Photograph by Ringo Starr

Photograph by Ringo Starr - Songfacts

Photograph
by Ringo Starr

Album: Ringo (1973)

Charted: 8 1

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Songfacts®:

In this song, Ringo laments the loss of his girl. The pain is made more intense by a photograph he has that keeps reminding him of the good times they had.
Ringo wrote "Photograph" with his Beatles-mate George Harrison. Ringo was the lead vocalist and drummer for the track, while Harrison sang harmony vocals and played 12-string guitar. >>
Suggestion credit:
Matt - Melbourne, Australia
Ringo performed this song at the Grammy Awards in 2014. Despite the affliction described in the lyric, he did a very joyful rendition, turning the song into one more about nostalgia - old photos from his days with The Beatles were projected on the backdrop to complement this interpretation.

Later in the broadcast, Ringo backed Paul McCartney on drums for Paul's song "Queenie Eye."
Starr and Harrison began writing the song in the South of France in May 1971. Ringo had hired a luxury yacht, the Marala, for the duration of the Cannes Film Festival. The pair played "Photograph" during an evening get-together that included their wives Maureen Starkey and Pattie Boyd, and singer Cilla Black. They all contributed ideas for the lyrics.
Starr and Harrison first recorded "Photograph" in late 1972 along with the single's B-side, "Down And Out," during the sessions for Harrison's Living in the Material World album. Starr re-recorded the song in March 1973 at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles for his Ringo with producer Richard Perry.
Ringo Starr shared the drumming with Jim Keltner. The other musicians were:

George Harrison: 12-String acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Klaus Voormann: Bass guitar:
Vini Poncia and Jimmy Calvert: Acoustic rhythm guitar:
Nicky Hopkins: Piano
Bobby Keys: Tenor saxophone
Lon Van Eaton and Derrek Van Eaton: Percussion
Jack Nitzsche: Orchestra and choral arrangements

Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner and Rolling Stones sideman Nicky Hopkins, all took part in the Material World sessions. Saxophonist Bobby Keys and arranger Jack Nitzsche were also favorites of The Stones. Vini Poncia, Starr's new songwriting partner, played acoustic guitar with session musician Jimmy Calvert. Brothers Lon and Derrek Van Eaton were one of Harrison's Apple Records signings.
"Photograph" topped the singles charts in the United States, Canada and Australia, and reached the Top 10 in many other countries. It's considered by many to be Ringo Starr's signature solo song.
Cilla Black, who was present when Starr and Harrison birthed the song, included her cover version on her 2003 album Beginnings: Greatest Hits & New Songs. Other artists who have covered "Photograph" include:

1974 Engelbert Humperdinck for his My Love album.
1974 The Ray Conniff Singers for their The Way They Were album
1993 Camper Van Beethoven for their Camper Vantiquities rarities compilation
Starr's original recording appears on the soundtrack to the 2009 American comedy drama movie Funny People. A cover by its lead actor, Adam Sandler, is available as an iTunes bonus track with the album.

Comments: 13

Tony from HullAlthough I love the beatles never really liked ringos songs until I heard photograph he sings it so well and very beatles sound
John Boekhout from Australia Ringo also commented that the song Photograph had a new meaning in regards to the loss of George Harrison.
Howard Luloff from St. Louis Park, MnOne of my all-time favorite solo hits from Ringo Starr. I never get tired of hearing that song. To me, it has a bit of country rock in it.
Francisco Carranza from Mexico CityI wonder if there's a version of this song sung by George Harrison alone.
Jacs from London Beautiful emotional song
Guy from Woodinville, WaThis is George and Ringo's most straight-ahead perfect pop song. Badge with Eric Clapton wasn't bad, either.
John from Grand Island, NyOne of the best songs ever written...so poignant especially after the death of George Harrison in 2001. I could listen to this song non stop every day for the rest of my life. George would often help Ringo out in writing songs (see Octopus' Garden, It Don't Come Easy etc.), he never took any credit as he was just happy to help out his best friend.
Mike from Matawan, NjI have a photograph of Def Leppard and Ringo Starr photographing each other WHILE their singing each others versions of Photograph. Top THAT.
Dave from Easton, PaLove this song! The lyrics match Ringo's plaintive vocals perfectly.
Linc from Beaumont, TxBritsh Band Def Leppard also has a song Photograph. And they are both good!
Ken from Louisville, KyWhen this reached #1 on the Billboard chars, John sent Ringo a funny telegram: "Congratulations! How dare you? Please write a hit song for me!"
John from Fort Worth, TxRingo Starr performed his memorable song on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on Jan. 24, 2008. He also sang a wonderful new song he had recently written. John Martin, 46
Andy from Arlington, VaRingo performed this song at the Concert for George in 2002.

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