Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

We've all heard the term before - "So-and-so is considered the fifth Beatles due to their contribution of...". Seems like almost everyone who knew them was bestowed with that title at some point. So what's your opinion? Who do you think deserved that distinction? And if you care, please give us your reason (or reasons) why you believe that.

It is my opinion that while many can be called the 5th Beatle, the only clear cut person to fulfill that post is George Martin. I believe his uncanny ability to compose, produce, engineer and sometimes even perform in the studio with the boys is unequalled by any other person that is associated with the Beatles.

It was Georde Martin that really gave them their shot, recognizing their "personal charm" initially, but guiding them in the right direction when it came to composing their first number one, introducing and scoring strings into Yesterday, ensuring that the boys would not only compete with Pet Sounds but, yes obliterate it in such a way to help change music into a more significant popular culture. Molding A Day In The Life from the original vocal/ guitar arrangement into the masterpiece it became, not to mention the awesome piano/keyboard contributions from Rock "N" Roll Music to In My Life. Martin, I'm sure coached the boys within the boundaries of keys utilized in the early part of their career, and transcribed their music to paper. Never one to back down from new ideas, Martin would incorporate them instead of brush them aside, make them work instead of stating that it couldn't be done.

Yes, yes, we owe George Martin a great amount of gratitude, for in my opinion, we would have had the raw Beatles, but never would have seen them in the greatness that George Martin director them too.

And without further ado, I nominate George Martin as the true Fifth Beatle!

YMMV!!!

Billy Preston--the only of the choices (I think) actually credited on a Beatles album as playing with the band....

Besides--what would the "Rooftop" concert have been without him?

George Martin, hands down.

Thanks to Murray the K, though, for coining the term "fifth Beatle".

He's listed in the poll, Kira.

Aha, you caught me correcting myself!

George Martin. From the moment he decided to issue "Love Me Do" as their debut single instead of "How Do You Do It?" he had more influence on the direction of their career than anyone aside from Brian Epstein and the Beatles themselves. He took a chance on their own compositions when the Beatles themselves probably would have (begrudingly) done whatever George Martin asked. I can't imagine we'd be talking about them today they'd released "How Do You Do It" and followed it up with another cover.

And later, his arrangements became part of the Beatles 'sound' - Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby, Strawberry Fields Forever, All You Need is Love, I Am the Walrus, Glass Onion, and many others all bear his prominent stamp. The solo section of "In My Life" is George Martin's composition and playing, too, as just one further example.

The Beatles were forunate to find George Martin!

Neil Aspinall is an interesting alternate choice, since he looked after their affairs from the early days right through to his death a short time ago, but no one can match the massive creative input George Martin gave them.

There are so many reasons why I picked George Martin...but the most compelling to me is that he is the only one of these choices that actively created the songs with the Beatles. So, okay, Billy Preston can be said to have done that...but only on occasion. Martin was there for the entire ride, and his input was an integral part of the output in any Beatles recording.

lyle_from_minneapolis wrote:There are so many reasons why I picked George Martin...but the most compelling to me is that he is the only one of these choices that actively created the songs with the Beatles.... Martin was there for the entire ride, and his input was an integral part of the output in any Beatles recording.

Yup.

JimK

This one's not as simple as it seems Kris. All the nominations, apart from Yoko and Murray, thouroughly deserve some right to claim themselves as the "5th" Beatle. I've gone for Stu. Reasons being he influenced John to continue his dream of having the greatest band in the world! I doubt a 17 year old George would have had the same sway, also Paul was not as close to Lennon as Stu was.
As for poor old Pete,..well, it's all been said before!
George Martin is right up there, but just a shade behind Stu, IMHO.

The fifth Beatles was known to be Billy Preston as he is the only one who performed with them and has credits for Get back piano solo and all keyboards on Let It Be!

George Martin I consider a non performing Beatle His Influence help create the Beatle's sound

Brian Epstein I would also Consider a Non-performing Beatle, his early influence created Beatlemania

I would only consider a Musician who played with the Beatles the fifth Beatle

I voted for Stu because he WAS a member and played live shows, but I think ultimately it was George Martin. He played on a number of recordings and his arrangements helped great songs transcend beyond their contemporaries, as well as all those who have followed. John in particular benefitted from George's scoring on his more ambitious tracks (Strawberry Fields, I Am the Walrus and Glass Onion all spring to mind). He was the person who could have kept them as moptops, chosen covers such as 'How Do You Do It' as their singles and put forward one individual as the star, yet he knew when to defer, collaborate and simply realize their ambitions. Lastly, his production has stood the test of time better than almost any other producer.

Another George Martin vote here.

Yup, GM. Many people dont know how often his keyboard is heard on Beatle songs.

Another vote for George Martin. He was a huge influence on their sound and also on their arrangements.