearing Ringo's original drums AND the new, overdubbed drums on the recordings. It is obvious that this is not the case as there is only one drummer playing on the Please Please Me album as well as all of the singles from that year.

[@JJ180]

Its easy to tell Ringos drumming from anyone elses. He is left handed, so his fills are backwards, from Low tom to high tom.

[@nchcroy3877]

Hilarious 🤣😂

[@Monkofmagnesia]

It is true. As a percutionist for several decades, I can hear the difference and can tell right away when he is on a Beatle song, one of the other three solo career songs or another group or individual's song.

[@TheKaylakakes]

@@nchcroy3877 It's true. Watch this clip. Ringo explains it all at 3:15 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ2cYmtuerWXgqs

[@mickavellian]

You know SHIT about drumming specialty RINGO's drumming. The only difference is that Ringo begins a fill with his left hand, he does NOT go from floor tom to mounted left

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

Ringo writes with the right hand ,therefore is not left handed

[@cobbwebs]

EMI was fastidious in their record-keeping. They listed who performed and what was performed on any given day. Hours and pay were also included for the musician's union. Purdy's name was never listed. Book called The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn. Get it.

[@bartlettohio]

Got it !

[@bartlettohio]

Epstein NEVER handled master tapes. Neil Aspinal might have. But those tapes would have been delivered to Capital Records in LA. Capital used Gold Star Studios and The Wrecking Crew[session musicians]. IF any American drummer would have played on them...it would have been Hal Blaine...who played on every Beach Boys record...and did more sessions than Purdey ever dreamed of.

[@philschroeder]

The definitive book, glad I got one while it was in print! Big bucks on eBay, but worth it if you're a disciple.

[@wgb01001]

SUCH a fantastic book.

[@The22on]

If anyone in America would be chosen to play drums on an important rock record, it would absolutely be Hal Blaine of the Wrecking Crew. There would be no one else to call. He played on more hits than any other drummer. He even had the idea to add timpani to This Diamond Ring. When a record company thought they had a hit record in the making and needed a drummer - he was da man. When he was asked why he was so good, he said he practiced night and day. Even if he had two sessions that day, he went home at night and practiced paradiddles. He said that was the only way he could be sure that if the next day's recording session needed a fast fill that he could play it perfectly the first time without spending ten minutes warming up.

[@LConde23]

Bernard Purdie recorded overdubs on 3 Polydor Hamburg tracks when they were licensed by ATCO Records in USA. That label thought these recordings (from 1961) were not examples of the 1964 Beatle sound and decided to record overdubs to (try to) emulate the then-new sound. A session guitarrist overdubbed Harrison-style guitar licks on Sweet Georgia Brown and Purdie overdubbed drums on Ain't She Sweet, Take Out Some Insurance On Me and Sweet Georgia Brown. These versions were released on singles and on an album by ATCO in USA (completed with tracks by other artists). These versions were lost when the licensing contract expired. When Hamburg recordings were reissue in USA by Polydor, these songs appeared in the original form, with only the Beatles (with Pete Best) playing. What Bernard Purdie did was to take this little, almost zero participation in the Beatles story and transformed it into a BIG BIG THING, saying he did overdubs IN ALL EARLY BEATLES EMI RECORDINGS!!! Or he is lying or he is totally crazy. This is madness by definition. If you listen to the UK records, you'll see the drum track is identical to the US releases.

[@Barefoot_Joe]

Facts, thank you! I came here to check there was some actual facts on here. Same thing happened with a lot more Hendrix recordings and more bastardised too, I'm sure you know more about them, than I do.

[@awol2602]

sounds exactly true

[@BazzerObama]

Many people have tried to ride on the Beatles coat tails.......thanks for your facts on the matter, he just seems to be another bullshitting coat tail rider.

[@dummytree]

It's a shame because Purdie has enough talent on his own to NOT HAVE to make up a story like this and try and discredit Ringo.

[@randysemenak2439]

dummytree most drummers are a little jealous and very envious of Ringo ,at the very least,for his success and contributions to music,the guy played in theBeatles no amount of "opinions" and loose talk can change this fact

[@robcostigan8757]

The only evidence is what Purdie said?? Great investigative skills.

[@WeirdScienceComics]

I love Ringo, but Quincy Jones said that this stuff did go down at times with Ringo’s drumming

[@kevinb7789]

@@WeirdScienceComics he also said that the Beatles were the worst musician I think of all time so...

[@fourthtunz]

@@WeirdScienceComics Quincy is great but has said some CRAY Cray stuff in the last few years. HE was Never at any Beatles recording session ever.

[@Redhotshawntexas]

@@WeirdScienceComics Quincy Jones has made a lot of stupid comments, most unfounded and a lot are outright lies.

[@finscontingencyplan7005]

@@WeirdScienceComics Even if Quincy is 100% not bullshitting there (unlikely), the situation he described with the session drummer literally could not have happened for a Beatles recording session. Jones was never at any.

[@hksigman]

The actual story is that Ringo overdubbed all of the songs that Purdie played on for other artists.

[@jimo3173]

You sir, are an idiot.

[@chrishitchins5453]

Jim O well there’s some irony if I ever saw it

[@aceboogie3304]

@@destroythenarrative9034 relax it's not that serious

[@petesorensenguitar]

Ringo is a bumbling chump compared to Purdie.

[@ronniechilds2002]

Good one.

[@ROOKTABULA]

I was born a few weeks after Sgt. Pepper came out and helped Martin with the mixing.

[@DylanPickleGaming]

ROOKTABULA ???

[@verdict4me]

Was that before or after Dr.Pepper?That was his favourite drink.Also if you were born just after Sgt.Pepper came out.How could you have helped Martin do mixing back in 65-66 & p.s. he mixed & played piano for the Stones not the Beatles anyway.Unless you're talking George Martin.

[@cotswoldcuckoo775]

I laced Billy Shiers' football boots and then helped with the running.

[@scottmcgregor3317]

I supplied all of wax for the sculptures on the cover.

[@anthonyryan998]

I always suspected this! :-)

[@lukedelalio3155]

Good video, supports the facts as I know them. I met Bernard Purdie in maybe 1995 or so. I was a recording engineer teaching at a college, he came in to speak and play a bit. He was knowledgeable and charming. The Beatles issue came up, and he claimed Ringo didn't play on any of their songs, and he named "I Feel Fine" as an example of him playing the "Purdie Shuffle..." It's nonsense. The Beatles sessions are so well documented, and the technology of the time doesn't make overdubbing as easy as it became once 16 track recording became common. Pretty hard to take Ringo out of the mix when he's on a track with a bass and a piano also on it. Pretty hard for Bernard to be flying over to England to do sessions at EMI. As far as Ringo drumming on other Beatles tracks. To my ears he sounds fine on the original Love Me Do, and the real problem on that recording is Paul being so nervous his voice wobbles. Most of Paul's drumming with the Beatles is later, principally on the White Album. If you want to hear the difference of tone and touch and feel between Paul and Ringo, put on Dear Prudence. Paul plays the bulk of it, but once it gets to that ending vamp, in comes Ringo with his distinctive fills, and then his very solid timekeeping, his heavy foot, sloshy hi hat and wonderful feel. Such a great player. I hate when people trash Ringo. He's great.

