Casual fans might find some surprises in this list of the 60 Best Collaborations With the Beatles.
After all, Paul McCartney continued to be a collaborative force after the group disbanded. He had two duets reach No. 1 in the early ’80s. Former bandmate John Lennon also topped the charts with one.
However, Lennon and McCartney appear less frequently on our countdown than George Harrison and Ringo Starr. McCartney is featured on 14 songs, while Lennon appears on just three duets – partly due to his tragic murder.
READ MORE: Ranking Every Beatles Solo Album
Meanwhile, Starr’s name is linked to almost 20 collaborations. Harrison surpasses him with nearly 30 duets, despite his own untimely death. Whether with old friends or new musical acquaintances, they proved to be the Beatles’ most willing collaborators.
What is the Best Beatles Duet?
The wide range of these collaborations might also come as a surprise. Several date back to 1969, before McCartney officially announced the Beatles’ breakup. Fast forward, and McCartney and Starr were still participating in album sessions into the 2020s.
Of course, almost half of these collaborations occurred in the ’70s, a time when all four Beatles were not only active but also releasing a series of their own solo hits.
What didn’t make the list? We excluded their recordings with one another, so songs like 2009’s “Walk With You” and the more recent “Home to Us,” featuring McCartney and Starr, were not considered – even though both were very well received.
This is a rock- and pop-focused list. We also avoided jazz and songbook collaborations like McCartney’s work with Tony Bennett and George Benson. Straightforward Beatles cover songs with artists like Billy Joel and Dolly Parton did not make the cut either.
Here’s a ranked look back at the 60 Best Collaborations With the Beatles:
No. 60. “Cups and Cakes” (2025)
Spinal Tap, featuring Paul McCartney
McCartney handled vocals on this update from the original 1984 soundtrack for This is Spinal Tap, released on the long-awaited sequel, 2025’s Spınal Tap II: The End Continues. He also appeared in the highly improvised comedy film.
No. 59. “California Calling” (1985)
Beach Boys, featuring Ringo Starr
The Beach Boys’ appropriately sleek self-titled mid-’80s LP was better known for its album-opening Top 30 hit “Getcha Back,” but Starr makes an underrated guest appearance later on this sunny throwback song by Al Jardine and a rejuvenated Brian Wilson.
No. 58. “Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune” (1969)
Jack Bruce, featuring George Harrison
Harrison had already worked with Cream when he joined sessions for the solo debut from the group’s former bassist, Jack Bruce. He once again played under the fun pseudonym L’Angelo Misterioso. This time, however, Harrison’s contributions were barely heard beneath a suffocating final mix.
No. 57. “Basketball Jones” (1973)
Cheech and Chong, featuring George Harrison
Harrison’s appearance on this parody of the contemporary Top 20 hit “Love Jones” was pure coincidence. The former Beatles star was “in the next studio recording,” as Cheech Marin later revealed. “They made up the track right on the spot.”
No. 56. “New Moon Over Jamaica” (1988)
Johnny Cash, featuring Paul McCartney
McCartney was vacationing in the Caribbean when Johnny Cash invited him over to his home in Jamaica. This song emerged from their jam sessions that followed. Cash recorded “New Moon Over Jamaica” with McCartney a couple of years later, thankfully passing on the reggae-fied arrangement from McCartney’s early demo.
READ MORE: Paul McCartney’s Top 10 Songs from the ’80s
No. 55. “Ebony and Ivory” (1982)
Stevie Wonder, featuring Paul McCartney
This song carries great sentiment but lacks depth – even if “Ebony and Ivory” became the chart-topping lead single from Tug of War. McCartney eventually grew weary of criticism surrounding it. “You find yourself justifying your successes,” he said in 2016’s Conversations with McCartney. “It’s a funny state of affairs.”
No. 54. “Heart of Mine” (1981)
Bob Dylan, featuring Ringo Starr
Dylan mentioned this song in the liner notes for 1985’s Biograph, saying: “I had somebody specific in mind when I wrote [‘Heart of Mine’]; somebody who liked having me around.” The Beatles certainly did enjoy his company; George Harrison became their best-known Dylan collaborator, but he wasn’t alone.
No. 53. “The Girl Is Mine” (1982)
Michael Jackson, featuring Paul McCartney
This out-of-place duet was slotted at No. 3 on the track listing, putting Thriller‘s considerable early momentum at risk. However, “The Girl is Mine” soared to the Top 5 as the album’s lead single – proving what a wise man once said about silly love songs.
No. 52. “Cut Me Some Slack” (2012)
Nirvana, featuring Paul McCartney
Working with surviving members of Nirvana continued a run of harder-edged McCartney fare like “Helter Skelter,” “Let Me Roll It,” and “Oh Darling.” But those who associate him solely with pop confections like “Yesterday,” “My Love,” and “Eleanor Rigby” likely had to pick their jaws up off the floor.
No. 51. “Loop de Loop” (1973)
Harry Nilsson, featuring Ringo Starr
“Loop de Loop” notably featured the “Masked Alberts Kids Chorale,” which was much needed as Nilsson had blown out his voice during these boozy John Lennon-produced sessions and practically disappears here amid his struggle to sing. They manage some raucous fun anyway while Starr plays happily along.
No. 50. “Talk Don’t Bother Me” (1986)
Alvin Lee, featuring George Harrison
Harrison delivered a sweeping and utterly gorgeous slide guitar performance on this largely forgotten solo album from Ten Years After’s former guitarist. Lee was moving beyond songs that were simply fiery showcases for his instrument; in Harrison, he found an ideal companion.
No. 49. “Silver Lining” (1991)
Nils Lofgren, featuring Ringo Starr
Lofgren received help from his old E Street Band buddies Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons while bringing more blues and soul into his sound with this track; however, Starr unleashes fierce propulsion that drives Lofgren through perhaps this LP’s best rocker.
No. 48. “Don’t Try to Own Me” (1995)
Gary Wright, featuring George Harrison
With a relationship dating back to 1970’s All Things Must Pass, Gary Wright might have been one of the few who could coax Harrison out of a quiet period; their long friendship also produced notable intersections on other albums like Harrison’s self-titled LP in 1979 and Cloud Nine in 1987.
No. 47. “Bed of Roses” (2023)
Ian Hunter, featuring Ringo Starr
The roots-rocking opener on Defiance Part 1 recalls Hamburg’s dingy Star Club where the Beatles stormed through three seminal residencies between April and December 1962; Ian Hunter has special insight since he played there too; who better to complete things than Starr?
[producer]
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