A closer look at the most famous drum fill in the Beatles’ catalog — and why it might not be Ringo playing it.
[Source] Before we get to the Beatles’ most famous drum fill, it’s worth remembering how records were actually made in the ’60s and ’70s — and why what you hear on a record might not be who you think you’re hearing.
1. How the Pros Made the Records You Love
In the 1960s and ’70s, most people imagined their favorite bands walked into the studio, played exactly what ended up on the record, and walked out.
The truth? There was often a quiet “fifth member” in the room — the session player.
Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew are the textbook example. When I was learning to play drums and really listening closely, I played along with the Beach Boys’ “I Get Around” because it has a very simple beat and a straightforward snare fill. But it wasn’t just simple — it was tight. Laser-tight. I remember thinking, There’s no way a teenage kid like Dennis Wilson played that cleanly. I vaguely recalled Hal Blaine might’ve been involved — so I looked it up. Sure enough, Blaine played it.
Session drummers like Blaine often had to keep things simple — because the onstage “talent” had to mimic the parts live. But the studio version had to be pistol-hot — punchy, clean, and built for radio.
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