American Reacts to The Beatles' Drum Mystery!

[@johnsilva9139]

That's definitely Ringo on bass.

[@nolaj114]

That was a pretty quick dismissal of Donovan. Maybe a deeper dive on Donovan would be warranted.

[@RabidJohn]

Absolutely!

[@johnsilva9139]

Yes. "Catch the Wind" definitely sounds like Dylan (specifically "Chimes of Freedom"), but Donovan definitely found his own voice and style later on with hits like "Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow", "Hurdy Gurdy Man" etc.

[@phillipfitton8364]

Ringo left the band for a little while during the white album sessions it was right when they started recording ,so Paul was on the drums for “back in the USSR “and “dear prudence.”The first two songs recorded for the White album……. He also was on the drums for the song “a day in a life” and “the ballad of John and Yoko”….

[@PaulCooke-md8rj]

Beatles music is as good to hear now as 60 years ago, it's timeless and I still listen to it regularly

[@nicw5574]

It's a beautiful song. I love Siouxsie and the Banshees version of it

[@RabidJohn]

That was the 1st version I heard.

[@boredweegie553]

First version I heard too.born in the 70s ​@@RabidJohn

[@skasteve6528]

Paul was a good enough drummer that he could emulate a style that he'd been hearing for the for the past six years or so.

[@tonyjohnson1405]

Donovan..hurdy Gurdy man with Jeff Beck.. and others is my favourite.. though he did a beautifully soundtrack for the film Brother Son Sister Moon

[@timholder6825]

I prefer Steve Hillage's version of Hurdy Gurdy Man.

[@nolaj114]

I loved that movie. ❤

[@tonyjohnson1405]

@ me too

[@Bill_Jones.]

And that’s John on bass on Helter Skelter. And if you want a good example of Ringo’s sound while playing to the song, check out “I Feel Fine.” Unbelievable drumming on that #1.

[@roowyrm9576]

I grew up with the music of the Beatles. I was 13 in 1968, and listened to the album over and over, on my summer holiday. I stayed with family friends for the whole summer, they had 3 children and I was the same age as the middle child. The oldest kid was the record buyer, but was happy to let us younger ones listen to his beatles albums. The family lived in Glastonbury, the nearest Cinema was in the next town over. For each of the Beatles films arrival in the local cinema, we (the older 3) would cycle from Glastonbury and join the queue to see it. We saw Hard Day's Night, and Help that way. On our ride between towns we'd usually discuss which of the Beatles we liked best - my choice was usually George.

[@wilsonperez2668]

I too am an audio engineer and I can pull apart any piece of studio equipment... Putting it back together is another story though... 😂 Really enjoy your break downs and energy... or lack of it... 😂

[@debjorgo]

They are making the screw heads all different now, so you have to have special tools to take anything apart. You can't even take the casing off now. Used to be you could fix a lot of things by pulling the 'top' off, blowing the dust out, tightening some screws.... Not anymore.

[@AlBarzUK]

@@debjorgo so sad that people keep wrecking things by making them better. ☹️

[@wholeshebang1]

@@debjorgo - Ah, proprietary screwheads. Those have been in use for anti-theft bicycle parts for about 20 years, and by city infrastructure like "post & ring" bicycle lock-ups installed on public property for the same duration.

[@MattMcQueen1]

Donovan was Scotland's anwer to Bob Dylan. He was (and still is) great.

[@timholder6825]

But not so political or as gritty as Dylan.

[@MattMcQueen1]

@@timholder6825 true

[@AlBarzUK]

And a better singing voice. (IMHO 😁)

[@MrAlexBun]

You need to listen to some of Donovan’s psychedelic oeuvre … “Season of the Witch” or “Hurdy Gurdy Man”

[@MARKSTRINGFELLOW1]

Paul and Ringo are both left handed

[@lilacfiddler1]

The Beatles had a strong work ethic, they developed so many tunes, songs and styles in a few short years

[@RabidJohn]

Esher is definitely pronounced ee-sher. I live in the UK and did not know until I had to go there!

[@Jeni10]

Donovan was a Scottish musician and composer. His songs influenced a generation of artists.

[@RabidJohn]

Still is. Not dead yet.

[@Ron-l9d]

Regardless if Ringo played drums on the track or not everyone knows he easily could have. So why all the debate? Most of us know Paul exceeded at any instrument he played so if he played drums in the studio on a few songs it should not be that surprising. Heck look what Paul did with Wings. The dude played like everything no problem. Of course after being in a band with Ringo as a drummer for a decade had to rub off.

[@lewistaylor1965]

Sometimes a band does so many takes and swaps instruments so regularly even they can't be sure years later what made it to the final mix...The Beatles were no exception

[@MARKSTRINGFELLOW1]

Donovan is great!!

[@RabidJohn]

Yeah, JJ was way too dismissive about the quintessential British hippy. Check him out properly, JJ, you will be surprised.

[@MillsyLM]

I must recommend a podcast called "Gimme Some Truth" which deals with rarely explored events in the Beatles career. There is an episode dealing with Dear Prudence showing that Ringo was actually around for the sessions. He is listed as playing on a session for Jackie Lomax (if i recall correctly) on August 27th.

