So why exactly is Ringo's head lower down on the album cover?

I always took it to be an early indication of Ringo being a 'lesser' Beatle. Because he was less good-looking maybe? Somebody made that decision for some reason.

Probably because it's the way the album cover was shot, but I think John's face  looks a little fat on the front.

Because putting four in a row would have made them too small and lessened the effect? Why is Johns head bigger than Pauls? Simple artistic effect?
Methinks you see too much.

Why are their faces lit from the left side? Why is the album called 'With The Beatles'?
Oh, I agree with Kevin. I think there is no particular reason.

Oh now I remember. It's because big-nosed tone-deaf couldn't-write-a-tune-if-you-put-a-gun-to-his-head drummers don't deserve to stand alongside cool singing songwriting guitar players.

Maybe because he was the shortest one, but probably because of what Kevin said. Drummers get no respect.

I just can't see that there was no particular reason. I'm NOT saying that I disrespect Ringo. I do respect him. I like his drumming, and love the fills. I would guess that it's because he was the drummer.




Have you heard The Carefrees - We Love You Beatles on Beatles-A-Rama?

'We love you Beatles, oh yes we do...

Oh Beatles we love you...yeah, yeah, yeah'?

'We love you Paul, oh yes we do...? etc., etc.  with girl screams. Sweet.

Quoted from GreenApple

I just can't see that there was no particular reason. I'm NOT saying that I disrespect Ringo. I do respect him. I like his drumming, and love the fills. I would guess that it's because he was the drummer.

One could also state that he's the one in front on the picture.

I think I read in Robert Freeman's book that the picture was taken like that because if they had head and shoulder shots of the four guys in a row it wouldn't have fitted so snuggly on the album sleeve.

John's head appears bigger that George and Paul's simply because they are standing behind him!



If memory serves, the cover pic was taken in a hotel room in Bournemouth while they were on tour - the background was the hotel room curtains.

I think legendary rock drummers like Ginger Baker, Keith Moon & John Bonham get lots of respect tkitna.  It seems to me Ringo doesn't get any respect at all even though he's a great drummer in his own right sadly.  

Ringo is lower because he's sitting. That's what drummers do.

From Wikepedia:
Freeman himself remembered:

   " They had to fit in the square format of the cover, so rather than have them all in a line, I put Ringo in the bottom right corner, since he was the last to join the group. He was also the shortest. "

I think the reason for Ringo's apparent "lack of respect" is the same as George's as a guitarist. Neither were flashy, or did huge solos. That's just not how The Beatles were.
I don't know how people rank him against someone similar, say Charlie Watts.

Ringo is much more creative than Charlie Watts.

Quoted from Kevin

From Wikepedia:
Freeman himself remembered:

   " They had to fit in the square format of the cover, so rather than have them all in a line, I put Ringo in the bottom right corner, since he was the last to join the group. He was also the shortest. "

So that's the reason why. Thanks Kevin. I respect Ringo. He did good drumming and contributed a sense of stability to the band.