[@LConde23]

Bernard Purdie recorded overdubs on 3 Polydor Hamburg tracks when they were licensed by ATCO Records in USA. That label thought these recordings (from 1961) were not examples of the 1964 Beatle sound and decided to record overdubs to (try to) emulate the then-new sound. A session guitarrist overdubbed Harrison-style guitar licks on Sweet Georgia Brown and Purdie overdubbed drums on Ain't She Sweet, Take Out Some Insurance On Me and Sweet Georgia Brown. These versions were released on singles and on an album by ATCO in USA (completed with tracks by other artists). These versions were lost when the licensing contract expired. When Hamburg recordings were reissue in USA by Polydor, these songs appeared in the original form, with only the Beatles (with Pete Best) playing. What Bernard Purdie did was to take this little, almost zero participation in the Beatles story and transformed it into a BIG BIG THING, saying he did overdubs IN ALL EARLY BEATLES EMI RECORDINGS!!! Or he is lying or he is totally crazy. This is madness by definition. If you listen to the UK records, you'll see the drum track is identical to the US releases.

[@polardeathdog5093]

He goes overboard claiming "all beatles" it's common that musicans are in sessions to fill in for others for various reasons. He didn't have to be in England to do overdubs. There is something called Parcel delivery for Masters... but he very well could have flown or been in England at the time for any number of reasons. Air flight is not a new thing. He needs more evidence.. his claims are feesable..but Bernard.. work on your rhetoric buddy. You make a good point..but we are just arguing amongs ourselves until definitive evidence materializes or doesn't.

[@Rick-Jangle]

Luke DeLalio couldn’t agree with you more! I can’t understand why so many people disrespect Ringo as a drummer. Ringo was a beautiful feel player. He played perfectly to each song. He never overplayed anything and just always gave to the song what was required. If you listen to Dave Grohl, he sums up Ringo perfectly. I’d rather listen to people like Dave Grohl than critics who have never sat behind a set of drums in their lives. Ringo was a gun!

[@keithmctaggart8181]

Exactly Rick. Not only that, there are many examples of Ringo playing live, virtually all of which are just like the record. Also present are his time, feel and energy. His style is unmistakable.

[@moonbeamskies3346]

I think it's possible that Purdie was paid to shut up after he started to spill the beans. There was a huge amount of corporate money invested in the Beatles in 1963, and some unsavory characters were involved. Nothing was left to chance, the records had to be good and sell in huge quantities. Session logs showing Ringo as drummer could have easily been faked. "He looked the part and was easy to control." It starts to make sense if you look at the big picture.

[@AlepsCajigal]

“There are four musicians on the Beatles records. Bernard’s not one of them.” - Me

[@FabFourArchivist]

😆

[@sticktrik]

So fucking true!!!!!

[@sourisvoleur4854]

@@JB-ps1xr The person who posted the video laughed at this. Get over yourself.

[@SmethiousReborn]

Bernard is a far better drummer than ringo ever was

[@braxtonfeltner8394]

@@sourisvoleur4854 He's a douche, get over the fact your a toad

[@nicholastotoro7721]

*I* am really the walrus. It’s about time I got credit. Just saying.

[@michael_gibbs]

@@MonsieurVenus- One for you, nineteen for them.

[@Luke-cl8nu]

The walrus was Paul

[@mauromarchao1809]

C’mon,my name is Lucy,one day i was cleaning my ceilling and john was passing by and I fell of,I guess you know who I am...

[@proggerjohn]

@@Luke-cl8nu I was the Glass Onion that John was looking through.

[@Din021]

But.... i thougt the walrus was paul

[@PhilRounds]

Put on a set of headphones and listen to the drumming on Beatles albums. It obviously isn't Bernard Purdie.

[@ramoncotto7586]

It's certainly NOT Ringo. Ringo cannot do today what was done on those recordings.

[@Tanildes]

Shut up,poor boy.

[@kevenrowe2958]

@@destroythenarrative9034 you sound crazy as fuck

[@fourthtunz]

@@ramoncotto7586 Maybe he cannot Today, he's 81!

[@jonasrmb01]

@@ramoncotto7586 ever seen a beatles live concert? lol idiot

[@catsofsherman1316]

he also invented penicillin and the internal combustion engine. quite the resume that fellow has

[@The22on]

He played on Alexander Fleming's gold double album set: Sticky Needles. It had the hits: Don't Resist Me, Darlin', I Got The Cure, and Goodbye, Gonorrhea (aka A Big Hit From A Short Stick). (Note: Alexander Fleming was the inventor/discoverer of penicillin, the world's first antibiotic. It was a miracle in treating soldiers in World War II who often died of infection from a gunshot, not from the gunshot itself).

[@bighands69]

He was a serious drummer that played with some of the best. I would not be so quick to dismiss him.

[@gregr999]

And it was Bernard Purdie, not Al Gore, who invented the internet. Let's set the record straight on this.

[@LouCarlozo]

You're wrong about the penicillin. It was the cure for cancer. Get your facts straight.

[@dippey]

Also wrote all of the Stones back catalogue.

[@constantheadache2045]

Never seen a case of “ Wish I was a Beatle syndrome” this bad since Yoko. Bernard made a critical mistake when he said he played on the first 3 albums. Why? Because we have seen Ringo play several of those songs LIVE. At least he could have taken credit for Ringo’s best drumming ( Rain, Getting Better) you know, the stuff they stopped playing live, it would have been a lie, but a more convincing lie. At first I thought “ wait, why does Ringo always have a backup drummer with him” then I realized. He never had a backup drummer in the early years or the Get Back concert! Also, no offense, he’s old. Also, we have seen Ringo demonstrate some songs and his playing style by himself! Also, Bernard constantly forgets what songs he played on, which I don’t think is helping his case. That’s not just something you forget. No one ever mentioned Purdue in any autobiographical books, and some of those Apple people have no reason not to expose the Beatles. Lastly, they wanted Ringo to be in the band. They could have kept Pete and have Purdy dub him. They didn’t know Ringo that well, heck, Pete is more of a stereotypical heartthrob than Ringo. But they choose him. I’m kinda irked about Bernard saying that they could “control” Ringo, that sounds like Bernard has malicious intent to me. Also, John could have gotten any session drummer for POB, someone like Jim Keltner would have been serviceable, but he choose Ringo. And Ringo’s drumming on that album is great. Conclusion: This is a worse Beatles theory than PID. Just like pid, ever piece of “evidence” can be easily be explained with common sense, and the only people who believe it are people who just hate the band member in question. Bernie, if anything, might have been in the studio and overdubbed once or twice ( although again, no mention of him by anyone important) and got a little carried anyway with the thought of being a Beatle. Also, sorry for the rant.