[@marcusphelan57]

I listened to that and I was underwhelmed by the "evidence" of Ringo's participation in the session.

[@atrus3823]

It’s not as simple as faint drums in vocal track, and drums switch sounds part way through, there is some clear layering. I noticed this before I knew anything about this mystery.

[@pestbsn]

It's interesting that this is the story of Ringo's leaving that has been consistently used. Although, it's not the reason Ringo gave in the Anthology series. More telling, however, is that in the Get Back Documentary, we see John showing Ringo how he wanted Ringo to play on one of his songs. They were in the control booth and John was playing out the beat with his hand on the wall, while Ringo was very seriously watching him. A bit hypocritical, I think. Although, admittedly, perhaps Paul was doing so more consistently. But if not, it wouldn't be the first myth that hasn’t been debunked yet. No one knows for sure except the two remaining Beatles. And, in interviews, Ringo has consistently stated that the reason he left was because he didn’t feel like he was a part of the group. That the other three were close and shutting him out. Perhaps, since he and Paul are the only two left, he hasn't wanted to cause tension between their bond and friendship. Yet, during the Anthology series George was also still alive. And although George was very honest when he plainly said that it was John and Paul's egos that caused them to start Apple, he never corrected Ringo's version of events. *shrugs*.

[@1monki]

There's a difference between, "I'm hearing something like this," and "Play it like this." Both George and Ringo seemed to like working with John and continued to do so after the band broke up. I wouldn't be surprised if Paul had a clearer vision of exactly what he wanted, which is why he recorded so many parts of his own songs. Different personalities and ways of working. Unrelated to that, I'm surprised Ringo didn't sing more harmonies after the band stopped touring. They wrote songs for him to sing, but he didn't seem to join in the general harmonies, even though he was there for the sessions. IDK.

[@NigelThompson-hb5jg]

Beatles 'heads' have said for years that the main track is MacCartney and the outro is Ringo.

[@Ron-l9d]

For a song like Dear Prudence which is not necessarily a heavy song, has very strong dynamics. Might have been what inspired bands like The Smashing Pumpkins 30 years later? Regardless, timeless as well as ahead of it's time. It never gets old. Just continues to invoke wonderfulness.

[@seanoreilly7293]

I promtly when to India when the Beatles came back from the indian tour. I was deported 32 months later, Duly informed.

[@Ron-l9d]

The guitar crescendo at the end of Dear Prudence is spectacular. Could they have done as well using 4 track over 8 track?

[@Ron-l9d]

Regardless, this is in the top 5 of my favorite Beatles songs. And once I was able to really hear Paul's bass lines after remastering might move it up to top 3.

[@gingerwaynos]

Donovan had some great tunes. Check out Barabajagal.

[@davidwright7588]

Ringo and Paul are both left handed that might be relevant, like they both hit the snare backwards therefore sound the same or something.

[@stopthink7202]

I hold the Beatles in very high regard and like a lot of their music but with regard to not being able to unhear the difference in the drum styles. I haven't even watched this clip to the very end and I have unheard it already 🙂

[@spursgog835]

Donovan fan here try listening to Hurdy Gordy Man and then find out who backed him.

[@Bill_Jones.]

Jimmy Page did.

[@Ron-l9d]

Ringo earned his stripes regardless.

[@Blink3h69]

Esher Is not pronounced like the artist Escher, its the way the original video said it.

[@tonyjohnson1405]

Favourite..played our bands version live with glee...

[@nolaj114]

For non-Australians who might not be familiar with it, the soulful and gutsier-sounding Doug Parkinson version of "Dear Prudence" is worth a listen.

[@TheCornishCockney]

The original is almost always the definitive version. This is no exception.

[@nolaj114]

In your opinion 😊​@@TheCornishCockney

[@bobmcdougall8981]

Check out dear prudence by Aussie singer Doug Parkinson. Superb.

[@Kjærli_Lyst-hår]

You absolute philistine! Donovan is great.

[@trevorcook4439]

Ringo stormed out in a Hurricane

[@natg81]

Looks like he wrote it with his foot 😂😂😂 very true!!

[@patpopov]

I'm not having it, that's definitely Billy Shears playing the drums.

[@Tgs-z9w]

Raw talent jj raw talent😊

[@jennyvowles8279]

It's "Eeeee-sher", but never mind!

[@Ron-l9d]

Hey... they had Eric Clapton play lead guitar on 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps".. does that take anything away from the other 100's of songs where Harrison played lead? NO. So why would we take anything away from Ringo if another person played drums on a song or two?

[@graemerigg4029]

EMI- Every Mistake Imaginable 😂

[@TheCornishCockney]

I worked there for a time in Hayes,Middlesex and it was like a branch of the government with boffins in white coats dashing about. On the plus side though,I increased my record collection by about 220!

[@alasterjordan1197]

Eeesher is the correct pronunciation :)

[@keithdf2001]

He is still alive. Someone can ask him

[@skasteve6528]

It was the sixties. 'If you can remember the sixties..........'

