Recorded - February 15, 1965
Released - April 9, 1965 (UK and US)
#1 for week of May 22, 1965.
I don't know what it was about the spring of 1965, but here we have the fourth US #1 in a row which is of British origin. However, unlike the previous three singles, "Ticket To Ride" is neither corny, bland, or a guilty pleasure, respectively. Rather, The Beatles showcase yet again why they were one of the top innovative bands of the time. A mere two years since their debut album, their sound had changed significantly and thus, this song could be considered the beginning of their most creative period musically.
"Ticket To Ride" was the very first song The Beatles recorded in both 1965 and for their then-untitled second film/fifth album, which would soon be named, Help!. As an appropriate coincidence, earlier in the day before the session had begun, John Lennon, the primary writer of "Ticket To Ride", had passed his drivers test.
Musically, this is easily one of my favorite early Beatles tracks. Guitar-wise, you have plenty of jangly Rickenbacker guitars, with the lead part played unusually by Paul, instead of George. The song's simple but effective intro riff occurs throughout the song. Another innovation is the raga-like droning feel of the verses. However, this is surely just a coincidence as it would be a few more months until The Beatles, and especially George, were exposed to authentic Indian music.
However, the song's main attraction, and the reason I love it so much, is Ringo's drumming. For those who feel the need to understate Ringo's abilities as a drummer, look no further than this song to be proven otherwise. No other musical group of the time recorded in such a perfectly timed start/stop pattern as Mr. Starr does on "Ticket To Ride". He even adds some variety by giving us a different drum fill per-chorus. It's this massive powerhouse of a drum track that permanently raised the bar on how skilled your band's drummer must be.
Vocally, this song is primarily John's spotlight although Paul is very prominent in the backing vocal department. As a further surprise to the listener, the end of the song features a unique coda. This additional add-on, under the hands of most bands, would have been turned into a separate song all together. Here, The Beatles practically turn "Ticket To Ride" into a medley and it works really well.
The Help! album remains a classic, with not a single bad track among the bunch. Still, there would be more innovative songs recorded for it as the months progressed. In fact, compared to songs like "Yesterday" and, lyrically, the title track itself, "Ticket To Ride" doesn't seem nearly as groundbreaking. However, it can't be understated just how progressive this song was for its time.
Final Verdict - An absolutely classic Beatles track which features some of their best guitar and drum work. If you are trying to get a casual fan into the band, make this one of the first songs you play them. A well-deserved #1 hit, on both sides of the Atlantic.
Coming Up Next - "Help Me Rhonda" by The Beach Boys.
Until Next Time - I'm Dr. Rock, and I've got a ticket to ride -
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