[@jamesedwards4590]

Only thing I disagree with is where you said they didn’t know Ringo well… they knew him pretty damn well over a couple years by the time he joined the band. They’d already recorded with him in Hamburg by 1962.

[@phadrus]

Ringo plays live, Purdie records. Simple.

[@blackmore4]

_"His claims have grown and changed over time"_ That about sums it up. Nonsense.

[@chrissscottt]

Purdie is dreaming! It was me over-dubbing Ringo's drums. The fact that I wasn't born at the time is beside the point.

[@Rockstaralan]

And I was the guy brought in to overdub Stu Sutcliffe's bass parts on the ATCO Sheridan releases, since he didn't really know how to play. Even though I wasn't born for another 10 years, that does nothing to change the fact! ;-)

[@fireglo450music]

I was George's body double on tour in 1965. Don't even start to question the fact that I was born in 1997. DON'T.

[@JohnCapizolaSr714]

I was.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

I had a chat with someone in the Black Sabbath camp a few years ago who gave Mike Bordin a hard time for his going in and redoing the drums on Ozzy's first two albums, and he pointedly asked if Bordin had redubbed Ringo on the White Album. Obviously, there's a conspiracy here! [eyes rolling]

[@JohnCapizolaSr714]

Again, it's not a conspiracy, it's done allthe time! You just gave an example of it.

[@v-town1980]

No way! You could never replace Ringo. He was perfect for The Beatles. His drumming and personality worked great with their sound and style.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Preach!

[@aprilgarcia2161]

I agree.

[@andyrock6481]

Yeah Ringo on Slowdown is a killer.

[@RonWikso]

I absolutely love Bernard Purdie, his playing, and his contribution to music and to drumming. It's immeasurable and most drummers have been influenced by his playing in one way or another, myself included. And he also seems like a genuinely affable and likable guy, from what I've seen. Having said that, I heard a story on good authority about a very accomplished English drummer named Ian Wallace (King Crimson, Don Henley, and many others), who once had the opportunity to ask George Harrison about which Beatles songs Bernard Purdie played on. As the story goes, George's reply was, in his Liverpudlian accent, "who's Bernard Purdie?". Take that for whatever it's worth.

[@FabFourArchivist]

If that’s true, it answers everyone here who’s asked “Why haven’t the Beatles themselves addressed this?”

[@BernieBrownEyes]

Note that Ian Wallace played on Handle With Care by the Traveling Wilburys. It is clear as to why the Beatles never addressed a problem that to them is more nonsensical than the "Paul is Dead" myth. By the way, the Bear Family release covering the Beatles' Polydor sessions ("Beatles Bop") includes the Purdie sessions and identified the overdubs as Purdie's on the corresponding tracks (all in mono only)

[@fewwiggle]

Well, Purdie did his (alleged) overdubs in the USA on completely irrelevant "Beatles" records -- so, the part regarding Harrison makes sense even if Purdie's account is partially true.

[@destroythenarrative7941]

@@FabFourArchivist It's amusing you've compiled clips of vids as a beatles archivist and set them up only to clarify your opinion as a beatles fanboy worshipper. Yet where were you in the 60's around Liverpool, lol ,or even in existence ? Purdie's claims hold more reality as someone in the scene at the time than a youtube archivist who's infatuated with a 60s studio group that fell flat live stage because of lack of raw talent and an elementary drummer. At least the Monkees were smart enough to never tour. lol, now there's a band worth throwing your delusions at.

[@thesilvershining]

I love George LOL 😂

[@richarddunne9802]

I've met Bernard Purdie at a drum workshop in Ireland. He's an amazing drummer but it's hard to believe these claims. I can imagine session drummers often play on albums over the musicians that are credited. I can't imagine, for example, that five year old drummer actually played on Mmm Bop by Hanson at the time. I can imagine an accomplished session drummer like Bernard Purdie jumping in on some of the Beatles' early songs with straight rock n roll playing. But Ringo's style from Rubber Soul onwards is so unique and, in some ways, technically incorrect, that it's hard to imagine anyone else playing on the recordings. And that's not to criticize Ringo. I'm a drummer and a huge fan of his but what made him special was his unique, almost melodic approach to the kit, not his blistering technique. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing on songs like Come Together, Strawberry Fields, She Said She Said, A Day In the Life, Good Morning, Good Morning, Rain and so on. It's not the jaw-dropping, mind-blowing technique or dynamics of a John Bonham or indeed a Bernard Purdie but it is something very idiosyncratic and original. I always thought Ringo's drumming was kind of weird. It's unusual, it's almost singable, it's bouncy, it's behind the beat, it's kind of 'incorrect' but it's incredibly original, and when you watch the videos from the time he seems to play them live just as they were on the record, at least the ones they have footage for. I think Bernard Puride would have been much tighter, maybe 'better' if you want to put it that way but it wouldn't have suited the music as much.

[@adamkorekach9936]

Great comment.

[@talltim9579]

You have no proof that "unique" sound was Ringo.

[@richarddunne9802]

@@talltim9579 What does that even mean? Do you have proof that Paul McCartney actually played bass on Rubber Soul? I mean, were you there?! Is there footage? Perhaps it's an urban myth.

[@sulamericaparadiso3165]

Great comment indeed, yes Sir !

[@georgesonm1774]

exactly - his forte was in the unique, weird, one-of-a-kind inventive little patterns which fit the songs so perfectly. It's NOT about the blistering technique (and who would even want/imagine that in the Beatles' recordings?)

[@TedLenn0n]

This actually reinforces that Ringo was a good drummer. A drummer of Purdy's caliber isn't going to try to claim credit for mediocre playing.

[@moonbeamskies3346]

TedLenn0n Or maybe, he really did play on She Loves You. It's pretty good drumming.

[@robinowens420]

John Lennon said that ringo's store was in a good drummer but he made a good beetle

[@roybeckerman9253]

Some old Beatles records, pre Ringo, showed why Pete Best was replaced. He had no drive like Ringo.

[@theHAL9000]

I was the ghostwriter and primary singer on the Sergeant Pepper album. It was a hectic time for me as I was also simultaneously playing lead tuba in a oompah band in Berlin. It will all be documented in my book.

[@HarrisonJBounel]

Albert Einstein stole all of Purdie's ideas about the theory of relativity and general nuclear science as well.

[@outsidetheline7505]

Stealing is a good idea, Ringo should of stole the keys to Purdies car on all those session dates Purdie overdubbed the drums with Beatles

[@SaintShemp]

Purdie is probably just confused. There were many Beatle "soundalike" recordings made when they first hit America as well as the Atco/Atlantic Tony Sheridan tracks. Many studio musicians are unsure about what they played on. Many times, there were no vocals or lead guitar tracks when they played. Hal Blaine, who was the "go to" studio drummer on many artists' records has claimed he drummed on some records that he didn't. Is he a liar? No, as he also claims he didn't drum on some records that musicians and producers said he did. Why the confusion? Sometimes, record producers wold bring in multiple drummers on different occasions until they found the "take" they liked. Also, some of these guys, like Purdie, Blaine, and Earl Palmer were drumming on hundreds of sessions a year and asking them what they did on a particular recording would take an incredible memory.

