The Beatles had no shortage of vocal talent, but when it came to Oh! Darling from Abbey Road, John Lennon believed Paul McCartney made the wrong call.
McCartney, known for his dynamic range, spent days perfecting the song’s raspy, soulful delivery—even admitting, “Five years ago, I could’ve done this in a flash.” But Lennon, whose gritty voice powered hits like Twist and Shout and Yer Blues, felt the track was “more my style than his.”
“If he’d had any sense, he should have let me sing it,” Lennon later said. Yet McCartney’s strained, emotional take gave Oh! Darling its unique charm—proving that even their creative clashes led to magic.
Would Lennon’s version have been better? We’ll never know—but the debate lives on. 🎸