Ringo (album)

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Ringo
File:RingoCover.jpg
Studio album by Ringo Starr
Released 2 November 1973 (US)
23 November 1973 (UK)
Recorded 5 March–26 July 1973
Studio
Various
Genre Rock, pop[1]
Length 37:07
Label Apple
Producer Richard Perry
Ringo Starr chronology
Beaucoups of Blues
(1970)Beaucoups of Blues1970		 Ringo
(1973)		 Goodnight Vienna
(1974)Goodnight Vienna1974
Singles from Ringo
  1. "Photograph"
    Released: 24 September 1973 (US); 19 October 1973 (UK)
  2. "You're Sixteen"
    Released: 3 December 1973 (US); 8 February 1974 (UK)
  3. "Oh My My"
    Released: 18 February 1974 (US only)

Ringo is the third studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 2 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached number 1 on the RPM national albums chart. The album is noted for the appearance of all four Beatles, and for its numerous guest stars, something which would become a signature for Starr on many of his subsequent albums and tours.

Background

After releasing the standards tribute Sentimental Journey and the country and western Beaucoups of Blues, both in 1970, Starr issued two singles over 1971–72 – "It Don't Come Easy" and "Back Off Boogaloo"[2] – produced by and co-written with his former Beatles bandmate George Harrison.[3] While both of these singles were big successes and would ordinarily have inspired albums to support them, Starr declined to follow through, preferring to concentrate on acting during this period.[4] In early 1973, Starr decided the time was right to begin his first rock solo album. Having already used Richard Perry to arrange one of the tracks on Sentimental Journey, Starr asked Perry to produce the sessions.[5]

Recording

Recording started on 5 March 1973,[6] upon Starr's arrival in Los Angeles[7] at Sunset Sound Recorders.[8][9] Sessions were produced by Richard Perry.[7] When Starr sent word to all his musician friends to help him in his new venture, they all responded positively. Taking part in the sessions were Marc Bolan, members of the Band,[5] Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Nicky Hopkins, Harry Nilsson and Jim Keltner.[8] Additionally, all three of his former bandmates appeared on and composed material for Ringo.[6]

"Photograph" had been written on 15 May 1971, while on a sailing holiday with his wife Maureen, Harrison and the latter's wife Pattie Boyd, and Cilla Black; Starr and Harrison wrote the song with input from the others.[8] The song was first recorded in late 1972, with Harrison as producer, during the sessions for Harrison's Living in the Material World album.[10] The song was remade five months later, produced this time by Perry for its appearance on Ringo.[10] While they were both sharing a living space in Los Angeles, Harrison and Mal Evans wrote "You and Me (Babe)" after Evans requested for Harrison to add music to a song he was working on.[10]

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Just like that; no planning. The three ex-Beatles recorded one of John's songs. Everyone in the room was just gleaming ... it's such a universal gleam with The Beatles.[8]

– Richard Perry, recalling the session for "I'm the Greatest"

Harrison dropped by on the sessions on 10 March, to see what kind of material Starr had recorded up to that point.[8][9] Harrison was impressed with the material, saying: "I'm knocked out by what you've done".[8] George returned a couple of days later, on 12 March, and laid down backing vocals.[8][9] Starr, John Lennon and Harrison appear together on the Lennon-penned song "I'm the Greatest",[2] which was also recorded on 12 March.[nb 1][8][12] Ten takes of the song were recorded in a session lasting approximately 18 minutes.[8] Both Lennon and Harrison were in Los Angeles for business matters with Capitol Records.[7] Lennon returned to New York on 14 March.[8]

Three days later, on 17 March, British music magazine Melody Maker reported the session to be a Beatles reunion: "Rumours flashed through Los Angeles this week that three of the Beatles have teamed up for recording purposes. John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are all in Los Angeles with Klaus Voormann, the bassist rumoured to replace Paul McCartney after his departure from the group."[9] Also recorded during this month was Randy Newman's "Have You Seen My Baby?";[nb 2] it features overdubbed guitar by Bolan which was added at A&M Studios.[13] This group of sessions lasted until 27 March.[8] The next day, Starr and Perry flew to England.[8] More work on the tracks was done at Burbank Studios, The Sound Lab, and Producers' Workshop.[8] On 16 April,[9] Starr went to Apple Studio, in London, to record "Six O'Clock", with Paul McCartney[14] and his wife Linda,[8] as McCartney couldn't enter the US due to drug arrests.[12] McCartney played synthesizer and piano, and sang backing vocals on the track.[5][15]

