On My Mind: 2006-11-19

On November 24, 1973 Ringo Starr topped the Billboard charts for 1 week with his song Photograph. When the Beatles broke up Ringo was the one that many thought would not have a successful solo career.

In an interview John Lennon said “I’m most happy, I guess we all are, for Ringo’s success. It always went ‘round that Ringo was dumb, but he ain’t dumb. But he didn’t have that much of a writing ability and he wasn’t known for writing his own material.

And there was a bit of a worry that although he can make movies…how was his recording career gonna be? And in general, it’s probably better than mine.”

It’s not surprising that they would be worried about Ringo’s recording career.

He was always overshadowed by the writing efforts of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison. He had the fewest lead vocals. When he did sing lead on songs like Act Naturally, Yellow Submarine and With A Little Help From My Friends they were well received by the fans.

Ringo had a better recording career then the others in the early 1970’s. Of his first 8 singles to make the charts 7 of them made the top 10.

Ringo’s first album was an album of standards called Sentimental Journey produced by George Martin.

The arrangers were considered a group of all stars that included Paul McCartney, Maurice Gibb and Richard Perry. His second album was a country album called Beaucoups of Blues. The title track was his first single.

It made the Billboard top 100 but only got to #87. His second single turned things around when he had a hit with It Don’t Come Easy. It was produced by George Harrison and peaked at #4.

Ringo’s solo recording career was now off and running.

In 1973 Richard Perry asked Ringo if he would be a presenter in Nashville at the Grammy Awards. When Ringo accepted the invitation Mr.

Perry said he wasn’t calling just to invite him to Nashville for the Grammies. He also reminded Ringo that they always talked about going into the studio together to record. So without out telling their lawyers they went into an L.

A. studio and recorded 5 songs for his next album. One of those was Photograph which Ringo wrote with his occasional writing partner and occasional producer from the Beatles George Harrison.

George as well as John Lennon were both in Los Angles at the time. When they heard about the project they offered to play on the tracks. The title of the album was RINGO.

When Paul McCartney contributed his help on other songs it was something of an unofficial Beatles reunion. The only thing that made sure it was not a reunion was that all four were never on the same song.

Photograph was the first single from the album.

It is such a strong song that it was released 6 weeks before the album. Seven weeks later it was the #1 song in the country.

When you think of great Beatle ballads many songs come to mind.

Yesterday would represent Paul. In My Life represents John. George is represented by the song Something.

Ringo would have to be represented by Photograph. It may have come after the break up but it represents Ringo well. It is just as big a standard as the songs written by John, Paul and George have become.

On November 23, 1974 Billy Swan had the #1 song on the Billboard Charts with I Can Help. Mr.

Swan started his musical career at 16. He wrote a poem in school and a couple of years later it was recorded when it was set to music. The song that it became was Lover Please and it was a big hit.

Billy said that spoiled him and he thought show business was the easiest business in the world. Billy moved from Cape Giradeau, Missouri to Memphis, Tenn. to continue his songwriting career.

When he got to town the first thing he did was drive past Elvis home. After he had been in Memphis for awhile he went back to Graceland and got to know Elvis’ Uncle Travis Smith. Travis watched the gate for Elvis.

Billy told him he was a songwriter and looking for a place to stay. Billy said “There was an empty room at his place so I ended up living there…I even ended up watching the gate sometimes late at night so Travis could go home for a bit.”
Later Billy moved to Nashville and got a job as a recording assistant.

He quit during the recording of Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album. He gave his job to Kris Kristofferson. Billy and Kris became good friends and he wrote I Can Help on a little RMI organ that Kris and Rita Coolidge gave him and his wife as a wedding gift.

Billy said “So I was just sitting at the organ and started playin’ chords and pretty soon the words came out…I did it in two takes and didn’t even overdub the vocals-just stood up and played the organ and sang.”
When I was a kid the only place I heard the song was at the skating rink. When I do hear it on the radio now I can’t help but feel someone should be saying “All skate please!

All skate!” over a loudspeaker. In my mind that is part of the beginning of the song.

After his song was a hit Billy was a guest on many shows. It was when he hosted the Midnight Special that his name was in lights behind him. He said “It’s sort of like a dream come true, like the little boy in Johnny B.

Goode, whose Mother says, ‘Maybe someday your name will be in lights saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.