10 Songs That Prove Ringo Star’s Solo Career Is Better Than You Think
7. Photograph
In a 1975 interview, John Lennon admitted the other Beatles had worried about Ringo when the band split. “Ringo didn’t have that much of a writing ability...how was his recording career going to be? And in general,it’s probably better than mine.” He wasn’t being facetious.
Hard to believe it now but there was a time when Ringo Starr was a more successful solo artist than Lennon. Photograph was the first of Ringo’s two US number one hits before John had managed any.
While the Beaucoups Of Blues album had an authentic C&W sound, Photograph,with its lush Jack Nitzsche orchestration and swelling backing vocals, sounds exactly like what it is. Rich rock stars indulging a taste for expensively produced country rock. No bad thing when imbued with Ringo’s natural like-ability and charm. Fittingly it was written by Ringo with George Harrison on a yacht off the coast of France.
As well as Harrison on guitar the track features John Lennon and Rolling Stones keyboardist Bobby Keyes adding time the rock star decadence of it all.