[@bholaoates1542]

Great points Michael.

[@TheSteveSteele]

Exactly.

[@MarkInLA]

MIKE !! What a coincident !!! Read mine, directly above !!!

[@ipsurvivor]

Michael Shimp - To say he played everything for The Beatles and Ringo Zero is not confusion but lying and some people will believe him. He said some slanderous shit about Ringo... Like he was just there because they could control him... Ringo came from the poorest background of all the Beatles and overcame chronic child illness to become one of the most influential musicians on Earth... then Purdie changes his story... At least Carol Kaye is consistent with her lies... But in both cases two respected studio pros want to take something away from other gainfully employed musicians, Purdie Ringo, Carol Kaye James Jamerson. Playing on some cheap ass pre-fame Beatles exploitation record is not the same as replacing Ringo if he even played on that... This is not tangled and I could have debunked this when I was 12 in the early 70s. The only thing tangled is his brain. This is the Beatles... You would know if they let you in the room. He never met them as far as we know in the 60s and lots of people played on Beatles covers without thinking it was the Fab Four themselves... I think the smartest thing he did was to drop it...

[@SaintShemp]

Ringo was actually a great drummer. The reason the Beatles loved Ringo was he was very precise and consistent. Not fancy but a great "time" drummer. I was a vocalist in an Austin, Texas band and our drummer pointed this out to me. You can watch film footage of the Beatles live and hear and see that he played the drums at the exact same speed as the recordings. He didn't speed up or slow down he was right on top of the beat. Nowadays, many professional drummers use an electronic metronome (even live) to achieve the same result. I once read an interview with George Harrison where he said whenever Ringo sat in for Pete Best, the Beatles realized they sounded like a "professional" band.

[@williamrouthier8822]

Great article and solid investigating. What you concluded makes perfect sense for the scenario. It's impossible that all 4 Beatles, George Martin and the studio engineers wouldn't have said something about Perdie overdubbing. And, just to clarify further, Ringo is one of the best drummers in rock, ever. He's spontaneous and swings, his fills are legendary, and he is the perfect Beatles drummer.

[@willisj633]

I directly asked Mark Lewisohn about Purdie and he said there is absolutely no proof he played on any of the EMI Beatles recordings. Keep in mind EMI kept records of all studio musicians who logged in and out of Abbey Road studios (for payment purposes) and Lewisohn never saw his name come up there related to the Beatles recording sessions or subsequent editing. This has been further cemented by Norman Smith who was asked by my friend for his syndicated Beatles radio show and Geoff Emerick who I asked direct. They were the first engineers on all of the Beatles recordings made at Abbey Road Studios. Both said Purdie was not used for any overdubbing there on Beatles tracks. As far as Beat Brothers and Tony Sheridan, we never asked because those are not part of the groups official recording catalog.

[@johnnhoj6749]

Agreed. Of course the whole idea of a US drummer needing to be imported to do anonymous session drumming in a British studio at the time stretches credulity anyway, especially in the days when intercontinental travel was far less common. There were more than enough qualified UK-based session drummers, not least and most obviously, Andy White.

[@izellkinney2720]

I saw an interview with Ringo some years ago where he said John Lennon was disappointed with the fact that Ringo couldn't capture that full Motown drumming sound and Ringo pointed out that there were two drummers making that sound. So if anything I think its possible that some of Ringo"s drumming was over dubbed. I doubt that Ringo wasn't on those 21 songs at all.

[@mr_bassman6685]

That had to have been referring to one of their solo albums, ofc Ringo's never said anything about 2 drummers on *Beatles* records

[@bconigliaro]

"Don't let your mouth write a check that your tail can't cash." - Bo Diddley

[@scottg2577]

great!! well i played with bo diddley. i can prove that. no thing but a chicken wing. i also played with many others.Met Purdie at the guitar Center in Jersey with his Coogi sweater and i was wearing one that day also .What a character.

[@nunyabus2183]

Yea don't you remember Purdie in the rooftop concert? I love the purdie half time shuffle and play it, but he ain't no Ringo Starr.

[@evrtt_trn]

the nose blowing on Dig a Pony is typical Purdie ikr

[@marc-hc6de]

That’s racist, that was Billy Preston, just cause he’s black doesn’t mean they look the same !

[@waukivorycopse2402]

Purdie is also under the stage at the Ed Sullivan show in '64, Carol Kaye took photos.

[@lhommedapresdemain2033]

I play bass on the 3 Anthologies. At that time, the Beatles had musicians to test the instruments and the mics. So I play bass on every demos. My friend Jojo 'big sack' McBloobloo played lead guitar, and of course, Bernard Purdie played drums. We weren't told that we were playing Beatles' songs, on the partitions, the band was called 'l'Homme d'Après Demain'. I really loved the 60's! Great experience.

[@waukivorycopse2402]

McBloobloo was great, tasty licks, played a Grundelsten 9string didn't he?

[@patbrown1808]

I've known Bernard for 30 years. Very nice man and awesome drummer. This video is an explanation I can buy!

[@arniewince7133]

Good point but a Beatle drummer still goes unexplained. You can buy it but you can also buy a fake Rolex.

[@rackinfrackin]

I've got a bridge in Brooklyn you can buy, too.

[@Vulf]

wow the ATCO stuff sounds like purdie or panama francis (who purdie loved) !! amazing work !!

[@FabFourArchivist]

Heck yeah. I really appreciate you chiming in, given your connection to Purdie. I didn't hear about any links to Francis, but you never know...

[@zelupl2063]

Hi Vulfpeck :D!

[@heftyalan1152]

Vulf Of the few songs Purdie played on one was Ain't she sweet and another was Sweet Georgia Brown

[@Tomsawyerspit]

As a drummer of 40 years, I'm calling bullshit on this one and I love Mr.Purdies work. Not only can you hear Ringos playing with a consistent style and sound throughout the Beatles catalog, but you can see him playing it . I was one of those guys in my early years who thought there wasn't much to Ringos playing, man was I wrong.

[@AkingBones1]

Well Said.....Agree totally but with 53 yrs experience and still playing ....

[@stephenpaulharper]

A lot of my favorite drummers are from Jazz, Prog and Motown, Ringo is in a class all by himself. No one else on Earth could've replaced him in The Beatles.

[@AlmostReady504]

You can tell Ringo's playing. The closest duplicating in style and unorthodox fills is the current drummer in the tribute band "The Liverpool Legends"..... Brilliant

[@thesilvershining]

@@stephenpaulharper Absolutely agree!

[@KurtI2525]

@@stephenpaulharper incredible feel and full of little tricks.

