10 Most Rocking Ringo Starr Songs

Feature Photo: Josiah True-Shutterstock.com

Crafting a list of the 10 most rocking Ringo Starr songs is no small feat given the size of his solo catalog and the many directions he has explored since The Beatles. Starr’s music has always moved comfortably between heartfelt pop, straight-ahead rock and roll, country, soul, and good-time grooves. From major hit singles to deeper cuts with pounding rhythms and infectious hooks, these tracks highlight the side of Ringo that hits hardest. His catalog has continued to grow through the 2020s, but these ten songs remain a strong cross-section of the records that bring the most rock and roll energy.

# 10 – Give More Love – Give More Love

“Give More Love,” the title track from Ringo Starr’s 2017 album Give More Love, carries the peace-and-love message that has become inseparable from his public identity. The album was recorded at Roccabella West, Starr’s home studio in Los Angeles, and was produced by Starr and Bruce Sugar. Starr co-wrote the song with Gary Nicholson. The track includes contributions from Timothy B. Schmit, Richard Page, and Gregg Bissonette, while the wider album features guests including Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather, and Edgar Winter. Its upbeat chorus and direct rock arrangement make the message feel celebratory rather than sentimental. More than five decades into his career, Starr still sounded completely at home delivering a simple idea with a big beat.

Read More: Best Rock Albums Of 2017

# 9 – Snookeroo – Goodnight Vienna

“Snookeroo” is one of the most purely entertaining tracks on Ringo Starr’s 1974 album Goodnight Vienna. Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song, and Richard Perry produced the recording at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Starr sings and drums, with Klaus Voormann on bass, Jim Keltner also on drums, Robbie Robertson on guitar, Elton John on piano, and James Newton Howard on synthesizer. The large horn section adds even more swagger to a song already built around Starr’s cheerful working-class persona. “Snookeroo” was later paired with “No No Song” on a successful single release. The whole performance sounds loose, funny, and unmistakably Ringo.

# 8 – A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Ringo’s Rotogravure

“A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll” delivered exactly what its title promised when Ringo Starr released it as the lead single from Ringo’s Rotogravure in 1976. Carl Groszman wrote the song, and Arif Mardin produced the recording. The track features a powerful studio lineup that includes Peter Frampton, Jesse Ed Davis, and Danny Kortchmar on guitars, Klaus Voormann on bass, and Dr. John on keyboards. Ringo and Jim Keltner both contribute drums, while a large horn section gives the arrangement additional punch. The single reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains one of the clearest examples of Starr simply leaning into an uncomplicated, hard-driving rock and roll groove.

Read More: 1976’s Best Classic Rock Albums

# 7 – Wrack My Brain – Stop And Smell The Roses

George Harrison wrote and produced “Wrack My Brain” for Ringo Starr’s 1981 album Stop and Smell the Roses. Harrison also contributes guitars and backing vocals, giving the record an unmistakable connection to his own early-1980s sound. Herbie Flowers plays bass and tuba, Ray Cooper contributes piano, synthesizer, and lead guitar, and Al Kooper adds piano and electric guitar. Starr handles lead vocals and drums. Released as the album’s lead single, “Wrack My Brain” reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s clipped rhythm and slightly eccentric arrangement make it one of the most distinctive rockers in Starr’s catalog.

Read More: 1981’s Best Rock Albums

# 6 – Weight of the World – Time Takes Time

“Weight of the World” gave Ringo Starr a strong return to contemporary rock when it opened his 1992 album Time Takes Time. Brian O’Doherty and Fred Velez wrote the song, and Don Was produced the recording. Starr sings and plays drums and percussion, joined by James “Hutch” Hutchinson on bass, Mark Goldenberg on guitar, and Benmont Tench on keyboards. Andrew Sturmer and Roger Manning provide backing vocals, helping give the track its polished power-pop character. Released as the album’s lead single, “Weight of the World” reached number 74 on the UK Singles Chart. Its big chorus and clean guitar-driven production helped reestablish Starr as a solo artist after a long recording gap.

# 5 – You’re Sixteen – Ringo

Ringo Starr’s version of “You’re Sixteen” turned the 1960 Johnny Burnette hit into one of the biggest singles of Starr’s solo career. Richard Perry produced the track for the 1973 album Ringo, with Starr and Jim Keltner on drums, Klaus Voormann on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Jimmy Calvert and Vini Poncia on guitars. Harry Nilsson supplies backing vocals, while Paul McCartney contributes the famous kazoo-like mouth-sax solo. Starr’s relaxed delivery gives the record a playful rock and roll feel that fit the nostalgic spirit of the song. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Starr’s second U.S. number-one solo hit after “Photograph.” Its success helped make Ringo the commercial peak of his early solo years.

# 4 – Oh My My – Ringo

“Oh My My” is one of the funkiest and most exuberant songs on Ringo Starr’s 1973 album Ringo. Starr and Vini Poncia wrote the song, and Richard Perry produced it. Billy Preston plays piano and organ, Klaus Voormann handles bass, Jimmy Calvert plays guitar, and Starr shares drum duties with Jim Keltner. Tom Scott delivers the saxophone solo, while Martha Reeves, Merry Clayton, and Vini Poncia provide backing vocals. Released as a U.S. single in 1974, the song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The horns, keyboards, dual drums, and Starr’s loose vocal make “Oh My My” one of the album’s biggest pure party records.

# 3 – Photograph – Ringo

“Photograph” remains one of Ringo Starr’s most enduring solo songs and one of the finest records to emerge from the post-Beatles years. Starr and George Harrison wrote the song together, and Richard Perry produced the recording for the 1973 album Ringo. Harrison plays 12-string acoustic guitar and sings harmony, with Nicky Hopkins on piano, Klaus Voormann on bass, Jim Keltner and Starr on drums, and Bobby Keys on tenor saxophone. Jack Nitzsche provided the orchestration and vocal arrangement that gives the song its broad emotional sweep. “Photograph” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Its combination of melancholy, melody, and a huge arrangement makes it both one of Starr’s biggest hits and one of his strongest solo recordings.

Read More: Top 10 Ringo Starr Songs

# 2 – Back Off Boogaloo – Non-album Single

“Back Off Boogaloo” was released in 1972 as a standalone single and became one of Ringo Starr’s biggest early solo hits. Starr wrote the song, while George Harrison produced the recording and played guitar. Klaus Voormann plays bass, Gary Wright contributes keyboards, and Madeline Bell, Lesley Duncan, and Jean Gilbert provide backing vocals. Recorded at Apple Studios in London, the track has a stomping glam-rock feel that gives Starr plenty of room to deliver the title with swagger. The single reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. The original version was not part of the 1974 Goodnight Vienna album, although it appeared as a bonus track on later reissues.

# 1 – It Don’t Come Easy – Non-album Single

“It Don’t Come Easy” is the perfect song to top a list of Ringo Starr’s most rocking solo recordings. Released in 1971 as a non-album single, the track emerged from sessions at Trident Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London. Starr received the original songwriting credit, while George Harrison played a major role in developing the song and produced the released recording. The performance features Starr on lead vocals and drums, Klaus Voormann on bass, Gary Wright on piano, George Harrison on guitar, and Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger on backing vocals. The single reached number four on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Its ringing guitars, driving beat, and message of perseverance made it Starr’s first great post-Beatles rock anthem.