After finishing "Six O'Clock", Starr requested his chauffeur to buy some tap dancing shoes, which Starr would use on "Step Lightly".[8] Also in London, Starr with Nilsson recorded "You're Sixteen" and "Step Lightly",[12] the former of which McCartney also appears on.[8] This second block of recording sessions lasted until 30 April, from then on, overdubs were added at Sunset Sound Recorders throughout July.[8] The album was mixed at Sunset Sound on 24 July.[8][9] The experience of making Ringo was an enjoyable one for Starr and all involved.[15]

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau B–[16]
The Essential Rock Discography 7/10[17]
MusicHound 3.5/5 stars[18]
Music Story 4.5/5 stars[19]
Q 4/5 stars[20]
Rolling Stone (favourable)[21]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 3/5 stars[22]
Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music 4/5 stars[19]

According to a report in Billboard magazine in late September 1973, Ringo's release was delayed while work was being completed on the album artwork.[23] On 24 September, "Photograph" was released as the album's lead single in the US, backed by "Down and Out".[9] Starr filmed a promo clip for the song at his Tittenhurst Park residence, although the film's only screening was on a single episode of BBC TV's Top of the Pops.[8] The single was issued a month later in the UK, on 19 October.[24]

Apple Records released Ringo on 2 November in the US,[nb 3] and on 9 November in the UK.[nb 4] Helped by the international success of "Photograph",[27] and speculation regarding the former Beatles working together on the same project,[28] the album reached number 1 in Canada,[29] number 7 in the UK,[30] and number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, denied the top position by Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.[31] Ringo peaked at number 1 on America's other albums charts, however,[32] in Cashbox and Record World.[33] The album was certified gold in America on 8 November and in Britain a month after its release there.[24] Ringo was critically well-received also;[34] Loraine Alterman of The New York Times described it as an "instant knockout ... [a] sensational album".[35]

"You're Sixteen" was released as a second single, backed with "Devil Woman", in the US on 3 December.[24] In late December, on the 28th, "Photograph" went gold in the US.[24] "You're Sixteen" acquired gold status in the US on 31 January 1974,[8] and was released in the UK on 8 February,[24] reaching number 4.[8] In the US, the singles from Ringo "Photograph" and Starr's cover of "You're Sixteen" both went to number 1.[36] On 18 February, "Oh My My" was released as a single only in the US, backed with "Step Lightly".[nb 5][24] After the singles became hits, Lennon sent Starr a telegram: "Congratulations. How dare you? And please write me a hit song."[5]

The original cassette tape and 8-track versions of the album, as well as a small number of early promotional copies of the vinyl album, contained a longer version of "Six O'Clock".[15] All of the stock copies of vinyl version of the LP, including both the original pressing and the 1981 LP re-release of the album, as well as reissues in various other formats over time, contained the shorter version of the song.[38][39] The record label on the original stock pressing of the vinyl album incorrectly lists the running time of "Six O'Clock" as 5:26, which may have led some to mistakenly assume that the original pressing contained the long version of the song. The label on the reissued vinyl album correctly lists the running time as 4:06.[38][40] At the time of release, various reviews and press articles of the day stated that the longer version was "snuck" onto the tape duplicating masters at the last moment. Artwork for a quadrophonic version was produced, but was never released.[41]

An instrumental version of the album was produced by David Hentschel and titled Sta*rtling Music.[42] Sta*rtling Music was the first release on Starr's label, Ringo O'; released on 18 April 1975 in the UK,[nb 6] and four years later on 17 February 1979 in the US.[nb 7][42] Just prior to the album was a single, "Oh My My", backed with "Devil Woman", released on 17 February 1975 in the US,[nb 8] and on 21 March in the UK.[nb 9][42] The album, was re-released in the US on Capitol in October 1980.[nb 10][43] A budget edition was released in the UK on 27 November by Music for Pleasure.[nb 11][43] When Ringo was reissued for compact disc, the three bonus tracks included on it were all from singles: Starr's 1971 hit single "It Don't Come Easy" and its B-side "Early 1970", as well as the B-side to "Photograph", "Down and Out".[44] The CD was released in the UK on 4 March 1991,[nb 12] and in the US by Capitol on 6 May.[nb 13][44] On the CD, "You and Me (Babe)" begins crossfaded over the end of "Devil Woman," even though the original album had these songs separated by silence. The longer version of "Six O'Clock" was oddly not added as a bonus track to the reissue of this album, but rather to the reissue of Goodnight Vienna.[15]

