Ringo on piano in Don’t Pass Me By, White Album, 1968.Ringo’s piano, according to Bruce Spizer’s book “The Beatles On Apple Records,” was “miked through a guitar amplifier and Leslie speaker,” thus creating the odd swirling effect heard on the finished recording. Upon listening to the finished recording, it appears that the drums were also recorded in the same manner, that is, through a Leslie speaker, because of its altered appearance. Three instrumental takes were recorded, the third one ending with Paul commenting, “I think that’s got it,” followed by Ringo shouting to George Martin in the control room, “I think we’ve got something there, George!” ‘Take three,’ indeed, was the keeper, the song at this point including a repeat of the first verse before the final chorus appeared.Onto ‘take three” was recorded overdubs to fill up the four-track tape, Ringo on another piano and Paul playing a sleigh-bell found in EMI Studio’s sound effects cupboard. Kevin Howlett’s “Track By Track” describes what occured next: “An unnumbered take combined the piano and drums on track one while Ringo sang a lead vocal on track four.” A second drum track is evident on the song, so this description undoubtedly refers to Paul playing the awkward drum fills heard on the finished recording and even more clearly on the compilation album “Anthology 3.” Kevin Howlett’s description also infers that Ringo played an additional piano part which was recorded simultaneously on track four of the four-track tape.
