Because The Beatles and The Rolling Stones rose to prominence at nearly the same moment, comparisons between the two were inevitable. Decades later, Paul McCartney recalled a conversation with Keith Richards that captured one of the most fundamental differences between the bands—and it was something McCartney hadn’t fully considered until Richards pointed it out.
Richards’ observation was simple but striking: The Beatles had four vocalists, while The Stones relied primarily on one. McCartney admitted that remarks like that stopped him in his tracks. It wasn’t just about voices, either—it was about creative contributors. In The Beatles, everyone brought something to the table, not only as singers but as writers.
That collective depth was a defining strength. The Lennon–McCartney partnership alone reshaped modern songwriting, producing a body of work that felt entirely new at the time and permanently altered how popular music was written and judged. Their songs didn’t just top charts; they reset expectations.
George Harrison, often overshadowed early on, was another vital piece of that creative engine. Though many of his compositions were initially sidelined for not fitting the band’s established sound, his talent was undeniable. When his work did surface, it produced some of the group’s most enduring moments—‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ being a prime example of his quiet brilliance.
That kind of creative density was rare, if not unprecedented. Graham Nash once marveled at the group’s ability to generate timeless music from such limited raw materials, pointing out how astonishing their melodic clarity and simplicity remain even today. Working within the same basic twelve-note musical framework as everyone else, The Beatles somehow made it feel endlessly new.
Ringo Starr’s role was different. He was never a primary lyricist and rarely pushed himself forward as a lead vocalist. While he sang on select tracks and contributed a handful of songs, his strength lay elsewhere. He could stay on pitch, but his performances often lacked the emotional weight that defined much of The Beatles’ catalog.
That limitation has followed him into his solo career. On his more recent album Look Up, for instance, the musicianship is polished, but the emotional connection—especially important in country music—feels elusive. Critics have noted that while Starr’s voice is instantly recognizable, it can sound detached, missing the warmth and lived-in feeling that give the genre its power.
Because of this, Starr naturally settled into the role of occasional lead and frequent backing vocalist during The Beatles’ run. Still, there was at least one song he felt was made for him—and he didn’t hesitate to claim it. When the band recorded ‘Act Naturally’ for Help!, Starr discovered it on a Buck Owens record and immediately called dibs. The others agreed without argument.
Reflecting on that period, Starr recalled how wide-ranging the band’s listening habits were. John Lennon took the mic on ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzy,’ McCartney was crafting ‘Yesterday’—a song that would go on to become the most recorded composition in popular music—and everyone was absorbing influences from every direction. In that environment, each Beatle found his place, and together they created something no single voice ever could.