[@santiagoroo4691]

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and first turned it on, he surprisingly had three lost calls...all of them from Bernard Purdie

[@bodensick]

Purdie going in and out over knowing then not remembering Beatles tracks he played on reduces his claim to rubbish. Stating that Ringo was picked to play drums because he could be controlled is also bunk because both John and Paul liked Ringo and wanted Pete out to let Ringo in (what did he mean by "controlled?"). I've read Geoff Emerick's (the real Beatles producer)book and Purdie's name doesn't come up at all (Alan White was a session drummer who played on Love Me Do). Sorry Purdie, but wishing you were a Beatle doesn't make you one. By the way, Ringo did just fine when you watch the band play 'live.'

[@andersforsgren3806]

Alan White of Yes & Oasis? Wait a sec, he did play with John Lennon later - so yes, no need to goggle it - figured its the same guy already. :)

[@jimcharles651]

Andy White, not Alan White!

[@gvgv3515]

@@jimcharles651 thank you I was wondering if Alan White, the Yes drummer hopped in a time machine to be playing on Beatles albums/ songs

[@obbor4]

This guy seems like he's the Little Richard of drummers. "(I'm the one who taught The Beatles to go, "Woooo!") Nobody else plays like Ringo. The man is clearly delusional. As delusional as those who claim the Pete Best was a better drummer than Ringo.

[@trueneutral1694]

obbor4 but isn’t it pretty apparent that’s where Paul got it from? I mean, Paul was a big Little Richard fan. The Beatles are my all time favorite band and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being inspired

[@edthesecond]

As for who taught Little Richard to go "Wooooo!", check out the recordings of the great Gospel Singer, Miss Marion Williams. No big deal really. Musicians are allowed to steal as long as they don't plagiarize.

[@azimovwatts6425]

@@edthesecond thats right. If musicians weren't stylistically influenced by each other then music wouldn't evolve

[@jeffthebracketman]

obbor4 also how about the (unconfirmed) rumor that Little Richard HIMSELF played the piano on the Beatles version of Long Tall Sally???

[@davidgreen8768]

Jeff Webber think you’ll find it was likely George Martin... i know he definitely played on some of their tracks when required

[@arniewince7133]

Purdie is a liar. He did play on the soundtrack album for a movie called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (soundtrack) which was made in 1978. While the movie is named after the Beatles album, and uses their music in the soundtrack, the Beatles themselves were not involved and it’s not a “Beatles Album”. That's his only involvement concerning the Beatles.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Good comment on the Pepper movie soundtrack. Didn't include it here due to time (and confusion!). But if Purdie wasn't involved at all, what are your thoughts on who overdubbed for the ATCO releases?

[@bassplayer10]

Frampton and the BGees...horrible movie!

[@TheGlendrum]

Purdie's comments are exaggerated and misleading. However great drummer and really nice guy.

[@mattickista]

@@bassplayer10 It was an absolutely horrible rendition of the original work

[@fobbitoperator3620]

"I read the news today oh boy. About a lucky man, who made the grade."

[@perudolux]

The first 4 track tape machines appeared in the mid-sixties.... something to consider when thinking about replacing drums. That means that on earlier recordings, drums are not isolated on tape but everything is bounced together on 2 tracks

[@josephnelson2591]

EMI got their first four track machines in 1959. They were used for opera, allowing the orchestra and singers to be isolated on stereo pairs. George Martin wanted to use them on pop sessions but didn't get approval until late 1963.

[@bigbeefscorcho]

I think Purdie just gets a kick out of whipping everybody into a frenzy over it. I think it’s funny!

[@digitalkulak7457]

As far-fetched as these claims may sound, I will add one relevant point of interest... In nearly every public appearance of Ringo drumming live post-Beatles, he does so with a second drummer. Starting from George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh in the early 1970s where Ringo drums with Jim Keltner. One interesting appearance was on Australian television. He drops his sticks, and the drumming keeps going. I thought it must have been pre-recorded and he was miming, then I realised that, once again, there was a second drummer... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKXOenmahZWfgNU I always thought it was strange to have 2 drummers onstage, even given Phil Spector's "wall of sound" technique. Make of this what you will. The second drummer theory, from the grassy knoll.

[@johnnhoj6749]

Concert For Bangladesh had multiple guitarists too. It was less a coherent band than a bunch of mates, as many who could make it. More to the point, Ringo was the sole drummer on stage with the Beatles on hundreds of occasions during the exact period when he was supposedly so inadequate.

[@lazrpo]

If there wasn't hours of footage of Ringo drumming with the Beatles when they were touring, you could've been onto something.

[@TheSolidheroes]

Reminds me of the rumors that Verdine White didn't actually play bass during the Eart Wind & Fire live shows but that backstage Louis Johnson an accomplished studio musician was actually the one doing all the insane bass lines and bass solos. Proof in the pudding: Watch V. White playing bass solos on later EWF shows he sounds like a below average amateur musician. I'm a musician too with stage experience ( guitar, bass) I saw a video of V. White at a Namm stand and he played like 1 basslick over and over looking slick in his slick boots.

[@digitalkulak7457]

@@TheSolidheroes Thanks, I might have a look at that!

[@dondamon4669]

He was an alcoholic at this point

[@kuroimusic]

[Interior car] George -- I want you to play in one of me songs. Eric -- No, man! Nobody plays in Beatles records! George -- Purdie did.

[@joellagonzales6343]

@MarceloKuroi *my*

[@kuroimusic]

@@joellagonzales6343 They talk like that. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouse#Lexicon_and_syntax

[@starshiptrooper7670]

I'm still trying to figure out if Paul is dead or not and now this!! Please don't make me play the records backwards again... A

[@hermanblume275]

Purdie played with The Originals, as well as The New Originals, and The Thamesmen. In the early '60s he toured briefly with Spinal Tap in place of James "Stumpy" Pepys, who was killed in a bizarre gardening accident. He was called in on Tap's tour in Japan in '82 for a brief period when Joe "Mama" Besser came down with a case of "mogo on the magogo." He also did session work for The Rutles and Blind Melon Chitlin. (source: Lester Bung, Cream Magazine)

[@waukivorycopse2402]

He also claimed he played on Alan Jardines 1965 Folk Punk anthem " Aw Cripes, it just ain't Fair" but he didn't. It was Bob Crane from Hogan's Heroes.

