Ringo (album)

Untitled

Ringo is the third solo album by Ringo Starr, released in 1973. It is generally considered to be Starr's best album and undisputed as his most famous. Ringo is noted for its numerous guest stars, including fellow ex-bandmates from The Beatles, something which would become a signature for Starr on many of his future albums.

History

After releasing the standards tribute Sentimental Journey and the country and western Beaucoups of Blues, both in 1970, Starr would only record and release a couple of singles in the interim, namely "It Don't Come Easy" in 1971 and "Back Off Boogaloo" in 1972. While both were big successes and would have ordinarily inspired albums to support them, Starr declined to follow through, preferring to concentrate on acting during this period.

In early 1973, Starr decided the time was right to begin - in his mind - his first proper solo album, despite its two predecessors. Having already used Richard Perry to arrange one of the tracks on Sentimental Journey, Starr asked Perry to produce the sessions, which began that March.

As soon as 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, Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Nicky Hopkins, Harry Nilsson and Jim Keltner. Additionally, all three of his former bandmates (John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney) appeared on and composed material for "Ringo", and Starr, Lennon and Harrison appear together (with Voormann and Preston) on the Lennon-penned song "I'm The Greatest". Not surprisingly, when word of the session hit the media, furious Beatles reunion rumours (the first of several) began spreading. It would be the closest to a Beatles reunion until The Beatles Anthology project in 1996.

The experience of making "Ringo" was an enjoyable one for Starr and all involved, with its wide acceptance only furthering his personal feeling of success. Upon its November release, the critics were very warm in their appraisal, with "Ringo" reaching #7 in the UK and #2 in the US and going platinum. Singles "Photograph" and Starr's cover of "You're Sixteen" both went to #1 in the US (thus making him the only solo Beatle to achieve a number one), while becoming Top 10 UK hits. With all of "Ringo"'s acclaim, there was never any doubt that there would be a follow-up.

"Ringo" was remastered and reissued on CD in 1991 with three bonus tracks: Starr's debut 1971 single "It Don't Come Easy" and its B-Side "Early 1970", as well as "Photograph"'s flip side "Down And Out".

Track listing

1. "I'm the Greatest" (John Lennon) – 3:21
   • Featuring Starr, John Lennon on piano and harmony vocal, George Harrison on guitar, Klaus Voormann on bass and Billy Preston on organ
2. "Have You Seen My Baby" (Randy Newman) – 3:44
   • Featuring Marc Bolan on lead guitar and James Booker on piano
   • The tracklisting on the album cover, as well as on the record label, incorrectly label this song as "Hold On."
3. "Photograph" (George Harrison/Richard Starkey) – 3:56
   • Features George Harrison on guitar and harmony vocal
4. "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)" (George Harrison) – 2:45
   • Features members of The Band: Robbie Robertson on guitar, Levon Helm on mandolin, Rick Danko on fiddle and Garth Hudson on accordion, as well as George Harrison on guitar
5. "You're Sixteen" (Bob Sherman/Dick Sherman) – 2:48
   • Features Paul McCartney on mouth sax solo and Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and Harry Nilsson on backing vocals
6. "Oh My My" (Vini Poncia/Richard Starkey) – 4:16
   • Featuring Jimmy Calvert on guitar, Tom Scott on sax, Martha Reeves and Merry Clayton on backing vocals, arranged by Jim Horn
7. "Step Lightly" (Richard Starkey) – 3:15
   • Features the tapdancing of 'Richard Starkey, M.B.E.'
8. "Six O'Clock" (Paul McCartney) – 4:06
   • Features Paul McCartney on piano and synthesizer, as well as backing vocals with Linda McCartney and Klaus Voorman on bass guitar
9. "Devil Woman" (Vini Poncia/Richard Starkey) – 3:50
   • Featuring Richard Perry on backing vocals and Tom Hensley on piano
10. "You and Me (Babe)" (George Harrison/Mal Evans) – 4:59
    • Features George Harrison on guitar, arranged by Jack Nitzche
11. "It Don't Come Easy" (Richard Starkey) - 3:02
    • Bonus track on the 1991 CD reissue, originally released as a single in 1971.
12. "Early 1970" (Richard Starkey) - 2:20
    • Bonus track on the 1991 CD reissue, originally released as the B-side to "It Don't Come Easy" in 1971.
13. "Down and Out" (Richard Starkey) - 3:04
    • Bonus track on the 1991 CD reissue, originally released as the B-side to "Photograph" in 1973.

Singles

• 
  "Photograph"
  October 5 1973
  UK #8
  U.S. #1
• 
  "Oh My My"
  February 18 1974 (U.S. only)
  U.S. #5

External link

• JPGR's Ringo site