![]() ![]() The cherub just seemed like a natural extension of that part of his character, funny and a little mischievous.” Having met the man and spent some time with him, I understood how important humor was to him and his circle of friends. Ringo’s cover sidekick, the cherub, happened after I got home. In 2015, the artist told : “There are 26 portraits in the balcony. Bruckner was flown to London to show Starr some concept ideas and was hired by the singer. The cover art was created by Tim Bruckner, who had been working as an apprentice jeweler in Beverly Hills when he met Perry and pitched to do some freelance album artwork. We ended up at a club, and when we were leaving we promised we’d get together.” Perry was a good choice as producer, and Nilsson returned the favor by singing backing vocals on “You’re Sixteen.”Īmong the other leading guest musicians are Jimmy Calvert (guitar on five tracks), Steve Cropper (guitar), Billy Preston (piano), Jim Keltner (drums), Milt Holland (percussion), and The Band’s Garth Hudson (accordion), Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm (mandolin). I went down and played and Richard and I got to egging each other on about doing something together. Starr said: “We met at a session for one of Harry’s albums. ![]() ![]() Ringo was produced by Richard Perry, who had worked with Lennon’s friend Harry Nilsson. The original 10-track 1973 album was reissued in 1991 as a 13-track CD, the bonus tracks including “Early 1970,” Starr’s interesting perspective on The Beatles’ break-up. Starr’s best and most consistent new studio album, Ringo represented both the drummer/singer’s dramatic comeback and his commercial peak it was only beaten to the top of the Billboard charts in November 1973 by Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Though the album was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, Bolan’s guitar was added as an overdub at A&M Studios. One of the highlights of Ringo is a version of master songwriter Randy Newman’s composition “Have You Seen My Baby.” Starr’s version has real verve, helped by compelling boogie guitar from T.Rex main man Marc Bolan and fine honky-tonk piano from New Orleans legend James Booker. Though Starr’s vocal range is not particularly wide, he sings with gusto throughout and his voice carries a certain pathos. Starr and Vini Poncia’s “Devil Woman” were just as good as the hits. 1 “Photograph” and “Oh My My,” which had backing vocals from Motown star Martha Reeves. Starr had been able to persuade the latter to be involved in the project by telling him, “You don’t want to be left out, do you?”īut it wasn’t only the guests that made Ringo such a success: Starr advanced his own cause by co-writing two of the album’s Top 10 singles, the No. Nicky Hopkins, a session musician who appeared regularly with The Rolling Stones, provides some lively piano backing, and there is even a kazoo impression from McCartney. 1 hit “You’re Sixteen” (written by the Sherman Brothers), which provided the biggest single hit of the album. ![]() McCartney also appeared on Starr’s cover of the 1960 Johnny Burnette No. With a tight structure and lyrical grace, it is a standout composition on the record. In June 1973, Starr flew to London, where Paul McCartney and his then-wife, Linda, joined in on the McCartney tune “Six O’clock,” which had been written specifically for the album. Harrison also joined in on “Sunshine Life For Me,” “Photograph” and “You And Me (Babe).” He wrote “Sunshine” himself, and co-wrote the latter two. Harrison played the guitars on the Lennon composition “I’m The Greatest,” with Lennon playing piano and singing harmony on a song he re-wrote for Starr and which was used as the album’s opening track. However, on no single track did all four appear together. Consequently, Ringo is the only solo Beatle album to feature all four of the Liverpudlians playing on one record. ![]()
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