Ringo

If Ringo seemed to have had the lowest place in the Beatle pecking order, it was with some irony that he was the one with whom the other members most often collaborated after the split...and it was his 1973 self-named album that appears to have almost brought them together.

Well, all three did create I'm The Greatest, John Lennon's sly peace offering to McCartney with its Sgt. Pepper overtones, teetering somewhere between pastiche & parody. It's not a great song...but it makes a point, pinching the former world heavyweight boxing champion, Mohammed Ali's catch-cry of "I'm The Greatest" and turning it into a song about The Beatles:

        "I was in the greatest show on earth...for what it was worth..."

N.B.: You can also hear Lennon's original demo of I'm The Greatest on the Lennon Anthology...see posthumous releases).

Ringo's album cover, too, drawn by long-time friend of The Beatles and also bass player on the album, Klaus Voorman, had definite Sgt. Pepper overtones. It shows a balcony of stars with John, George & Paul'n'Linda right there, slap-bang in the middle of it all. Did it fuel Beatle re-union rumours? You bet your sweet bippy it did even though it was clear from the personnel listings that Paul didn't appear on Lennon's or Harrison's tracks and they didn't appear on his! 

However, the guests earned their keep, in particular, George Harrison, who added his distinctive lead guitar on a number of tracks and donated three songs as well:

1 the absolutely superb (and almost completely forgotten) sea shanty, Sunshine Life For Me with mandolin, fiddles  & accordion c/o The Band

2 the irresistable album's closer, You & Me Babe (with lyrics provided by The Beatles' ex-roadie, Mal Evans) &

3 the excellent Photograph (co-written with Ringo), which was the first single off the album and a well-deserved #1 smash around the world

Ringo Starr: You're Sixteen

Paul McCartney added a delightfully silly kazoo solo to a remake of rockabilly pioneer Johnny Burnette's 50's hit, You're Sixteen, which then provided Ringo with his second #1 smash around the globe. 

Like the other ex-Beatles, McCartney also provided a track for Ringo's album but what he delivered, Six O'Clock, was unfortunately, a dreary and forgettable piece of McCartney country slush that only comes alive when Paul ghosts Ringo's vocal. 

Incidentally, Paul didn't appear on Lennon's or Harrison's tracks and they didn't appear on his.

Marc Bolan from T.Rex popped up on Ringo's cover of  Randy Newman's Have You Seen My Baby? with his fabulous Chuck Berry Mk 2 rhythm guitar and a nutty guitar solo, as well but the real surprise of the album was Ringo's songwriting, which provided a number of workmanlike songs.

These included Devil Woman and the very presentable and rather witty Oh My My, which got to #5 in the USA when it was released as a single and was funky enough to be covered by, amongst others, Ike & Tina Turner! Go Ringo!   

Ringo- the album was a party, a wonderful party that still sounds good. Yes, you can get all the hits on Ringo Starr's Greatest Hits...but you may not get the atmosphere from this very special time...when The Beatles almost reformed...and silly young people like me thought that we might then have...a better world*. D'Oh!

Ringo Starr: Ringo

"...After wearing out my 3rd copy of the RINGO LP over a more than 30 year span of time, I finally found this gem on CD. Right now, after my 3rd straight listen in a row of the entire CD, I am still blown away by what an incredible work of art it is. It's got it all...I dare you to not like this virtual party for the ears, the mind, the heart and the Soul!..." Amazon reviewer Brian J. Decock

"...I realize nearly everyone else would say:

• Plastic Ono Band
• Imagine or
• Band The Run

...are the greatest solo Beatles albums. I disagree and nominate this incredible Ringo record for top honors. How many albums have you bought that had no lousy songs on them? This album pulls off that feat..." Amazon reviewer Candace Scott

"...Very nostalgic. When I was a kid, Photograph was the first song I ever heard true "stereo" on. Listening almost 25 years later, half the songs are pretty good, (half) are really kind of lousy but the nostalgia is all great!..." Amazon reviewer Mark F. Henderson

A miniature Ringo drumkit. Cool!

For more info, see:

• wikipedia Ringo

*Incidentally, for a different perspective on why The Beatles didn't reform in 1973, you may care to see my Lennon Musings.