Top 10 Ringo Starr Songs

Photo: By Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia (Ringo Starr and all his band) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fans who have never had the chance to see The Beatles, which is pretty much most of us, have probably gotten the chance to see Ringo Starr more than any of the other Beatles. We lost John Lennon in 1980. George Harrison died in 2001. Paul McCartney tours every couple of years and has stepped up his touring in recent years, but getting Paul McCartney tickets is always quite challenging. Not only is getting Paul McCartney tickets difficult, but if one does score tickets, chances are you will be sitting high in the upper decks of an NFL Stadium.

Ringo Starr and his traveling All-Star band have been touring for years, usually playing in small theaters that seat around 3,000 people. The chance to see a Beatle up close should not be taken lightly. I have seen Ringo Starr a few times up close, and it is simply breathtaking to be sitting only a few feet away from one of The Beatles.

Ringo Starr enjoyed success as a solo artist in the 1970s. He has continued to release records every couple of years, offering fans a nice collection of songs we should never take for granted. Any new album by a former Beatle in the year 2017 is a gift.

This list takes a look at some of the best Ringo Starr songs the ex-Beatle ever released. Of course, it’s subjective. We all have our favorites. Let us know which ones you would have chosen.

# 10 – I’m The Greatest

Opening up our Top 10 Ringo Starr Songs list is the grandiose song “I’m The Greatest.” John Lennon wrote the song. One can hear that typical John Lennon guitar groove in the song’s introduction. When Ringo Starr sings, he “was in the greatest show on earth,” we all know precisely what he’s talking about. What makes this song so special is that this was basically The Beatles minus Paul McCartney. Ringo Starr played drums on the track. John Lennon played piano, and George Harrison played guitar. Billy Preston, who had recorded with The Beatles on Let It Be, also appeared on the track playing organ and electric piano. Klaus Voormann played the bass parts. The song was released on Ringo Starr’s third album, entitled Ringo.

# 9 – Snookeroo

Ringo Starr’s “Snookeroo” was released on his 1974 album entitled Goodnight Vienna. Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song. The song begins with a very familiar Elton John piano style riff, very reminiscent of Elton John’s song “Eldeberry Wine”. You can hear Elton John’s piano playing all over this great track. Robbie Roberson of the Band performed the guitar solo. The song “Snookeroo” was released as a single but failed to chart.

# 8 – Weight Of The World

Time Takes Time (180 Gram Audiophile Translucent Green Vinyl/Limited Edition/Gatefold Cover)

One of the highlights of this Top 10 Ringo Starr songs list is the track “Weight of the World.” The song was released on Ringo Starr’s 10th solo album entitled Time Takes Time. The album was released in 1992. It was Ringo Starr’s first solo album in almost 10 years, as his last album had been released in 1983. It was a highly rated album by music journalists. The album features nearly 50 guest musicians on various tracks. Everyone wants to play with a Beatle. The album was produced by the legendary son of The Beatles, Mr. Jeff Lynne.

# 7 – Never Without You

The Ringo Starr track “Never Without You” was released on our favorite album titled Ringo Starr album, Ringo Rama. The album was released in 2003. The song was a tribute to Ringo Starr’s good friend and former Beatles bandmate, George Harrison. The song paid tribute to their friendship. The song was written in the wake of George Harrison’s passing in 2001.

# 6 – Walk With You

It is a pretty special event anytime two former Beatles get together on record and trade vocals. The song Walk With You was released on Ringo Starr’s album Y Not. The Y Not album was released in 2010. It was the 16th solo album Ringo Starr recorded in his post-Beatles career. The song “Walk With You” was written by Ringo Starr and Van Dyke Parks. The album also featured the legendary organist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

# 5 – The No No Song

The “No No Song” is the first of three Ringo Starr Songs on this list that captured the fun personality that Ringo Starr was known for in the public eye. Not many artists could have pulled off a song like “No No Song” as Ringo Starr did. The song was a huge hit for Ringo Starr, peaking at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song also hit number one in Canada. “The No No Song” was issued on Ringo Starr’s 1974 album Goodnight Vienna.

# 4 – You’re Sixteen

Ringo Starr found great success during his solo years covering classic 1950s and 60s recordings. One of Ringo Starr’s biggest hits was his cover of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman‘s “You’re Sixteen.” The song was originally a hit for Johnny Burnette in 1960. However, Ringo Starr’s version hit number 1 in 1974.

# 3 – Oh My My

Ringo Starr’s “Oh My My” was one of my favorite songs when I was in middle school. That, in itself, says a great deal about some of the songs Ringo Starr released in the early 1970s. Ringo Starr’s song choices were wisely made, reflecting his Yellow Submarine-style voice and A Hard Day’s Night personality. I am 64 now, and I still enjoy this song as much as I did when I was 13 years old in 1974.

# 2 – It Don’t Come Easy

Ringo Starr’s “It Don’t Come Easy“ was released in 1971 as a stand-alone non-album track. In 1975, it was eventually released on Ringo Starr’s Greatest Hits album, Blast from Your Past. The song was written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison. It was a huge commercial success for Ringo Starr, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.

# 1 – Photograph

From the start, we knew which Ringo Starr song we would choose to come in at the number one spot on our top 10 Ringo Starr Songs list. The great Ringo Starr track “Photograph” was released on his spectacular Ringo album in 1973. “Photograph” has become Ringo Starr’s signature song from his solo years. From a commercial standpoint, the song was also a massive success, reaching the number one spot on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts in 1973.