"The second side of Abbey Road is my favorite"
About this Quote
A harmless fan take from a Beatle lands with the quiet punch of self-editing history. When Ringo Starr says, "The second side of Abbey Road is my favorite", he isn’t just ranking tracks; he’s endorsing the moment the Beatles solved their own chaos with craft. Side two is the famous medley: fragments stitched into a single, forward-leaning rush. It’s where the band stops pretending they’re a normal rock group and becomes something closer to a studio-directed narrative machine. Choosing that half signals affection for cohesion over spotlight, for arrangement over swagger.
The subtext is personal, too. Ringo was often cast as the lovable supporting character in Beatles mythology, the steady drummer while Lennon and McCartney fought for auteur status. Side two is arguably the record’s most collective achievement: no single song tries to dominate; each piece hands off to the next. It’s a democratic kind of brilliance, which fits Ringo’s public persona and his musical role. His taste quietly argues that the Beatles were greatest when ego got subordinated to flow.
Context sharpens the line. Abbey Road is widely treated as the band’s last statement, even if Let It Be was released later. Loving side two is liking the part that sounds like a farewell without saying goodbye, the part that turns mess into momentum. It’s also a subtle flex: Ringo was there, inside the machine, pointing not to legend but to the actual work. That grounded preference makes the myth feel earned.
The subtext is personal, too. Ringo was often cast as the lovable supporting character in Beatles mythology, the steady drummer while Lennon and McCartney fought for auteur status. Side two is arguably the record’s most collective achievement: no single song tries to dominate; each piece hands off to the next. It’s a democratic kind of brilliance, which fits Ringo’s public persona and his musical role. His taste quietly argues that the Beatles were greatest when ego got subordinated to flow.
Context sharpens the line. Abbey Road is widely treated as the band’s last statement, even if Let It Be was released later. Loving side two is liking the part that sounds like a farewell without saying goodbye, the part that turns mess into momentum. It’s also a subtle flex: Ringo was there, inside the machine, pointing not to legend but to the actual work. That grounded preference makes the myth feel earned.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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