Ringo Starr and his traveling All-Star band have been touring for years and usually playing in small theaters that seat around three thousand 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 that offer fans a nice collection of songs that 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.” The song was written by John Lennon. 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 the earth,” we all know exactly 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. The song was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song begins very 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. The guitar solo was performed by Robbie Roberson of the Band. The song “Snookeroo,” was released as a single but failed to garner any chart success.
# 8 – Weight Of The World
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 the last album he recorded had been released in 1983. It was a highly rated album by music journalists. The album feature close to 50 guest musicians playing 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 titled Ringo Starr album Ringo Rama. The album was released in 2003. The song was a tribute to Ringo Starr’s good friend and ex-Beatles band-mate 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 from the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers band.
# 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 the number 3 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. 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 that Ringo Starr released in the early 1970’s Ringo Starr’s song choices were wisely made with a deep understanding of his Yellow Submarine style voice and A Hard Days Night personality. I am 56 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 the number four position on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts 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 as it reached the number one spot on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts in 1973.
Updated July 20, 2024
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Beyond the hits, Ringo recorded many great songs.
Here are some of my favorites worth checking out:
From the album Sentimental Journey:
“Blue Turning Gray Over You” – Swinging vocal performance from Ringo supported by a top notch big band arrangement by the legendary Oliver Nelson.
From the album Beaucoups Of Blues:
“$15 Draw” – A poignant country tale of destiny and fame. Great Ringo vocal.
“Silent Homecoming” – Sung with just the right amount of sadness and resign. It’s the concise story of a mother and son and her eventual viewing of his hearse as a result of him dying in a war.
B-Side:
“Early 1970” – The flip side of It Don’t Come Easy. A very tightly arranged piece about his relationship with each of The Beatles at the time. One of his best written songs.
From the album Goodnight Vienna:
“Goodnight Vienna” – A beastly, rocking tune Lennon wrote for Ringo. Sung with gusto.
“Oo Wee” – A great thumping number featuring Dr. John tingling the ivories to Ringo’s funky tom tom beat.
From the album Rotograveur:
“Pure Gold” – A lilting catchy McCartney ballad tailored just for Ringo. Perfect.
“I’ll Still Love” – A very heartfelt, dramatic George Harrison song that suits Ringo’s voice. Tasty fluid guitar soloing by Lon Van Eaton.
From the album Vertical Man
“La De Da” – Life philosophy with Ringo on this super catchy song.
From the album Ringo Rama:
“Instant Amnesia” – One of the heaviest hard rock songs ever released by a Beatle. Killer.
From the album Choose Love:
“Fading In And Fading Out” – Ringo was not afraid of thinking deep. Here he comes to terms with death singing this well written Beatlesque pop tune.
Soundtrack:
“You Never Know” – A very uplifting chromatic song forever buried as the closing number for the movie “Curly Sue”. Sweet stuff delivered with an always sincere Ringo vocal.
Hi there that’s a good selection of yours of the Top 10 Ringo songs Personally my top 3 would go; 1 You’re 16 2.It Don’t Come Easy and 3 Photograph.