Ringo's Rotogravure
Encyclopedia
Ringo's Rotogravure is the fifth album by Ringo Starr
, released in 1976. Following the end of his contract with EMI
, Starr signed on with Polydor Records
(which once signed a pre-Ringo Beatles as the backing band of Tony Sheridan
) worldwide (Atlantic Records
handling US distribution) and was eager to see his solo success continue on in a new era.
Two years on from 1974's Goodnight Vienna
, Starr - armed with new producer Arif Mardin
- again stuck to his tried-and-true formula of having friends write songs and play on the recordings. This time, Eric Clapton
took part, in addition to his old friend Harry Nilsson
, and Peter Frampton
, Melissa Manchester
, Dr. John
, Paul McCartney
and John Lennon
(his last studio session for four years until Double Fantasy
). George Harrison
donated a song too, but because of his commitments to get his album Thirty Three & 1/3
done on schedule, he couldn't take part in any recording for Ringo's Rotogravure.
Preceded by "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll
", which reached #26, Ringo's Rotogravure was released in September to a lukewarm response. Starr's winning formula was no longer a fresh one, and despite some fine music, the album performed poorly, only reaching #28 in the US and quickly falling off the charts, while it never even appeared in the UK listings. The follow-up single, his cover of Bruce Channel
's Hey Baby, stalled at #74 in the US.
A single of "Las Brisas/Cryin'" was appropriately released in Mexico.
Ringo's Rotogravure was reissued only once on CD, in the US by Atlantic Records
in 1992.
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 in 1976. Following the end of 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...
, Starr signed on with 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...
(which once signed a pre-Ringo Beatles as the backing band of Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
) worldwide (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...
handling US distribution) and was eager to see his solo success continue on in a new era.
Two years on from 1974's 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...
, Starr - armed with new producer Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
- again stuck to his tried-and-true formula of having friends write songs and play on the recordings. This time, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
took part, in addition to his old friend Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
, and Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and John Lennon
John Lennon
John 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...
(his last studio session for four years until Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy
Double Fantasy is an album released by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it become a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album...
). George Harrison
George Harrison
George 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...
donated a song too, but because of his commitments to get his album Thirty Three & 1/3
Thirty Three & 1/3
Thirty Three & 1/3 is an album by George Harrison released in 1976. As his first release on his Dark Horse Records label, Thirty Three & 1/3 was beset with misfortune during its production, yet Harrison still managed to deliver one of his most celebrated albums.-Background:After satisfying his EMI...
done on schedule, he couldn't take part in any recording for Ringo's Rotogravure.
Preceded by "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll
A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll
"A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll" is a popular rock and roll song written by Carl Groszman.The song was originally released by writer Carl Groszman in 1975 on Ringo Starr's record label, Ring O' Records and Starr decided to do a cover of it for his 1976 album Ringo's Rotogravure...
", which reached #26, Ringo's Rotogravure was released in September to a lukewarm response. Starr's winning formula was no longer a fresh one, and despite some fine music, the album performed poorly, only reaching #28 in the US and quickly falling off the charts, while it never even appeared in the UK listings. The follow-up single, his cover of Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel
Bruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
's Hey Baby, stalled at #74 in the US.
A single of "Las Brisas/Cryin'" was appropriately released in Mexico.
Ringo's Rotogravure was reissued only once on CD, in the US by 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 1992.
Track listing
- "A Dose of Rock 'n' RollA Dose of Rock 'n' Roll"A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll" is a popular rock and roll song written by Carl Groszman.The song was originally released by writer Carl Groszman in 1975 on Ringo Starr's record label, Ring O' Records and Starr decided to do a cover of it for his 1976 album Ringo's Rotogravure...
" (Carl Groszmann) – 3:24- featuring Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
on guitar and Dr. JohnDr. JohnMalcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
on keyboards
- featuring Peter Frampton
- "Hey! BabyHey! Baby"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, who recorded the song in 1961. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label...
" (Margaret Cobb/Bruce ChannelBruce ChannelBruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
) – 3:11- a hit for Bruce ChannelBruce ChannelBruce Channel is an American singer, known for his 1962 million selling number one hit, "Hey! Baby".-Career:...
in 1962
- a hit for Bruce Channel
- "Pure Gold" (Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) – 3:14- features background vocals by PaulPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Linda McCartneyLinda McCartneyLinda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
- features background vocals by Paul
- "Cryin'" (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...
/Richard StarkeyRingo StarrRichard 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...
) – 3:18 - "You Don't Know Me at All" (Dave Jordan) – 3:16
- "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)" (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...
) – 3:41- features 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...
on piano, Dr. John on guitar and organ and Melissa ManchesterMelissa ManchesterMelissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
on backing vocals
- features John Lennon
- "I'll Still Love You" (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...
) – 2:57 - "This Be Called a Song" (Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
) – 3:14- features Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
on guitar and background vocals by Melissa Manchester
- features Eric Clapton
- "Las Brisas" (Nancy Andrews/Richard Starkey) – 3:33
- Nancy Andrews was Starr's girlfriend during this period
- "Lady Gaye" (Vini Poncia/Richard Starkey/Clifford T. WardClifford T. WardClifford Thomas Ward was a popular English singer-songwriter, best known for his career as a solo artist.-Early life:...
) – 2:57- features Dr. John on keyboards and Harry NilssonHarry NilssonHarry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
on backing vocals
- features Dr. John on keyboards and Harry Nilsson
- "Spooky Weirdness" – 1:26
- an uncredited track featuring bizarre studio sounds