Ringo (song)
Encyclopedia
"Ringo" was a hit single for the Canadian-born actor, Lorne Greene
, in 1964
.
The song's actual sung lyrics are limited to the title word alone, performed by an unidentified male chorus. Throughout the rest of the performance, Greene talks about the legendary gunfighter. His words tell the story, in a first-person account, of a Western lawman and his relationship with a notorious gunfighter, Ringo, presumably based on the outlaw Johnny Ringo
. It has been pointed out that the song does not fit the known historical facts of the life of Johnny Ringo. However, this did not damage the song's popularity, as it shot to the top of the US Billboard charts
on December 5, 1964. It also peaked at #1 on the "Easy Listening
" chart, where it remained at the top for six weeks . The single also peaked at number twenty-one on Hot Country Singles
chart . In his native Canada, it hit #1 on the RPM
national singles chart on December 7. The song was written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair.
The 'B' side of the disc contained a vocal version of the theme song of Greene's TV show Bonanza
, with lyrics that were never used on TV (See Bonanza
article for more on that song).
Like "Bonanza", "Ringo" began as a track on Greene's WELCOME TO THE PONDEROSA RCA Victor lp in late 1963. On the album, each track was supplemented with an introduction to each song, separately tracked. By October 1964, Ringo Starr
's popularity in the Beatles
prompted "Ringo" to be released as a single, even though it was never about him. The album's introductions were left off of the single release. "Ringo" debuted in Billboard in October 1964. By the same time, a special promotional recording by Greene (possibly Canadian only) was sent to radio stations to promote the album, where he speaks about seven of the album's tracks. "Ringo" was the lead track. On it, he talks about the probable confusion between his song character and the Beatles and the "wonderful drummer of theirs", assuring the listener that it's not about him. About this time, the album had been upgraded to include a notation on the front jacket, FEATURING THE BIG HIT "RINGO". In 1965, Lorne Greene recorded a French version of "Ringo" as well.
A completely sung version of the song was recorded by Riders in the Sky.
In December 1964, the first parody of the song was issued; "Gringo", written by Marty Cooper and H.B. Barnum. Cooper, himself, would record it under the name of El Clod, a name he had used in 1962 to record a parody on the Challenge label for the song "Wolverton Mountain", which was called "Tiajuana Border". This "Ringo" parody would be issued on the Vee Jay label.
Other parodies soon followed, including two by Frank Gallop
with his 1966 hit single, "The Ballad of Irving" on the Kapp label, which was quickly chased with a sequel, "The Son Of Irving" on the Musicor label (also in 1966). Another happened in the 1980s by Dutch comedian Andre van Duin
(as "Bingo"); and then by Country Yossi
and the Shteeble Hoppers (as "Shlomo").
The 2005 short film "Ringo", which used the song along with public domain footage of John Wayne
and Roy Rogers
, won the Short Film Award for animated film at the 2005 Seattle International Film Festival.
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
, in 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
.
The song's actual sung lyrics are limited to the title word alone, performed by an unidentified male chorus. Throughout the rest of the performance, Greene talks about the legendary gunfighter. His words tell the story, in a first-person account, of a Western lawman and his relationship with a notorious gunfighter, Ringo, presumably based on the outlaw Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo
John Peters "Johnny" Ringo was an outlaw Cowboy of the American Old West who was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell in Cochise County, Arizona Territory during 1881-1882.-Early life:...
. It has been pointed out that the song does not fit the known historical facts of the life of Johnny Ringo. However, this did not damage the song's popularity, as it shot to the top of the US Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
on December 5, 1964. It also peaked at #1 on the "Easy Listening
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
" chart, where it remained at the top for six weeks . The single also peaked at number twenty-one on Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart . In his native Canada, it hit #1 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
national singles chart on December 7. The song was written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair.
The 'B' side of the disc contained a vocal version of the theme song of Greene's TV show Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, with lyrics that were never used on TV (See Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
article for more on that song).
Like "Bonanza", "Ringo" began as a track on Greene's WELCOME TO THE PONDEROSA RCA Victor lp in late 1963. On the album, each track was supplemented with an introduction to each song, separately tracked. By October 1964, Ringo Starr
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...
's popularity in the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
prompted "Ringo" to be released as a single, even though it was never about him. The album's introductions were left off of the single release. "Ringo" debuted in Billboard in October 1964. By the same time, a special promotional recording by Greene (possibly Canadian only) was sent to radio stations to promote the album, where he speaks about seven of the album's tracks. "Ringo" was the lead track. On it, he talks about the probable confusion between his song character and the Beatles and the "wonderful drummer of theirs", assuring the listener that it's not about him. About this time, the album had been upgraded to include a notation on the front jacket, FEATURING THE BIG HIT "RINGO". In 1965, Lorne Greene recorded a French version of "Ringo" as well.
A completely sung version of the song was recorded by Riders in the Sky.
In December 1964, the first parody of the song was issued; "Gringo", written by Marty Cooper and H.B. Barnum. Cooper, himself, would record it under the name of El Clod, a name he had used in 1962 to record a parody on the Challenge label for the song "Wolverton Mountain", which was called "Tiajuana Border". This "Ringo" parody would be issued on the Vee Jay label.
Other parodies soon followed, including two by Frank Gallop
Frank Gallop
Frank Gallop was an American radio and television personality.-Radio:Frank Gallop went into broadcasting by chance...
with his 1966 hit single, "The Ballad of Irving" on the Kapp label, which was quickly chased with a sequel, "The Son Of Irving" on the Musicor label (also in 1966). Another happened in the 1980s by Dutch comedian Andre van Duin
André van Duin
André van Duin is a Dutch actor , singer, writer and program creator.-Television, radio and theatre:...
(as "Bingo"); and then by Country Yossi
Country Yossi
Country Yossi is the name of a monthly, English-language Orthodox Jewish magazine, a radio show, a collection of musical albums, and children's books created, composed, authored, and published by Yossi Toiv, who took on the nickname "Country Yossi" and then transferred it onto the magazine, radio...
and the Shteeble Hoppers (as "Shlomo").
The 2005 short film "Ringo", which used the song along with public domain footage of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
, won the Short Film Award for animated film at the 2005 Seattle International Film Festival.