This Be Called A Song

Written by: Eric Clapton
Recorded: 25 May; 17 June; August; September 1976
Producer: Arif Mardin

Released: 17 September 1976 (UK), 27 September 1976 (US)

Available on:
Ringo’s Rotogravure

Personnel

Ringo Starr: vocals, drums
Eric Clapton, Lon Van Eaton: guitar
Jane Getz: piano
Klaus Voormann: bass guitar
Jim Keltner: drums
Robert Greenidge: steel drums
Melissa Manchester, Vini Poncia, Joe Bean: vocals

‘This Be Called A Song’ is the eighth song on Ringo Starr’s 1976 album Ringo’s Rotogravure.

By 1976 Starr was used to soliciting songs from fellow musicians for his solo albums, with the former Beatles and Harry Nilsson among his key collaborators. ‘This Be Called A Song’ was written by Eric Clapton, who also played guitar on the recording.

The backing track was recorded on 25 May. On 17 June additional vocals were recorded, on the same day that Paul and Linda McCartney contributed to ‘Pure Gold’.

One of the backing singers on ‘This Be Called A Song’ was Joe ‘Bean’ Esposito.

Vini Poncia – who’s a very famous record producer; in fact, I’m doing an album with him right now — called me one day and said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Nothing.’ He said, ‘I have a session. You want to come sing?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ So we’re singing in the car, and he doesn’t tell me whose session it is.

I walk into the studio, Cherokee Sound Studios — just a great moment in my life — and there is Ringo Starr. And then I see Arif Mardin, the legendary producer from Atlantic Records. And who comes in unannounced about 20 minutes later? Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney. And now I’m singing with Melissa Manchester, and Vini, and myself, and we’re doing background vocals — I forget which song it was — and two of The Beatles are looking at me! And I’m thinking to myself, ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me! I just got to L.A, and this is the first thing I’m doing!’

I called Eddie on the phone. I said, ‘Two of The Beatles are here! I can’t believe it. I’m never leaving. This is the greatest!’ and we were just flipping out. But that’s how I got to sing on the album — through Vini.