Ringo's First Recording Session W/ the Beatles

George Martin greeted the boys and told them he had cancelled "How
Do You Do It."  The two songs to be recorded were "P.S. I Love You" and
"Love Me Do."
     Unknown to Ringo, a studio drummer named Andy White was standing in
the wings.  Since producing a session was very costly -- a fact
constantly belabored by studio brass -- Martin wanted an experienced
drummer available in case Ringo's performance was inadequate.  On many
occasions
a studio musician will be called to stand by and never be used. Unfortunately for Ringo, this was not to e one of those occasions.
     After rehearsing both songs, Norman Smith turned on the tape
machines and the Beatles went into "P.S. I Love You."
     Instantly, Ringo felt that they were doing a Pete Best on him.  It
was obvious that Rigo was nervous and frightened while in the studio,
but he had become a Beatle to play drums -- for concerts and records. Now he felt that while he was fine for clubs and concerts, they didn't
want to use him on recordings.  Martin really wasn't satisfied with
Ringo's ability.  "He hit good and hard and used the tom well, but
couldn't do a drum rol to save his life."
     It was a shattering blow to Ringo's ego, but he went along and
played the maracas during the first take on "P.S. I Love You."  On the
second take he exchanged the maracas for a tambourine and banged it on
every third beat."
-- from How They Became the Beatles, by Gareth Pawlowski