All 11 Beatles Songs With Ringo Starr on Lead Vocals, Ranked
The article ranks all 11 Beatles songs on which Ringo Starr sang lead, arguing that his contribution to the band’s sound is often underappreciated. It traces his vocal roles from early rock’n’roll covers to songs written by band members, including tracks that suited his distinctive voice.
Several selections were covers the band had performed before Starr joined, such as Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” and “Honey Don’t”. Recording “Matchbox” while suffering from a sore throat led to acute tonsillitis and Starr missing the start of a world tour, when Jimmie Nicol filled in for nearly two weeks. The article also discusses “Good Night”, written by John Lennon as a lullaby for his son Julian, and Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally”, whose story of becoming a screen star echoes Starr’s later acting career.
In short
- The article ranks 11 Beatles songs with Ringo Starr on lead vocals.
- Starr sang early rock’n’roll covers as well as songs by Lennon and McCartney.
- His sore throat during “Matchbox” recording led to a brief tour replacement.
Explained simply
Ringo Starr was the Beatles’ drummer and also sang lead on a small number of their songs. His voice had a lower, more conversational quality than the group’s other singers, and the band often chose material that suited it.
Some of Starr’s vocal parts came from rock’n’roll and country songs the Beatles had played before he joined, including songs by Carl Perkins and Buck Owens. Other tracks were written within the band: John Lennon wrote “Good Night” as a lullaby for his son Julian, while “Act Naturally” tells the story of someone hoping to become a film star.
Starr’s place in the Beatles also extended beyond music: he later became an actor. His lead vocals offer one way to hear how the band used different voices and influences across their recordings.