Concluding our short look at the post-Beatles solo careers of former members of that group, we have the song “Photograph” by Ringo Starr. This was a pretty big hit, the lead single from his 1973 album, Ringo. Released as a single in September of 1973, “Photograph” went all the way to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It was also a #1 hit in Australia and Canada, and hit the top ten in Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK, and West Germany.
Ringo wrote “Photograph” with the help of his former bandmate, George Harrison. In reality, George helped Ringo write a lot his songs, often uncredited, most notably “Octopus’s Garden” from the Beatles’ Abbey Road album. There’s a wonderful bit in the recent The Beatles: Get Back documentary where Ringo is plunking out some chords on a piano and George is advising him on turnarounds and chord changes; my guess is that there’s probably more George in “Photograph” than there is Ringo.
George Harrison didn’t just help write “Photograph,” he also played guitar on the track and helped to recruit the backing band. Ringo initially recorded the song in London during sessions for George’s Living in the Material World album, with George producing. Ringo later re-recorded it at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles with Richard Perry producing, although George Harrison allegedly “assisted.” Backing musicians included Nicky Hopkins on piano, Vini Poncia and Jimmy Calvert on acoustic guitars, Klaus Voorman on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums. George Harrison also played acoustic guitar and Ringo joined Keltner on double drums. The venerable Jack Nitzsche provided the string and choral arrangements.
Ringo has had a very successful post-Beatles career, something you might not have expected from the group’s drummer. Over the years he’s racked up seven top ten singles in the U.S. (“It Don’t Come Easy,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” “Photograph,” “You’re Sixteen,” “Oh My My,” “Only You (And You Alone),” and “No No Song”) and another handful that cracked the top forty. For the past umpteen number of years, Ringo has been touring with famous musicians from other bands of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s as Ringo’s All-Starr Band. He’s still going strong today, at a remarkably youthful 85 years of age.
And here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, Ringo and his All-Starr Band performing “Photograph” live at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, on May 19, 2023. I hope I have half as much energy as he does when I’m that age. Peace and love, everybody!
