Blast from Your Past
Encyclopedia
Blast from Your Past is a compilation album by Ringo Starr
, released on Apple Records
in 1975. It is both his first compilation LP and his final release under his contract with EMI
, It was also the last album to be released on The Beatles
' Apple label until it was revived in the 1990s. In 1976, Starr would sign with Atlantic Records
in the US and Polydor Records
for the rest of the world.
The album compiles eight singles, one B-side, and one album track, released between 1970 and 1975. All eight charted on the Billboard Hot 100
, with all but "Beaucoups of Blues
" making the top ten. Both "Photograph
" and "You're Sixteen
" topped the chart, while five of the singles charted in the United Kingdom. "Early 1970
" was the flipside to "It Don't Come Easy
", and "I'm the Greatest
" was taken from the album "Ringo"
. "Oh My My
" and "You're Sixteen" were taken fromRingo as well, and "No No Song
" and "Only You (And You Alone)
" was taken from Goodnight Vienna
; all other singles were released ahead of respective albums or as stand-alone issues.
Blast From Your Past provides a well-rounded overview to Starr's musical achievements and productivity as a solo artist during the first half of the 1970s. Although it failed to chart in the United Kingdom (even with releasing "Oh My My" from Ringo as a UK single in early 1976), it reached #30 in the United States. It was reissued on CD in 1987 and has not been upgraded or remastered. Nor is it likely to be, as all ten tracks were included on Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo
, Starr's 2007 career retrospective.
The song "You're Sixteen" was the sole Ringo Starr track included in a promotional-only various artists compilation album entitled "The Greatest Music Ever Sold" (Capitol SPRO-8511/8512), that was distributed to record stores during the 1976 holiday season as part of Capitol's "Greatest Music Ever Sold" campaign that promoted 15 "Best Of" albums released by the record label. It is not the only Starr song to be included on a various artists title, however, as "It Don't Come Easy" was included in a six-disc boxed set commemorating Capitol Record's sixtieth anniversary that was issued in 2002.
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, released on Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
in 1975. It is both his first compilation LP and his final release under his contract with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, It was also the last album to be released on The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Apple label until it was revived in the 1990s. In 1976, Starr would sign with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the US and Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
for the rest of the world.
The album compiles eight singles, one B-side, and one album track, released between 1970 and 1975. All eight charted on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, with all but "Beaucoups of Blues
Beaucoups of Blues (song)
"Beaucoups of Blues" is the title song from Ringo Starr's 1970 country album. It was released as a single in several countries, but not the UK, and entered the charts in both the U.S. and Germany where it reached #87 and #43 respectively....
" making the top ten. Both "Photograph
Photograph (Ringo Starr song)
"Photograph" is a song written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison. It was released by Starr as a single on 5 October 1973, reaching number eight in the UK and number one in the U.S. singles charts...
" and "You're Sixteen
You're Sixteen
"You're Sixteen" is a song written by the Sherman Brothers . It was first performed by American rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, whose version peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960....
" topped the chart, while five of the singles charted in the United Kingdom. "Early 1970
It Don't Come Easy
"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by Ringo Starr released as an Apple Records single in April 1971, reaching number four in both the U.S. and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US , following the breakup of the Beatles...
" was the flipside to "It Don't Come Easy
It Don't Come Easy
"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by Ringo Starr released as an Apple Records single in April 1971, reaching number four in both the U.S. and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US , following the breakup of the Beatles...
", and "I'm the Greatest
I'm the Greatest
"I'm the Greatest" is a song written by John Lennon for Ringo Starr; both former members of the music group The Beatles. It was released by Starr on the 1973 Ringo album and 4 compilation and live albums....
" was taken from the album "Ringo"
Ringo (album)
Ringo is the third album by Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached #1 on the RPM national albums chart...
. "Oh My My
Oh My My
"Oh My My" is a danceable single from Ringo Starr's Ringo album, and features backing vocals from Merry Clayton and Martha Reeves. It hit number five on the U.S...
" and "You're Sixteen" were taken fromRingo as well, and "No No Song
No No Song
Ringo Starr's cover of Hoyt Axton and David Jackson's "The No No Song" was included on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna. It was a number-one hit in Canada and a number-three hit in the US. The song describes progressive attempts to sell Colombian marijuana, Spanish cocaine and Tennessean moonshine...
" and "Only You (And You Alone)
Only You (And You Alone)
"Only You " is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was recorded most successfully by The Platters, with lead vocals by Tony Williams, in 1955....
" was taken from Goodnight Vienna
Goodnight Vienna
Goodnight Vienna is the fourth album by Ringo Starr. It was recorded in the summer of 1974 in Los Angeles, and released later that year. Goodnight Vienna followed the commercially successful predecessor Ringo, and Starr used many of the same players, including Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Robbie...
