When it comes to ranking the Beatles for their musical talent/skill it usually goes John or Paul (depending on who’s doing the ranking), George and then Ringo.
This order is pretty universal, the only variation is in the positions for 1 and 2, but 3 and 4 are well known.
Most people will only know Ringo as the 4th Beatle and pity him for it but Ringo had serious strengths that the other three lacked.
The largest proof of this is in the aftermath of the Beatles break up.
John and Paul spent years attacking each other via songs, the media and angry letters.
Paul and George only reconciled when George was terminally ill.
And according to Philip Norman’s ‘Shout’ George and John never reconciled whilst John was alive.
Whether as Ringo was the only one to maintain a healthy relationship with all his former band mates.
He worked with all of them in his solo career.
He flew into New York to visit Yoko immediately after John was murdered (the only former Beatle to do so).
When Paul and Ringo’s first solo albums intended release dates clashed and it appeared that Apple was going to decide in favour of Ringo, he went over to Paul’s house to talk it over. After the talk went sour and Paul launched into a furious anger, threatening Ringo and the others, not only did Ringo not hold a grudge, but he convinced the others to give Paul his desired release date thereby delaying his own.
It’s easy to dismiss Ringo but in the category of friendship he proved to be the best Beatle.
Thomas Duggan 