Track listing and personnel

Side one
  1. "I'm the Greatest" (John Lennon) – 3:21
  2. "Have You Seen My Baby" (Randy Newman) – 3:44
  3. "Photograph" (George Harrison, Starkey) – 3:56
  4. "Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)" (Harrison) – 2:45
  5. "You're Sixteen" (Bob Sherman/Dick Sherman) – 2:48
    • Starr – lead vocal, drums; Poncia, Calvert – guitars; Hopkins – piano; Klaus Voormann – bass; Paul McCartney – "vocal sax solo"; Harry Nilsson – backing vocals
Side two
  1. "Oh My My" (Poncia/Starkey) – 4:16
    • Starr – lead vocal, drums; Poncia – harmony vocal; Calvert – guitar; Preston – piano, organ; Klaus Voormann – bass; Keltner – drums; Scott – saxophone solo, horn arrangement; Jim Horn – horn arrangement; Martha Reeves, Merry Clayton – backing vocals
  2. "Step Lightly" (Starkey) – 3:15
  3. "Six O'Clock" (P. McCartney/L. McCartney)[45] – 4:06
    • Starr – lead vocal, drums; McCartney – piano, synthesizer, string and flute arrangements, backing vocal; Poncia – guitar, percussion; Klaus Voormann – bass; Linda McCartney – backing vocal
  4. "Devil Woman" (Poncia/Starkey) – 3:50
    • Starr – lead vocal, drums; Calvert – guitar; Tom Hensley – piano; Klaus Voormann – bass, backing vocal; Keltner – drums; Holland - percussion; Chuck Findley, Scott – horns; Richard Perry – backing vocal
  5. "You and Me (Babe)" (Harrison/Mal Evans) – 4:59
    • Starr – lead vocal, drums; Harrison – electric guitars; Poncia – acoustic guitar; Hopkins – electric piano; Holland – marimba; Scott – horn arrangements; Nitzsche – string arrangements
1991 reissue bonus tracks
  1. "It Don't Come Easy" (Starkey) - 3:02
    • Originally released as a single in 1971
  2. "Early 1970" (Starkey) - 2:20
    • Originally released as the B-side to "It Don't Come Easy" in 1971
  3. "Down and Out" (Starkey) - 3:04
    • Originally released as the B-side to "Photograph" in 1973

Charts

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Lennon previously recorded a demo of the song on 28 December 1970, after watching a repeat of the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night film,[8] with the intent of recording the track himself.[11]
  2. ↑ The track is sometimes titled as "Hold On".[13]
  3. ↑ US Apple SWAL-3413[25]
  4. ↑ UK Apple PCTC 252[26]
  5. ↑ US Apple 1872[37]
  6. ↑ UK Ringo O' 2320-101[42]
  7. ↑ US Ringo O' ST 11372[42]
  8. ↑ US Ringo O' 4030[42]
  9. ↑ UK Ringo O' 2017-101[42]
  10. ↑ US Capitol SN-16114[43]
  11. ↑ UK Music for Pleasure MFP 50508[43]
  12. ↑ UK Parlophone CDP 7 95884 2[26]
  13. ↑ US Capitol CDP 795637[44]
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ringo at AllMusic
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Gary Graff & Daniel Durchholz (eds), MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999; ISBN 1-57859-061-2), p. 1082.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Brackett, Nathan, with Hoard, Christian (eds). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn). New York, NY: Fireside. p. 777. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-12
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Rodriguez, p. 143.
  35. ↑ Michael Frontani, "The Solo Years", in Kenneth Womack (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, UK, 2009; ISBN 978-1-139-82806-2), p. 266.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Harry Castleman & Walter J. Podrazik, All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975 (New York: Ballantine Books, 1975), 268
  39. ↑ Perry Cox & Joe Lindsay, The Official Price Guide to The Beatles Records and Memorabilia (New York: House of Collectibles, 1995), 235.
  40. ↑ Labels on Apple Records SWAL 3413 & Capitol Records SN-16114.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Six O'Clock in the Title field, click Begin Search click Six O'Clock
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Ringo in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

Preceded by Canadian RPM 100 number-one album
December 22, 1973 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
Life and Times by Jim Croce

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