[@MattSmith-iq1ld]

I think some people in this thread do not understand what studio musicians do. They are supposed to be totally anonymous figures who don't take credit for anything. They do the session, take the pay check, and go on to the next date. If you speak about what you have done, it's grounds for losing work. There are literally dozens and dozens of hit songs over the years where a group's musicians have been completely replaced by session players, and the yet the record credits say that the only people who played on the album were the band's members. As for Bernard, I never believed him regarding The Beatles. For one thing, he is a true blue R&B drummer with a distinctive sound, and there isn't a single Beatles tune where the drums sound anything like his playing. Secondly, the Beatles have been so dissected from every possible angle that despite the anonymity that session players are supposed to keep, Ringo being replaced by Purdie would be a universally known fact if it were really true. The Beatles were just too huge to keep a secret along those lines. Most every biography that has been written about the Fab 4 would have Bernard Purdie references within its pages. The plain truth: Purdie is nowhere in most of these bios and discographies. Thirdly, God love him, but Bernard is known for having a massive ego. He used to place signs all around his drum kit that the artists, producers and record label had hired the best drummer in the world, the hitmaker Bernard Purdie, etc. I mean, it's charming and everything, but I see Purdie as a guy who could invent something like this Beatle thing to enhance his image and ego. Along with Hal Blaine, the guy was the biggest session player in the 60's. He had endless work at Atlantic Records playing his kind of music. Going overseas to play on Beatles sessions in the middle of Beatlemania.....I just don't buy it. The truth would have been widely exposed if true.

[@wylieship]

Was this before or after Paul died? What a bunch of hokum. Ringo is a great drummer, I never understood why he's the object of derision and silly conspiracies.

[@g.sferrazza10-13]

maybe its that he is a great drummer NOW. But he grew up as a Musician during the Beatles, not all his Drumming is Stellar, specially in the first recordings with him, which is prob why at times he did other things in Studio, Obviously by the White Album, He was Definitively all in as a Drummer Musician and Songwriter

[@mickavellian]

@@g.sferrazza10-13 Bull Shit. He nailed Love me do and I dare anyone to tell the difference from Andy White's take and Ringo's. Watch Ringo play I saw her standing there. live.

[@johnender8783]

@@mickavellian play it when? so you don't think he evolved during that time?

[@toothbrush5190]

Bernard played drums over Pete's drumming on the mono version of the Tony Sheridan sessions. The stereo versions are not messed with and are superior to the mono versions.

[@eti313]

"He's lying, he's always lying. Last week he said he invented the Everly Brothers."

[@danthomas2146]

"And Lawrence Welk! He always lyin'!"

[@jurgostuff]

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!

[@miker.9138]

Purdie: "I played over Ringo's drumming...Ringo didn't play at all...Ringo doesn't exist, he's a hologram."

[@whengmaingque7208]

Me in the 60s talking to Purdie: okay play this song "A Day In The Life" if your to pussy about it play this "Strawberry Fields"

[@Nobody4rpresident]

Purdie replaced Jon Bonham on Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain.” Bonham was too drunk to record that day. Purdie put his signature shuffle in the song so we would all know it was him. This was passed on to me by Jussie Smollett who heard it from Kathleen Blasey Ford.

[@rtcarleton]

I've always liked Bernard's work, especially on my favorite Steely Dan song, "Deacon Blues" though he was fairly rotten as Jeff Beck's drummer back in the 70's. That being said, I honestly don't think he could have overdubbed drums over Ringo's. Ringo's feel is so weird (and wonderful) and of course, they never used a click, that even if it were possibe to do it from a technical standpoint (drums were often on the same track with bass and guitar etc), I don't think it's possible from a musical standpoint. But for him to say that Ringo never played on ANY Beatles recordings is just plain Trumpian! I had heard that he may have overdubbed drums over the pete best band recordings, but most likely, he just played over the Tony Sheridan Hamburg sessions for later ATCO release. Too bad that he has to lie to cover up lies....

[@The22on]

lol @ Trumpian

[@sourisvoleur4854]

@@The22on seconded

[@GosokuRyuYodan]

It is common knowledge that producers often used seasoned, professional session men (and women) on recordings by these 60s groups. Playing live and playing in the studio are two totally separate things. Studio time was extremely expensive, the producers had a budget, and there was no time to have a neophyte learn the craft. I can hear three or four different drumming styles on Beatles' recordings, "Day Tripper" being one of the most obvious. As the Beatles became more famous, they gained more control over their sound. But, in the beginning, the producer called the shots. I don't know who played what, but I can hear differences on various tracks, and I know that using session players was/is a common practice.

[@outsidetheline7505]

Spot on, it comes down to money. And any drummer watching Beatles live stage vids would agree that Ringo was very basic and limited. It's obvious in his demeanor and playing style live, he's nothing more than a metronome behind the rest of the group.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Steve Martin played banjo on Hard Day's Night.

[@richiebricker]

Oh No

[@ChriTur]

Ringo responded to this in Max Weinberg's amazing book, The Big Beat. He said it was bullshit. No surprise. Purdie's also interviewed and states the same 21 song lie he kept up for years. Purdie was so damn busy in '63-'64 he probably can't remember. He overdubbed the Tony Sheridan sessions in NY at Atlantic studios, most likely.

[@seekingwisdom8]

Purdie is a great drummer, and it is repulsive to me that he needs to make sure people know that. I admire his work, but I doubt he over dubbed Ringo's drumming. There are always debates over who the "greatest" drummer is and it seems many like to trash Ringo. Drumming is more than speed or complicated grooves. A great drummer enhances the song and no other drummer could do what Ringo did. He may not play jazz riffs or super fast fills, but he had a style and creativity that complemented every song he played with the Beatles. Something as simple as putting towels over the toms when playing "Come together" and other songs was genius. He is one of the greatest drummers because he enhanced the music. He didn't need the attention, in fact I believe none of the Beatles needed to feel one was better than the other playing their instruments and singing. Song writing may be a different issue, but what does it matter. They were the greatest group ever and worked as a group to create perfect songs. Don't get me wrong, I love early Chicago, early Yes, the different variations of Fleetwood Mac, The Who and many many other bands and song writers, so for me it isn't that I worship the Beatles or Ringo, I just know what I like and I pay attention and study the the songs. Ringo displays great class by staying out of this. I won't trash Purdie other than my initial comment that I find his need to be recognized repulsive. He's a great musician who should be happy with his talent and his success.

[@LOKJazz]

Heaven forbid he promotes himself. There's a reason he's probably the most recorded drummer in the world. It's just hard to accept isn't it.

[@kingboobs20]

@@LOKJazz He could have promoted himself without making shit up and denying another musician his due credit. It was a classic douchebag move.

[@greg8598]

Said beautifully. My thoughts precisely.

[@patrickmadden9890]

@Jamie Uhler The commenter didn't spend any time promoting his own drumming, though, which is the point of his opening line. Self-promotion is at issue, not other-promotion. And if Purdie's claims are true, how would we know what kind of drummer Ringo is?

[@JoseAntonioDuclaud]

Extraordinary, smart and sensible remarks James. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@eljoe1235]

Excellent video. I had pieced this general idea together after reading the Weinberg book, but you did a great job of connecting all the dots.

[@senormedia]

Even if he did do overdubs on the ATCO material, I'm not sure he should want to take credit for them. They're not especially tight.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Funny point. I'm with ya.

