The Beatles are the most famous rock and roll band in history. But who really wrote the songs? Was it John Lennon’s and Paul McCartney’s dominance of the songwriting during the earlier years or was it the other Beatle members, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, who composed many of the unforgettable tunes?
Experts have varying perspectives on the matter. Many believe that Lennon and McCartney wrote the majority of the songs because of the visibility of their names as authors on the album covers. Over the decade, from 1962 to 1970, they named nearly 150 songs together out of 206 officially released Beatles songs.
At the same time, it is widely accepted that George Harrison and Ring Starr had their own musical dexterity, as evidenced by the widespread recognition of Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” and Starr’s “Octopus’s Garden”. Therefore, many view these two Beatle members as essential for the diversification of the music in their later albums.
Harrison and Ringo Starr’s contribution to the Beatles music is also evident from the concert performances.
Live performances show that Harrison had taken on a larger role in leading the band during songs where he contributed to the original recordings, including “Something” and “Taxman”. Additionally, Starr often served as the lead drummer on his own compositions, such as “Don’t Pass Me By” and “With a Little Help from My Friends”.
It can be concluded that Lennon and McCartney had remarkable compositional talent and, of course, wrote the majority of the songs.
However, other Beatle members have important contributions to the band’s music. Harrison and Ringo Starr composed substantial amount of songs and, more crucially, they are responsible for diversifying the Beatles sound, adding elements of Indian and funk music into the mix. They were more than just backup instrumentalists.
Harrison’s Original Material
George Harrison was the “quiet Beatle” but he had some amazing compositions. His earliest compositions included “Don’t Bother Me” and “I Need You” from the Beatles’ second album, “A Hard Day’s Night”. Harrison went on to write other Beatles classics such as “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something” from the Abbey Road album and “It’s All Too Much” from the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.
Harrison wrote 14 Beatle songs in total, many of which went on to become big hits and fan favorites. His music was characterized by Indian influences, with the use of influential Indian instruments such as the sitar and the tambura. He also used classical and folk music influences in some of his songs.
Harrison was never as prolific as Lennon or McCartney in terms of songwriting, but his impact on the Beatles music was significant. His classic compositions broadened the Beatles’ sound, made them more adventurous and opened up new directions in rock music.
Ringo Starr’s Contributions
Ringo Starr was the other Beatle who made significant contributions to their music. He composed several Beatle classics such as “Octopus’s Garden” and “Don’t Pass Me By”.
Starr was an innovative drummer and instrumentalist, and he was also responsible for some of the Beatles’ most memorable chorus and vocal arrangements. His influence on the Beatles’ sound was crucial, and it laid the foundations for the unconventional direction the band would take on the later albums such as “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Abbey Road”.
Starr wrote six songs for the Beatles, and many of them were characterized by his signature whimsical and upbeat style.His drumming was fundamental for the evolution of rock music. He changed the way drums were being used and demonstrated to other musicians the art of improvisation.
Lingering Questions
So who wrote the Beatles songs after all? Lennon and McCartney created the majority of them and certainly made a huge contribution to the band’s artistic evolution. Harrison and Starr provided the Beatles with a breadth of sound and influence, going beyond just composition and performing. While it is impossible to deny Lennon and McCartney’s undeniable influence, it is difficult to deny that Harrison and Starr were essential for the evolution of the Beatles sound.
Like many aspects of the Beatles’ music, the answer to this question isn’t straightforward. We know that Lennon and McCartney wrote most of the songs but we also know that both Harrison and Starr made their own mark on the band’s music and deserve credit for their contributions.
Individually Acclaimed
After The Beatles disbanded in 1970, all four members pursued successful solo careers. In particular, Harrison and Starr continued to write their own material. Harrison had 20 solo albums and wrote some of his most celebrated songs such as “My Sweet Lord” and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”.
Starr likewise had a successful solo career and released some of his most memorable songs such as “Back Off Boogaloo” and “Photograph”.
Though neither Harrison nor Starr achieved the same degree of commercial success as Lennon and McCartney, they achieved acclaim in their own right.
Conclusion and Analysis
Looking back on The Beatles music, it is clear that while Lennon and McCartney wrote the majority of the songs, Harrison and Starr had their own unique influence. Both contributed their own unique styles to the band’s music, broadened the musical repertoire and made their respective mark on rock music.
Additionally, both became successful in their own right as solo artists. While Lennon and McCartney were undoubtedly the main songwriters of the Beatles, Harrison and Starr can certainly take credit for the originality and innovativeness of the band’s music.