; all other singles were released ahead of respective albums or as stand-alone issues.
Blast From Your Past provides a well-rounded overview to Starr's musical achievements and productivity as a solo artist during the first half of the 1970s. Although it failed to chart in the United Kingdom (even with releasing "Oh My My" from Ringo as a UK single in early 1976), it reached #30 in the United States. It was reissued on CD in 1987 and has not been upgraded or remastered. Nor is it likely to be, as all ten tracks were included on Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo
Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr
Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr is a career-spanning best-of compilation album by Ringo Starr and is the first such album since the release of 1975's Blast from Your Past. The release of the collection coincided with that of Starr's first four solo albums for EMI in digital format on 28...
, Starr's 2007 career retrospective.
Track listing
- "You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful And You're Mine)You're Sixteen"You're Sixteen" is a song written by the Sherman Brothers . It was first performed by American rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, whose version peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960....
" (Bob Sherman/Richard Sherman) – 2:47 - "No No SongNo No SongRingo Starr's cover of Hoyt Axton and David Jackson's "The No No Song" was included on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna. It was a number-one hit in Canada and a number-three hit in the US. The song describes progressive attempts to sell Colombian marijuana, Spanish cocaine and Tennessean moonshine...
" (Hoyt AxtonHoyt AxtonHoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
/David Jackson) – 2:29 - "It Don't Come EasyIt Don't Come Easy"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by Ringo Starr released as an Apple Records single in April 1971, reaching number four in both the U.S. and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US , following the breakup of the Beatles...
" (George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
/Richard Starkey) – 3:02- Starr's first British and second American single, issued in April 1971
- "PhotographPhotograph (Ringo Starr song)"Photograph" is a song written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison. It was released by Starr as a single on 5 October 1973, reaching number eight in the UK and number one in the U.S. singles charts...
" (Harrison/Starkey) – 3:55 - "Back Off BoogalooBack Off Boogaloo"Back Off Boogaloo" is a 1972 single released by Ringo Starr. The song was a hit in the U.S. reaching #9 on the US Hot 100 and achieving Starr's best position in the UK Singles Chart, where it reached #2, blocked only by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards' version of "Amazing Grace".This is one of the...
" (Starkey) – 3:18- Starr's second British and third American single, issued in March 1972
- "Only You (And You Alone)Only You (And You Alone)"Only You " is a pop song composed by Buck Ram. It was recorded most successfully by The Platters, with lead vocals by Tony Williams, in 1955....
" (Buck RamBuck RamBuck Ram was an American songwriter, and popular music producer and arranger.-Biography:...
/Ande Rand) – 3:23 - "Beaucoups of BluesBeaucoups of Blues (song)"Beaucoups of Blues" is the title song from Ringo Starr's 1970 country album. It was released as a single in several countries, but not the UK, and entered the charts in both the U.S. and Germany where it reached #87 and #43 respectively....
" (Buzz Rabin) – 2:32- Starr's first solo single in America issued as the lead single from the 1970 albumBeaucoups of BluesBeaucoups of Blues is the second album by former Beatles member Ringo Starr, and also his second full-length release in 1970, coming after his debut Sentimental Journey...
of the same name
- Starr's first solo single in America issued as the lead single from the 1970 album
- "Oh My MyOh My My"Oh My My" is a danceable single from Ringo Starr's Ringo album, and features backing vocals from Merry Clayton and Martha Reeves. It hit number five on the U.S...
" (Vini PonciaVini PonciaVini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
/Starkey) – 4:17 - "Early 1970Early 1970"Early 1970" is a song by Ringo Starr, released as the B-side to Starr's Apple Records single "It Don't Come Easy" in April 1971. It was inspired by the recent breakup of The Beatles, and documents his desire to continue playing music with his former bandmates, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and...
" (Starkey) – 2:19- Previously the b-side to "It Don't Come Easy" in 1971
- "I'm the GreatestI'm the Greatest"I'm the Greatest" is a song written by John Lennon for Ringo Starr; both former members of the music group The Beatles. It was released by Starr on the 1973 Ringo album and 4 compilation and live albums....
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) – 3:22
The song "You're Sixteen" was the sole Ringo Starr track included in a promotional-only various artists compilation album entitled "The Greatest Music Ever Sold" (Capitol SPRO-8511/8512), that was distributed to record stores during the 1976 holiday season as part of Capitol's "Greatest Music Ever Sold" campaign that promoted 15 "Best Of" albums released by the record label. It is not the only Starr song to be included on a various artists title, however, as "It Don't Come Easy" was included in a six-disc boxed set commemorating Capitol Record's sixtieth anniversary that was issued in 2002.