[@keviniles8748]

To be fair though, that was the early 60s and recording technology was still pretty primitive. There were no click tracks or time stretch, or anything like that that is used today to "fix" or sweeten recordings. The whole point to overdubbing drums onto those recordings was because Best's drumming was sub-par and it's well documented that Sheridan and the session's original producer thought Best was sloppy and his tempo was inconsistent. No matter how good a drummer is, you can only be as tight as the original recording. If the track he was playing to was bad, there's not much he could have done to save it.

[@JFK1180]

If Purdie played on some Beatles songs Ringo would just have said so. A drummer will hear when his own drumtrack is overdubbed and he would also know who did it. George Martin would certainly know so as well. Remember that The Beatles wanted Ringo on drums because his style fit what they were doing. He may not be the most technical dummer for his life but he has feel and being left handed as well his drumming is very easy to recognise. The man can play. Why would they ever need Purdie?

[@baron34gr]

Does anyone else think that the Pete Best drumming on "Take Out Some Insurance" is a better fit for the song than the overdubbed Purdie drumming? I sure do.

[@ryanbradley248]

Me too

[@lukedelalio3155]

Truly - the overdub is all over the place, time wise.

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

If they were trying for the "Beat sound" then Best's playing on that song is 'understated"...which is odd because George Martin and John Lennon both complained that his playing has heavy and unimaginative.

[@marshallac50stack7]

The producer, Bert Kaempfert, had Pete Best whittle down his set and his playing until he was barely there. The bass holds down the groove. Best is just tapping the cymbals and snare. He plays much more strongly on the Decca tapes, which amount to his "personal best."

[@SAHBfan]

Kaempfert had little to no drums on many of his recordings. He was an easy listening / background / lounge kind of guy. No idea why he producing a record with Tony Sheriden and The Beatles in the first place.

[@trockfield77]

"Did Bernard Purdie replace Ringo on more than 20 Beatles records"? No.

[@killergoose7643]

Based on all the information presented here, this is my interpretation: Purdie initially misremembered the details of the session, but in later interviews embellished his story (not necessarily in bad faith, he comes off very playful in interviews and has probably mastered the art of bullshitting). But when it became public record and fans started taking interest, he not only doubled down but embellished it even more just to mess with hardcore Beatlemaniacs who took it personally. Then when he started writing his book, he scaled back the claims a bit to avoid having any definitive statements in writing that could potentially get him sued. It's obvious that Purdie's most specific claims about Ringo aren't true, but I don't hold any of it against him. He just messed with the wrong fanbase.

[@gas33z]

This seems like the most likely explanation. Entertainers over-embellish stories all the time, the reaction from fans just made him too angry to want to clear things up.

[@rishardlampese8947]

This conversation has been getting under my skin for years. I didn't even want to listen to this video but I'm glad I did. You spelled out what I've known for years. Ringo was great in the Beatles and never really needed any help period! Relegating him to tambourine on Love Me Do was something that should not have happened imo. Ringo was never given a chance to improve or adapt the feel to what Martin was aiming for. The few tunes that Paul played drums on had nothing to do with a lack of ability on Ringo's part. They were circumstantial. Thanks for posting this video. It's long overdue!

[@FabFourArchivist]

Thanks for the kind words. Happy to help get to the bottom of things.

[@jwjeffrey]

@@FabFourArchivist The fact Paul play drums instead of Ringo was Ringo wasn't around to play the drums so Paul did.Also with all of Paul's true confessions lately how come Paul never mentions somebody other than Ringo play the Drums? Surely Paul would have notice something like that.

[@heorgegarrison5554]

Now listen here, all of the beatles died at birth and i replaced them all and created every song soooo i gotta have some credit at least

[@scatteredfrog]

That was NOT Bernard Purdie on the drums. It was Carol Kaye. She was there. She played EVERYTHING.

[@fulcrumspigot455]

What a load of bollocks.

[@normsky5504]

When John Lennon and Phil Spector needed a drummer for the Imagine album they called Ringo and his drumming is outstanding on that record.

[@classykingman]

Norman Close Alan White

[@mickavellian]

ALL The Beatles called on Ringo even though they could have chosen Bernard if they wanted. but watch the Concert for Bangladesh and tell me who is drumming.

[@hunterthompson2206]

Reminds me of the SNL sketch where Eddie Murphy plays Clarence, the true fifth Beatle. He played saxophone on many tracks and John and Paul stole all of his ideas. (But before ya'll troll out on me, I will add that I do love Purdie's groove on "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan).

[@superkjell]

There are lots of studio musicians who can't keep track of all the records they played on.

[@Nochocheese125]

I love how much work you put into your videos. Really shows how much you care about the band and the fandom.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Hey, I REALLY appreciate that. That's exactly why I do it. It's fun to put these together, but sharing what I've spent hours and hours on, and then seeing the (usually!) positive response these get from fans? Priceless.

[@njiuma]

Geoff Emerick interview, no mention of Purdie, said, “Ringo worked hard in the studio” - kzbin.info/www/bejne/embGkplsoqZ0eaM Richard Lush interview, no mention of Purdie, also said, “Ringo worked hard in the studio” - kzbin.info/www/bejne/epPKaXmbrt1sgsk Barrow's 2005 book "John, Paul, George, Ringo and Me" is a detailed insider's view of The Beatles' story. There is no mention of Bernard Purdie in Barrow's book. - www.jimvallance.com/03-projects-folder/purdie-project-folder/pg-purdie.html Maybe Purdie played on 21 Beatles’ songs on the Sgt. Pepper movie soundtrack from the seventies and was paid $10,000 for it, confusing it with the actual Beatles’ music - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGWcgIZphLlnisU

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

Why is Purdie wearing one of Dr. Huxtable's sweaters?

[@verdict4me]

He aspires to be Bill Cosby.

[@ianbartle456]

@@verdict4me If so, he's already aced the bit where he has to be furtive and conspiritorial, if not outright deceptive.

[@MrTCHOSS]

Purdie also said he wrote The Shawshank Redemption and painted the Sistine Chapel

[@gvgv3515]

He also hunted for that elusive culinary fungus known today as the Bernie trouffle!

[@HankFinkle11]

This doesn’t deserve bandwidth. Anyone with an ear can spot Ringo’s playing a mile away. Purdie is delusional.

[@bassplayer10]

Scott Reed exactly. Ears people. Use em’👍🏼

[@jrpipik]

Great video. When Purdie made his claims, he was probably unaware that he was playing over Pete Best -- he'd probably never even heard of him! He just assumed it was Ringo. And then he got to bragging and exaggerating and well...

[@FabFourArchivist]

Yep. I think that's the gist of it!

