luisam Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 There are several people related to The Beatles who for some reason are known as "The fifth Beatle". One of them is Billy Preston, the only musician to be credited on a Beatles recording other than the group's four members: the group's number-one hit "Get Back" billed as "The Beatles with Billy Preston"; he also collaborated with the album "Let It Be". At one point during the Get Back sessions, John Lennon proposed the idea of having him join the band (to which Paul McCartney countered that it was difficult enough reaching agreements with four) Tony Sheridan was best known as an early collaborator of The Beatles (though the record was labelled as being with "The Beat Brothers"), and he really deserved to receive label performance credit on a record with the group as the fifth Beatle and the only non-Beatle to appear as lead singer on a Beatles recording which charted as a single. The records of Tony Sheridan with The Beatles are quite good though none of them got even near to the top. George Martin was referred to as the "Fifth Beatle", including by Paul McCartney, in reference to his extensive involvement on each of the Beatles' original albums. Martin produced 30 number-one hit singles in the United Kingdom and 23 number-one hits in the United States. Now, the most unlikely character who started referring to himself as the fifth Beatle as early as in 1964, long before any other one, was an annoying New York disc jockey started called Murray "the K" Kaufman. Murray jumped on the Beatles bandwagon early and endlessly promoted them on his popular radio show. The Beatles got the airplay (and publicity) when they needed it and Murray got a share of the limelight though currently no one really remembers him, nor recognizes him as a "fifth Beatle". By the way, do you know any other "fifth Beatle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylemessiah Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 What about Eric Clapton, the first non Beatle to appear on a Beatles recording - "While My guitar Gently Weeps", though he remains uncredited for it... Quote We tried to record it, but John and Paul were so used to just cranking out their tunes that it was very difficult at times to get serious and record one of mine. It wasn't happening. They weren't taking it seriously and I don't think they were even all playing on it, and so I went home that night thinking, 'Well, that's a shame,' because I knew the song was pretty good. The next day I was driving into London with Eric Clapton, and I said, 'What are you doing today? Why don't you come to the studio and play on this song for me?' He said, 'Oh, no - I can't do that. Nobody's ever played on a Beatles record and the others woulnd't like it.' I said, 'Look, it's my song and I'd like you to play on it.' So he came in. I said, 'Eric's going to play on this one,' and it was good because that then made everyone act better. Paul got on the piano and played a nice intro and they all took it more seriously. George Harrison Anthology Also while we're talking Eric, how about the time he was audtioned for the Stones, who were trying him out as a possible replacement for Keef...theres a version of Brown Sugar that surfaced not too long ago featuring Eric.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debebee Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Eddie Murphy on SNL Clarence Walker, the 5th Beatle https://vimeo.com/8904532 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkyy Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Pete Best was the original drummer with the Beatles but was "sacked" by Brian Epstein (under pressure mainly from John Lennon) to be then replaced by Ringo Star. Best really was the fifth Beatle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitorio Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Very interesting. I am a Beatle fan and did not know this information. Thanks for sharing it with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeRyde Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Pete Best, George Martin, Brian Epstein, or the lost Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luisam Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 3 hours ago, FreeRyde said: Pete Best, George Martin, Brian Epstein, or the lost Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe. That's correct. Stuart Sutcliffe was the original bass guitarist for The Beatles when it was a five-piece band, so he was ACTUALLY a fifth Beatle. He performed with The Beatles in Hamburg but left the band to pursue his career as a painter. He died suddenly in 1962 of an aneurysm. He and John Lennon are credited with inventing the name "Beetles", as reference to the "Crickets", Buddy Holly's band, but Lennon decided to change the name to "The Beatles", from the word beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcid10 Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 George Martin was the fifth Beatle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitorio Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 1 hour ago, luisam said: That's correct. Stuart Sutcliffe was the original bass guitarist for The Beatles when it was a five-piece band, so he was ACTUALLY a fifth Beatle. He performed with The Beatles in Hamburg but left the band to pursue his career as a painter. He died suddenly in 1962 of an aneurysm. He and John Lennon are credited with inventing the name "Beetles", as reference to the "Crickets", Buddy Holly's band, but Lennon decided to change the name to "The Beatles", from the word beat. You are a truly Beatles fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkyy Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Randolph Peter "Pete" Best (born Randolph Peter Scanland, 24 November 1941) is an English musician, principally known as the original drummer for the Beatles from 1960 to 1962. Best was born in the city of Madras, then part of British India. After Best's mother, Mona Best (1924–1988), moved to Liverpool in 1945, she opened the Casbah Coffee Club in the cellar of the Bests' house in Liverpool. The Beatles (at the time known as the Quarrymen) played some of their first concerts at the club. The Beatles invited Best to join on 12 August 1960, on the eve of the group's first Hamburg season of club dates. Ringo Starr eventually replaced Best on 16 August 1962 when the group's manager, Brian Epstein, dismissed Best under the direction of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, following their first recording session at Abbey Road Studios in London. After working in a number of commercially unsuccessful groups, Best gave up the music industry to work as a civil servant for 20 years, before starting the Pete Best Band. He has been married for over 50 years to Kathy Best; they have two daughters, Babs and Bonita, and four grandchildren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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