Ringo The 4th is the sixth studio album by English musician Ringo Starr, released in 1977. Its title is commonly alluded to him being the fourth member of the Beatles. Others allude that it is his fourth mainstream album, taking exception to his Great American Songbook homage, Sentimental Journey, and his country-western foray, Beaucoups of Blues. However in fact, Ringo the 4th is a dance-oriented record crafted for him by his Atlantic Records producer, Arif Mardin. After the commercial disappointment of Ringo’s Rotogravure (1976), Starr decided to shift from his formula of using his well-known musician friends (notably his fellow ex-Beatles) to write songs and appear on his albums. Instead, he intensified his partnership with Vini Poncia, with whom he wrote several of the songs featured here, while using the input of different musicians. Sessions began on 5 February 1977, at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, produced by Arif Mardin. The first songs recorded were two unreleased tracks, “Lover Please” and “Wild Shining Stars”. Near the end of the month, Starr recorded “Out on the Streets”, “It’s No Secret” and “Gypsies in Flight”. In June, recording sessions were held at Atlantic Studios in New York where the tracks that ended up on the album were recorded. In addition, the B-side “Just a Dream”, as well as an unreleased track, “By Your Side”, were recorded. Starr moved back to Cherokee Studios, where he held more sessions towards the end of the month, where a few more unreleased tracks were recorded: “Birmingham”, “This Party”, and a different version of “Just a Dream”. David Foster played keyboards on a couple of songs, while Melissa Manchester and Bette Midler occasionally appeared on backing vocals.
Tracks
1 Drowning In The Sea Of Love (Kenneth Gamble; Leon Huff) 05:09 2 Tango All Night (Stephen Hague; Tom Seufert) 02:58 3 Wings (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 03:26 4 Gave It All Up (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 04:41 5 Out On The Streets (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 04:29 6 Can She Do It Like She Dances (Gerald Robinson; Steve Duboff) 03:12 7 Sneaking Sally Through The Alley (Allen Toussaint) 04:17 8 It’s No Secret (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 03:41 9 Gypsies In Flight (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 03:02 10 Simple Love Song (Ringo Starr; Vini Poncia) 02:57
Musicians
1 Drowning In The Sea Of Love Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
2 Tango All Night Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Background Vocals - Bette Midler Vocals - Ringo Starr
3 Wings Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
4 Gave It All Up Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
5 Out On The Streets Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
6 Can She Do It Like She Dances Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
7 Sneaking Sally Through The Alley Bass - Chuck Rainey Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - Cornell Dupree Guitar - Lon Van Eaton Clavinet - Richard Tee Clavinet - David Foster Electric Piano - Richard Tee Percussion - Nicky Marrero Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Vocals - Ringo Starr
8 It’s No Secret Bass - Tony Levin Drums - Ringo Starr Drums - Steve Gadd Guitar - David Spinozza Guitar - Jeff Mironov Guitar - John Tropea Keyboards - Don Grolnick Synthesizer - Ken Bichel Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
9 Gypsies In Flight Bass - Hugh McDonald Drums - Ringo Starr Guitar - David Bromberg Acoustic Guitar - Dick Fegy Electric Drums - Jeff Gutcheon Percussion - Ringo Starr Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
10 Simple Love Song Bass - Chuck Rainey Drums - Ringo Starr Guitar - Danny Kortchmar Guitar - Lon Van Eaton Keyboards - David Foster Piano - David Foster Sax - Michael Brecker Trumpet - Randy Brecker Background Vocals - Arnold McCuller Background Vocals - Brie Howard Background Vocals - David Lasley Background Vocals - Debra Gray Background Vocals - Duitch Helmer Background Vocals - Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals - Joe Bean Background Vocals - Luther Vandross Background Vocals - Lynn Pitney Background Vocals - Marietta Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Melissa Manchester Background Vocals - Rebecca Louis Background Vocals - Robin Clark Background Vocals - Vini Poncia Vocals - Ringo Starr
Liner Notes
Producer – Arif Mardin Engineer (Additional) – Gene Paul Engineer (Assistant) – Michael O’Reilly, Steve Brandon, Tom Heid Engineer (Mastering) – Dennis King Mixed By – Lew Hahn Recorded By – Lew Hahn Cover – Nancy Andrews Design – John Kosh Photography – Nancy Andrews, Lew Hahn Phonographic Copyright Wibble Records Ltd Copyright Wibble Records Ltd
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More credits adapted from the Ringo the 4th liner notes.
Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums (A1 – B1, B3) David Spinozza – guitar (A1 – B1, B3) John Tropea – guitar (A1 – B1, B3) Jeff Mironov – guitar (A1 – B1, B3) Cornell Dupree – guitar (B 2) Lon Van Eaton – guitar (B 2) Dick Fegy – acoustic guitar (B 4) Danny Kortchmar – guitar (B 5) David Bromberg – guitar (B 4) Tony Levin – bass guitar (A1 – B1, B3) Chuck Rainey – bass guitar (B 2, B 5) Hugh McDonald – bass guitar (B 4) Don Grolnick – keyboards (A1 – B1, B3) David Foster – electric guitar, clavinet (B 2), piano, keyboards (B 5) Jeff Gutcheon – electric piano (B 4) Nicky Marrero – percussion (B 2) Ken Bichel – synthesizer Steve Gadd – drums Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone Randy Brecker – trumpet, leader of brass and reeds Don Brooks – harmonica Arnold McCuller – backing vocals Brie Howard – backing vocals David Lasley – backing vocals Debra Gray – backing vocals Duitch Helmer – backing vocals Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals Joe Bean – backing vocals Luther Vandross – backing vocals Lynn Pitney – backing vocals Marietta Waters – backing vocals Maxine Anderson – backing vocals Melissa Manchester – backing vocals Rebecca Louis – backing vocals Robin Clark – backing vocals Vini Poncia – backing vocals Bette Midler – backing vocals (A 2) Gene Orloff – concertmaster
