I just finished reading Mark Lewisohn's 1st Volume of Tune In. As a result, I am wondering what would have happened if Ringo came on board earlier in the game, particularly for the Decca sessions.
Could their path to fame have gone more quickly? I think this is probably an unanswerable question but I like to think about it. It seems that the Beatles were different bands with Pete and then with Ringo. If Ringo was an improvement for the better, then maybe Decca might have approved them for a recording contract. If I understand the book correctly, it might not have made a difference because it sounds like some politics were being played out in the process which worked against seriously considering the Beatles for a record contract. (Maybe someone else can explain this better than I can.)
After reading this volume, I think I understand much better why they let Pete go. It seems like they really came to life with Ringo.
