The Beatles' Forgotten Collaborations: The Artists Who Helped Shape Their Sound
The Beatles took on a lot of collaborations through the years, both in the studio and on the road. Dozens of session musicians and roadies worked with them, some of which were quite famous. Let’s look at just a few examples! You might just be surprised to see a few of these names.
1. Billy Preston
This wouldn’t be a list of Beatles collaborations without mentioning the incomparable Billy Preston. He was one of several people to earn the label “The Fifth Beatle”, and for good reason.
He’s the only musician to earn a co-credit on a Beatles album, and he helped keep the band from deteriorating beyond control during the Let It Be sessions. A strong musician on his own, Preston deserves so much more love for his contributions to the Fab Four and music as a whole.
2. Donovan
Did you know that folk singer/songwriter Donovan once worked with the Fab Four? A bit of an unsung hero of Beatles collaborations, this British folk icon contributed vocals to the famed Beatles track “Yellow Submarine”.
3. Mal Evans
Mal Evans was The Beatles’ road manager for a time. Outside of being one of the most famous roadies ever, he also contributed quite a bit to The Beatles’ recorded works. He contributed a harmonica track to “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite” and drum and vocals to “Yellow Submarine”. He also took on less conventional instruments and tools for sound effects, such as the alarm clock in “A Day In The Life” and a shovel digging gravel for “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)”.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Em Casalena
