10 Songs That Prove Ringo Star’s Solo Career Is Better Than You Think
8. Back Off Boogaloo
Another Uncredited George Harrison co-write, Back Off Boogaloo is a song heavily indebted to T-Rex. To the point that some T-Rex devotees have even claimed T-Rex leader Marc Bolan had ghost written the track.
Ringo was so enamoured by the Seventies glam rockers that he directed a documentary about them and the glam rock influence would resurface on his Ringo and Goodnight Vienna albums. It was a neat fit as Ringo grew up listening to the same 1950s records that inspired glam’s souped up rock'n'roll sound.
A deliberately repetitive, terrace-style chant, with prominent drums and a some stinging slide guitar breaks from George Harrison, Back Off Boogaloo is a raucously entertaining glam stomp. As frontmen go, Ringo is no match for sexy pixie Marc Bolan but if you’ve ever missed The Glitter Band he makes a passable, and socially acceptable, Gary Glitter substitute.
A hit single, the song was clearly a personal favourite for Ringo. He re-recorded it twice, in 1980 and 2017.