Ringo Starr: Ringo's Rotogravure
![[cover art]](../band_pictures/ringos_rotogravure.jpg)
The formula that had worked for Ringo
and Good Night Vienna was followed again on Ringo Starr's Atlantic
Records debut. Arif Mardin replaced Richard Perry in the producer's chair,
but he hewed to the bouncy, eclectic pop style Perry had pioneered for
Ringo, and the drummer called in such name help as Peter Frampton, Dr.
John, Melissa Manchester, the Brecker brothers, Paul McCartney, John
Lennon, and Eric Clapton. The last three all contributed songs, too, as did
George Harrison. As usual, there was an oldie, Bruce Channel's "Hey
Baby," which came out as a single, as did the lead-off track, "A Dose of
Rock 'N' Roll." The latter was the only Top 40 hit, as the times seemed to
be passing Ringo's happy-go-lucky style by. Or maybe it was just time for
a new formula.
--William Ruhlmann, All-Music Guide
Most people who heard Ringo's first non-Apple album were turned off by it. The overall sound was similar to what he had had success with, but apparently people were hoping for something different. Rotogravure hit the budget bins almost immediately, but not before Beatles fans realized that the back cover featured a photograph of the much-defaced door to the (original) Apple building. The album peaked at #28.
Mandolin contributed by Levon Helm.
Tracks
- A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll (Grossman)
- Hey Baby (Channel/Cobb)
- Pure Gold (McCartney)
- Cryin' (Poncia/Starr)
- You Don't Know Me at All (Jordan)
- Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love) (Lennon)
- I'll Still Love You (Harrison)
- This Be Called a Song (Clapton)
- Las Brisas (Andrews/Starr)
- Lady Gaye (Poncia/Starr/Ward)
- Spooky Weirdness
Sidemen
- Dr. John - Keyboards, Vocals
- Peter Frampton - Guitar
- John Lennon - Piano, Vocals
- Melissa Manchester - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Paul McCartney - Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Harry Nilsson - Vocals
- Van Dyke Parks - Keyboards, Vocals
- Ringo Starr - Percussion, Drums, Vocals
- Michael Brecker - Sax (Tenor)
- David Lasley - Vocals (bckgr)
- George Young - Sax (Tenor)
- King Errisson - Percussion
- Jesse Ed Davis - Guitar
- Jim Keltner - Drums
- Jane Getz - Piano, Keyboards
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel Guitar
- Joe Bean - Vocals (bckgr)
- Randy Brecker - Trumpet
- Eric Clapton - Guitar, Vocals
- Louis Del Gatto - Sax (Baritone)
- George Devens - Conga, Marimbas
- Joe Esposito - Vocals
- Robert Greenidge - Percussion, Drums (Steel)
- Levon Helm - Mandolin
- Duitch Helmer - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- John Jarvis - Keyboards
- Danny Kortchmar - Guitar, Vocals
- Will Lee - Bass
- John Cooker Lopresti - Bass
- Arif Mardin - Piano (Electric), Producer
- Lou Marini - Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
- Linda McCartney - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Vini Poncia - Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Cooker Lo Presti - Bass
- Alan Rubin - Trumpet
- Paul Stallworth - Bass
- Klaus Voormann - Bass
- Mac Rebennack - Guitar, Keyboards
- Lon VanEaton - Guitar
- Fab Harry - Vocals (bckgr)
- Mad Mauries - Vocals (bckgr), Handclapping
- Mariachi Band - Band
- Jim Keitner - Drums
- Los Galleros -
Ringo Starr - Ringo's Rotogravure - 1976 - Atlantic SD-18193
Compact Disc: Atlantic 82417-2 (1992)