[@duncanny5848]

Donovan is v different to Bob Dylan. Strongly suggest you check him out

[@jenscee7679]

It’s not a mystery. Ringo did overdub the drums on this track. Macca is a competent drummer but very straight up and down the kit with his fills (Back in the USSR and the Ballad of John and Yoko are his and very different to Ringo). Paul didn’t swing very well.

[@ianbalish3852]

The Beatles sessions were heavily documented, and this was no exception, especially by 1968. As a drummer myself, I consider Ringo to be one of the greatest of all time. That being said, it’s Paul. While he’s nowhere near as good as Ringo, he’s laid down some very solid drum tracks. Of course he can swing. Listen to Helen Wheels by Wings, that’s all swing man. Listen to My Dark Hour by the Steve Miller Band, Paul lays down some very solid drums with some great fills on that track. If Ringo returned during the Trident sessions to play on Dear Prudence, it would have been documented. A Beatle quitting and coming back was a HUGE deal. If they brought the tape back to EMI and Ringo overdubbed drums, it would have been documented on the tape. None of that is documented. However, it is documented that Ringo returned to the studio exactly on the day they started While My Guitar Gently Weeps. While Paul is certainly no Ringo, he was absolutely capable of that drumming at the end of Dear Prudence, even if he had to work a little harder at it than Ringo would have.

[@marcusphelan57]

@@ianbalish3852 I agree with everything you say except for Helen Wheels. Paul's achillies heel was playing shuffles, he admitted he just cannot do it (which counts out his official Old Brown Show drum credit - that's SO Ringo it ain't funny.) Like the fills in Dear Prudence, Hellen Wheels is a compostite drum track, with a cowbell serving as a click. It's easy to spot that the fills, kick/snare and ride cymbal are recorded separately.

[@ianbalish3852]

@@marcusphelan57 you’re absolutely right, forgot about that.

[@TobiasCruelty]

It may be apocryphal but apparently when John was asked by an interviewer if he thought Ringo was the best drummer in the world, he replied "He isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles!"

[@MillsyLM]

It's long been debunked that John never ever said that. It was written for a Radio 2 play performed in 1981 and later used by Jasper Carrot.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Not having it. That’s DEFINITELY Ringo and as mentioned earlier,his drum part was phoned in. Explain to me why I’m wrong.

[@marcusphelan57]

Must have been a wrong number.

[@johnlaing281]

Good song, I prefer Siouxie and the Banshees cover though to be honest.

[@archiebald4717]

It is eesher.

[@capablancauk]

Paul could mimic the other Beatles. John's vocals too!

[@Tgs-z9w]

Hey jj check our the story of dave stewart😊

[@Ade2bee]

I live in Esher

[@Matty3H.I]

It's EEESHER.

[@Tgs-z9w]

Clacton on sea

[@leestrawberryfields...]

Paul, to this day, cannot play triplets. He hasn't got the coordination. This is what Paul states himself when showing someone around his studio. The video is on KZbin. Maybe he's being modest, but these are his words

[@traceylou2917]

JJLA I hope you see this comment. Please please can you do a reaction to this guy Ren. He is a British musician, from Brighton. He has such a unique talent and I think you would love him. Also you can react to his music without infringement of cooyright. He has many many reactors. This is one of my favourite songs, but he has a variety of songs you should check out. Would love to see your reaction, especially to his Violets Tale Trilogy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZDRlGR_i9SArsUsi=g5EegHdpYPEKUAc0

[@PaulCooke-md8rj]

Donovan was great in the sixties but then disappeared off the scene

[@melvincain5012]

Esher IS pronounced Eeesher.

[@Tgs-z9w]

Ajabu is the capital of nigeria

[@AlBarzUK]

What’s the capital of Niger?

[@MARKSTRINGFELLOW1]

John should have been a Doctor

[@Tgs-z9w]

Anniexlennox look

[@magdos7160]

962nd

[@Tgs-z9w]

Also there 8s a house in nleans the animals teddy boys

[@AlBarzUK]

I wish I could mangle the language as robustly.

[@chrispalmer2353]

It’s eeescher the place in Surrey England, escher the artist is what you are pronouncing

[@stevenblack518]

Awful

[@davidmontgomery9846]

I grew up listening and loving the Beatles but I think the White Double Album is vastly overrated and in fact has some truly awful songs on it which are only admired and loved because they came from the Beatles .Dear Prudence is one of them .

[@ianbalish3852]

Your opinion sucks

[@timholder6825]

It's an inlimited supply. And there is no reason why. I tell you it was all a game. They only did cause of fame. Who? EMI.

[@timholder6825]

I think it was George who was asked by a journalist, is Tingp the best drummer in the world? To which he replied, he's not even the best drummer in The Beatles.

[@brianalmeida1964]

That is not true. It was a joke told by the British comedian Jasper Carrot, and in the joke, it was John who said it. It has since become an urban legend.

[@AlBarzUK]

Stop! Just stop repeating this fake take.