[@AkingBones1]

I think his claim was on work way after Pete Best...The hits

[@robinsss]

he said the first two Beatles albums…………….……..that would have to include Please Please me no matter which way you slice it

[@lonedrone]

A similar type of story: Some years ago I was in a forum discussion of sorts with the great session bass player Carol Kaye who had laid claim to playing on a number of important Motown tracks attributed to the then late great James Jamerson who couldn't defend himself. The main issue was focused on the Stevie Wonder song "I was made to love her". She was extremely rude and arrogant to anyone questioning her claims and came across as a really malicious, almost deranged person. She never backed down from any challenge, and snapped back almost immediately with a barrage of abuse. I thought it was sad, and didn't see the point of taking it further (or descending to her level). Then I came across a backing track rehearsal take of the Beach Boys doing a version of this same song. I sent it to her, politely pointing out that the bass was clearly played with a pick (which she always did), and also pointed to the original where the bass is clearly played finger style (which Jamerson always did). For the first time I never got a reply. I really think she did believe she had played on the original. She played on over 10 000 recordings, so I can forgive her for mixing things up!

[@FabFourArchivist]

Great story - thanks! I'd heard of Kaye's (false?) claims for a while, but never dug in.

[@lonedrone]

Well, I did and never understood it really. She didn't need to prove her worth.

[@topsypart2880]

lonedrone who is this again?

[@chuckkirkpatrick6712]

It is a shame about Carol. I used to be friends with her but she got pissed when I watched the Wrecking Crew movie and like it. Here is what I believe to be true. Carol did play on "I Was Made To Love Her", but it was the Beach Boys' version from the "Wild Honey" album. As for the Motown stuff...supposedly Berry Gordy went to LA to cut tracks because he could get the Wrecking Crew to play for "demo scale", the caveat being that those tracks could not be overdubbed on and used for commercial release until the full session scale rate was paid. Word has it that Berry took these "demo" tracks back to Detroit, overdubbed vocals on them and then released them anyway, giving no credit (or money) to the musicians. Carol does relate an incident whereby she was about to blow the whistle on Gordy for doing this. And one late at night in the studio parking lot, she had a gun put to her head with a warning to keep her mouth shut.

[@ronj9448]

Carol Kaye stories are well documented on KZbin. She has a huge rich history of work to be proud of and is well respected so why she would go there must be old age. If you see any LONG (greater than 10 min) videos of her that are unedited she has a few odd ticks and changes direction in mid-conversation.

[@DaveRucci]

Well we know for damn sure at the very least that RINGO absolutely played drums on ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE as it was recorded live in front of the world.

[@josephnelson2591]

Actually most of "All You Need is Love" was mixed for the cameras. George's solo was live - listen carefully and you'll hear him choke on one of the notes - and John sang live, although he replaced his part after the broadcast.

[@josephnelson2591]

Mimed, not mixed.

[@audioworkshop1]

He also claimed we never went to the moon and it was faked in a recording studio in LA... He was brought in to sweeten the sound of the Saturn 5 lift off...

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Really well researched analysis. I can imagine that he did overdub the Hamburg sessions for that US label. The idea that a British band on a British label would use an American drummer in 1963 is incredibly unlikely, EVEN if Ringo needed overdubbing (which I doubt) they would surely have used a British session drummer (like Andy White) again, especially for the style of music they were producing in that period?

[@FabFourArchivist]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. Great points.

[@LOKJazz]

Your illusion would be shattered if you knew about just how much repair work that actually happens in the studio. I've been in the music industry since the late 1960's. Who do you think invented this music? You'd be dancing a jig in the middle of a field if not for the blues you wanker. Do your research. U guys just can't stand a Black man bragging. LOL Purdy and Gadd are probably the most recorded drummers in history

[@megavega4]

@@LOKJazz you're delusional. I don't care what race somebody is if they brag. What I do care about is the validity of their bragging. Bernard is lying. Much like Carol Kaye.

[@waukivorycopse2402]

Also who paid for Purdies fee? Pretty says he received a $10,000 cheque for his work. An outrageous amount in mid 1963, who's money was that?

[@rayhamilton6923]

I find it amazing that anyone would give any credibility to this man when, in the 55 years since he supposedly made these recordings, not a single person has come forward to confirm his story.

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

He's not just any man though is he. He's a legendary well respected drummer that has worked with the best of the best. He has absolutely no reason to make up such a story. His life is already full of much bigger accolades than doing some drum replacements. Its very possible he has remembered it wrong though. Although he seems quite adamant.

[@ronaldcaraway8184]

Remember that the Beetles were not only the band that changed music, they were a commodity, an for sure Purdie did play.

[@basslabd]

I would hope someone does this treatment on the Carol Kaye v James Jamerson Motown tracks like Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made To Love Her"

[@Guitarista129]

Ask Dr Licks!

[@1DaTJo]

Ringo is one of the best drummers ever. Full of feel, exuberance and creative imagination. Genius!

[@evangelos9660]

He's a STARR Darling A Starr!

[@The22on]

I remember listening through headphones to Sgt. Pepper when it came out. I was a bit...er... on the weed, so to speak, and I remember focusing on Ringo's drumming. His drum kit sounded really big. The kick drum was fat and the crash cymbal was pitched low. When Ringo hit the kick and cymbal together, they sounded like a freight train. Also, it sounded to me that Ringo played a tiny bit behind the beat. That seemed to put the brakes on the song and kept it from sounding rushed. Ringo may not be a drum speed demon, or technician, but his beat and fills were perfect for Peppers.

[@destroythenarrative7941]

Haha, you being sarcastic or just started playn drums last week ?

[@aunch3]

Let’s not get carried away. Ringo was good enough

[@johnsullivan2412]

@@destroythenarrative7941 Haha, Have you ignored practically every famous and admired rock drummer saying how much they admire Ringo and love his approach to playing?

[@JohnnyCameo]

I laughed out loud at Purdie’s clim that Ringo replaced Pete Best because his (Ringo’s) face fitted. Literally the only good thing about Pete being in the Beatles was his face. Ringo was drafted in for his drumming skills.

[@Daniel_Antonio_Arellano782]

Actually John Lennon picked Ringo in Germany after hearing him play with another band.

[@joekramer3596]

Usters B Ringo joined the Beatles in August 1962. He started drumming in c.1956 and was part of Liverpool’s most acclaimed skiffle group (The Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group) by 1958. He joined Rory Storm and the Hurricanes in 1959 and went with them on two seasons at a Butlin’s in North Wales (Butlin’s being a shite chain of holiday camps), several trips to Hamburg (both with Rory and without, he met the Beatles in the season during the Autumn of 1960). Pete was generally quite shit and was sacked because the record companies wanted to use a session drummer and the other generally disliked him.

[@constantheadache2045]

Usters B Wow your dumbass, or should I say WRONG. Ringo was one of the most prized drummers at the time when they picked him. Also, you clearly have never seen Ringo play live in the early days. Are you talking to yourself when you said “ get your facts straight”?

[@5000rgb]

"Ringo was drafted in for his drumming skills" Yes, at the point Ringo joined the Beatles could have their pick of drummers. No way they would bring a hack on board. Sure, some bands keep substandard musicians around because they were part of the band and the recordings get "fixed". But if you are in a high profile band you can find a good drummer. Anyone who says they can make a Beatles song sound better than Ringo is lying.

[@BillPeschel]

I heard it was Pete's trousers that attracted them.