Ringo Rama
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Ringo Starr |
| Products | Music album |
Ringo Rama represents the thirteenth studio effort by English singer-songwriter Ringo Starr, released in 2003.
Background and recording
After the 1999 album I Wanna Be Santa Claus, Starr maintained his partnership with Mark Hudson along with many of the same collaborators. Disappointed by the minimal promotional support from Mercury for I Wanna Be Santa Claus, Starr parted ways with the label in 2000. Among the contributors on Ringo Rama were notable artists such as Willie Nelson, Charlie Haden, Van Dyke Parks, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Shawn Colvin, Timothy B. Schmit, and Eric Clapton. Starr commented on their geographic closeness: "Just a couple of local guys. You know, like Eric Clapton and Dave Gilmour." The recording sessions were held at Starr's Rocca Bella studio in London and Hudson's Whatinthewhatthe? Studios located in Los Angeles, with production duties shared by Starr, Hudson, and Gary Nicholson.
Music and lyrics
Starr characterized the album’s opener, "Eye to Eye," as a portrayal of conflict transforming into affection. The track "Missouri Loves Company," featuring Gilmour’s guitar playing, was composed swiftly after Dean Grakal suggested the title. "Instant Amnesia" highlights what Starr regards as some of his finest drumming performances in recent years. "Memphis in Your Mind" serves as a tribute to artists associated with Sun Studio, including Elvis Presley and Orbison.
In honor of the late George Harrison, Starr wrote "Never Without You", featuring a guitar solo by Clapton. Initially conceived as a homage also to John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, Starr ultimately dedicated it exclusively to Harrison, weaving in lyrics inspired by Harrison’s songs such as "Within You Without You" and "Here Comes the Sun." Clapton’s participation stemmed from his friendships with both Starr and Harrison.
For "Memphis in Your Mind," Starr secured a distinctive "growl" vocal contribution from Roy Orbison’s widow, Barbara Orbison, alongside Gilmour’s guitar accompaniment. The song title "Trippin' on My Own Tears" was derived from a phrase overheard by Starr and Hudson during an outing. The country-styled duet "Write One for Me" features vocals by Willie Nelson, whom Starr personally invited to join.
The track "Love First, Ask Questions Later" conveys Starr’s aspiration for a world grounded in love, echoing sentiments found in the Beatles’ "All You Need Is Love."
Inspired during sessions at Rocca Bella just before Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, "Elizabeth Reigns" was initially intended to celebrate the monarch; however, Starr ultimately chose not to sing about her. "English Garden," which references Starr’s wife Barbara Bach and their dog Buster, incorporates verses from Paul McCartney’s "Let 'Em In", included with McCartney’s approval. Seeking a song where he performed all instruments himself, Starr composed "I Really Love Her."
Release
On 20 May 2002, Starr signed a recording agreement with Koch. The album Ringo Rama was released through Koch on 25 March 2003 and reached number 113 on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking Starr’s first charting album of the new century in the United States. It also attained the top position on the US Top Independent Albums chart. The initial run of 100,000 copies included a DVD showcasing footage from the recording sessions. To support both the album and its single "Never Without You," Starr appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 13 March and performed at a press event in New York City on 22 March. Additional performances of "Never Without You" took place on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, MTV's Total Request Live, and Good Morning America during April.
On 21 October, it was announced that a deluxe three-disc edition would be released on 11 November, featuring three bonus tracks—"OK Ray," "I'm Home," and "Blink"—alongside an interview disc and a DVD containing a "Making Of" documentary plus the music video for "Never Without You." These additional songs were recorded for inclusion in a film.
Reception
"Never Without You" was placed at number five on AOL Radio's countdown of the top 10 songs by Starr.
Track listing
The 2025 vinyl edition of Ringo Rama Deluxe Edition features a total of 16 tracks, including:
Personnel
Credits as listed in the album booklet.
Musicians
- Ringo Starr – drums, percussion, lead vocals, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals, megamouth
- Steve Dudas – electric guitar and guitar solos on "Eye to Eye" and "Instant Amnesia"
- Mark Hudson – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, mellotron, Wurlitzer organ, backing vocals
- Eric Clapton – guitar solos on "Never Without You" and "Imagine Me There"
- David Gilmour – guitar solos featured on "Missouri Loves Company" and "I Think Therefore I Rock N Roll"
- Cliff Downs – acoustic guitar
- Gary Nicholson – twelve-string acoustic guitar
- Dean Grakal – acoustic guitar
- Grant Geissman – dobro
- Herb Pederson – banjo
- Jay Dee Maness – pedal steel guitar
- Gary Burr – bass, acoustic and electric guitars; guitar solo on "What Love Wants to Be"; backing vocals
- Charlie Haden – upright bass
- Paul Santo – bass on "Elizabeth Reigns," electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
- Jim Cox – Wurlitzer organ, B3 organ, piano
- Van Dyke Parks – accordion on the tracks "What Love Wants to Be," "Elizabeth Reigns," and "English Garden"
- Dan Higgins – saxophone, flute, clarinet
- Gary S. Grant – trumpet and piccolo trumpet
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica and bass harmonica
- Roy Orbison – archived growled vocal contribution on "Memphis in Your Mind"
- Barbara Starkey, Buster, Monly, Mr. B, sleeping birdies – background vocals on "English Garden"
- Sarah Hudson, Nicole Renee Harris, Christina Rumbley, Jack Blades, Sophia Sunseri – backing vocals on "Eye to Eye"
- Sarah Hudson, Christina Rumbley, Nicole Renee Harris, Victoria Shaw, Adam Ray, Mark O'Shea, John O'Shea, Jack Blades – backing vocals on "I Think Therefore I Rock N Roll"
- Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals across several songs including "Missouri Loves Company" and "Instant Amnesia"
- Shawn Colvin – featured guest vocal on "Trippin' on My Own Tears"
- Willie Nelson – guest vocalist on "Write One for Me"
Technical personnel
- Mark Hudson – producer and artwork contributor
- Ringo Starr – producer
- Paul Santo, Bruce Sugar – recording engineers
- Tim LeBlanc and Steve Dudas – additional recording engineers
- Dave Way – mixing engineer
- Tim LeBlanc, Damon Iddins, Matt Marrin – assistant engineers
- Josh Rosenberg and Amy Galland – production coordinators
- George Marino – mastering engineer
- Jim Cox – arrangements for strings and horns
- Tyrone Drake – art direction and design
- Ringo Starr, Barbara Starkey, Mark Hudson, Dean Grakal – photography contributors
- Mark Hudson – cover illustration artist
- Brent Carpenter, John Franck – DVD editing and design
Charts
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2003) | Highest position |
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References
Notes
Sources