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.

Videos by American Songwriter

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)”. 

Evans’ story is pretty tragic, and a fascinating look at what it was like working with The Beatles. The above-embedded video is a must-watch for music history buffs.

4. Brian Jones

Yep, I’m talking about that Brian Jones. Even diehard Beatles fans may not know about the collaborations between The Rolling Stones’ late guitarist and the Fab Four. Jones contributed his vocal chops to “Yellow Submarine” and an alto saxophone track to “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)”. Sadly, Jones passed away just a few years after those famous collaborations.

Photo via Getty Images

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