Photograph (Ringo Starr song)
Encyclopedia
"Photograph" is a song written by Ringo Starr
and George Harrison
. It was released by Starr as a single on 5 October 1973, reaching number eight in the UK and number one in the U.S. singles charts. It can also be heard on the Ringo
album and several compilation and live albums.
(drums), Klaus Voorman (bass), Nicky Hopkins
(piano), Vini Poncia
(acoustic guitar), Jimmy Calvert (acoustic guitar), Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (percussion), Bobby Keyes (tenor saxophone solo) are also featured. The orchestral arrangements are by Jack Nitzsche
, and Richard Perry
produced the recording.
This is one of many songs of Ringo's to feature Harrison, including "I'm The Greatest".
A promotional film was shot for the "Photograph" single, showing Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park
, which had been previously the home of John Lennon
and Yoko Ono
. The B-side of the "Photograph" single, "Down And Out", was written by Starr on his own.
held in the Royal Albert Hall
, London
on the first anniversary of Harrison's death. According to the official Concert for George website, "Ringo Starr caught everyone with a tear in their eye with a rendition of "Photograph", a composition he wrote with George, which seemed to sum up how everyone felt." In this concert, Starr mentioned that the song took on a whole new meaning after the passing of Harrison. The lyrics were felt to be poignantly appropriate for this occasion, including:
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
. It was released by Starr as a single on 5 October 1973, reaching number eight in the UK and number one in the U.S. singles charts. It can also be heard on the Ringo
Ringo (album)
Ringo is the third album by Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached #1 on the RPM national albums chart...
album and several compilation and live albums.
Recording and structure
On "Photograph", Starr is the lead vocalist and plays drums, and Harrison plays 12-string acoustic guitar and sings harmony vocals; Jim KeltnerJim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
(drums), Klaus Voorman (bass), Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
(piano), Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
(acoustic guitar), Jimmy Calvert (acoustic guitar), Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (percussion), Bobby Keyes (tenor saxophone solo) are also featured. The orchestral arrangements are by Jack Nitzsche
Jack Nitzsche
Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
, and Richard Perry
Richard Perry
Richard Perry is an American music producer. Perry began as a performer in his adolescence, but shifted gears after graduating college and rose through the late 1960s and early 1970s to become a highly successful and popular record producer with over a dozen gold records to his credit by 1982...
produced the recording.
This is one of many songs of Ringo's to feature Harrison, including "I'm The Greatest".
A promotional film was shot for the "Photograph" single, showing Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park
Tittenhurst Park
Tittenhurst Park was the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono from the late summer of 1969 until August 1971, and then the home of Ringo Starr and family until the late-1980s. It is located on a 72-acre estate in London Road, Sunningdale, near Ascot, Berkshire SL5 0PN, England, close to the Surrey...
, which had been previously the home of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
. The B-side of the "Photograph" single, "Down And Out", was written by Starr on his own.
Performance at the Concert for George
On 29 November 2002, Starr performed "Photograph" at the Concert for GeorgeConcert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
held in the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on the first anniversary of Harrison's death. According to the official Concert for George website, "Ringo Starr caught everyone with a tear in their eye with a rendition of "Photograph", a composition he wrote with George, which seemed to sum up how everyone felt." In this concert, Starr mentioned that the song took on a whole new meaning after the passing of Harrison. The lyrics were felt to be poignantly appropriate for this occasion, including:
Personnel
- Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
: Drums, vocals. - George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
: 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals. - Vini PonciaVini PonciaVini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
: Acoustic guitar. - Jimmy Calvert: Acoustic guitar.
- Nicky HopkinsNicky HopkinsNicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
: Piano. - Klaus VoormannKlaus VoormannKlaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
: Bass guitar. - Bobby Keyes: Tenor saxophone.
- Lon Van Eaton: Percussion.
- Derrek Van Eaton: Percussion.
- Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
: Drums. - Jack NitzscheJack NitzscheBernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
: Orchestral and choral arrangements.
Cover versions and references
- Adam SandlerAdam SandlerAdam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
covered "Photograph" for the 2009 Judd ApatowJudd ApatowJudd Apatow is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is well known for his work in comedy films, especially for films he has been involved with throughout the latter half of the 2000s. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, a film production company that also developed the...
film Funny PeopleFunny PeopleFunny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann. The film was released on 31 July 2009 in North America, and on 28 August 2009 in the United Kingdom. Funny People uses considerably more...
. - Canadian band SloanSloan (band)Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...
made reference to the song in their 1996 single "The Lines You AmendThe Lines You Amend"The Lines You Amend" is a song by Canadian rock band Sloan, and the third single released from their 1996 album, One Chord to Another.-Reception:...
": "You'll always come to mind / Whenever I hear that song / The one about photographs / Sung by Ringo Starr / Especially in the chorus part / You always said, 'Now don't you start'." - Camper Van BeethovenCamper Van BeethovenCamper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a...
recorded a cover of this song, which appears on their 1993 rarities compilation album, Camper VantiquitiesCamper VantiquitiesCamper Vantiquities is a 1993 rarities compilation album by musical group Camper Van Beethoven, released on I.R.S. It included the earlier EP Vampire Can Mating Oven and a number of other unreleased tracks, compiled by bassist Victor Krummenacher a few years after the band split up...
.