Who played on Beatles records?

Beyond the four band members, over a hundred people contributed to the Beatles' records. But only five were officially credited.

In the 1960s, the convention was to hire musicians for recording sessions rather than individual records. They were paid a flat fee for each session but not royalties for the recorded track. 

The forty orchestral players on A Day in the Life, for example, all received a flat fee, as did Andy White, who recorded the drum part on the single release of Love Me Do.

Even famous musicians often did receive acknowledgement - Eric Clapton played the famous solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the invitation of George Harrison. For contractual reasons, this could not be credited 

With a Little Help

Sometimes wives, friends, employees or people passing through the studio would help with choral harmonies. (Linda McCartney on Let It Be, for example). They were never paid or credited.

During the recording of Across the Universe, Paul McCartney invited two teenage fans waiting outside Abbey Road to join the singing backing vocals. No payment or credit was either expected or given 

The Five Exceptions

These five individual contributions were credited in record notes

1. George Martin (piano on "Not a Second Time"). Martin played on numerous tracks uncredited

2. Mal Evans (Hammond organ on "You Won't See Me"). Evans is usually described as a 'roadie' but often contributed sound effects.

3. Anil Bhagwat (tabla on "Love You To")

4. Alan Civil (French horn on "For No One")

5. Billy Preston (co-credited on the single "Get Back" / "Don't Let Me Down" as "The Beatles with Billy Preston")