Written by: Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
Recorded: 11 January; February; March 1977; 2012
Producer: Arif Mardin
Engineer: Lew Hahn
Released: 20 September 1977 (UK), 30 September 1977 (US)
Available on:
Ringo The 4th
Ringo 2012
Personnel (1977)
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums
David Spinozza, John Tropea, Jeff Mironov: guitar
Don Grolnick: keyboards
Ken Bichel: synthesizer
Tony Levin: bass guitar
Steve Gadd: drums
Arnold McCuller, Brie Howard, David Lasley, Debra Gray, Jimmy Gilstrap, Joe Bean, Luther Vandross, Lynn Pitney, Marietta Waters, Maxine Anderson, Melissa Manchester, Rebecca Louis, Robin Clark, Vini Poncia: vocals
Unknown: strings
Personnel (2012)
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards
Joe Walsh: guitar
Benmont Tench: organ
Bruce Sugar: piano
Amy Keys, Kelly Moneymaker: vocals
‘Wings’ is the third song on Ringo Starr’s sixth solo album, 1977’s Ringo The 4th. He re-recorded it for the album Ringo 2012.
It was written by Starr and Vini Poncia, one of six such collaborations on the album.
‘Wings’ was the lead single from Ringo The 4th in the USA, with the non-album track ‘Just A Dream’ on the b-side. It was released on 25 August 1977 but failed to chart.
Starr re-recorded the song in 2011.
This is a song I first recorded on Ringo The 4th back when an album meant vinyl. These are different days, and it’s one of those songs I always wanted to revisit. I wrote ‘Wings’ with Vinnie Poncia in New York, and he doesn’t know I’ve done this yet. I’m going to surprise Vinnie and send it to him… For the last two years, I’ve been listening to a lot of reggae, so this album has a reggae feel to it. What can I tell you? I’m a product of my environment. I always loved the sentiment of this song, and I’m glad we finally got it right.
thebeatles.com
He considered naming the album after the re-recorded song.
Because I covered one of my old songs ‘Wings’, I even thought that Wings would be a nice album title. I’m sure Paul would have been cool with me calling my album Wings, but someone else would have found a way to misinterpret that too. So Ringo 2012 it is, pure and simple, just the way I like things.
Ringo 2012 press release
Starr invited fans to create an official promo for the re-recording. The winning entry, chosen by Starr, was directed by Vancouver-based filmmaker Jem Garrard, who split the $3,000 prize with those she collaborated with on the film.
Kind of bearing in mind Ringo’s sense of humour, I thought that I would just … kind of go for something wacky and it will be a risk, but he’ll either love it or hate it.I was fully aware that it was sounding crazy, but I called up my crew and wrote the idea that night and just didn’t sleep for four days.
Vancouver Globe And Mail
A live version by the All-Starr Band, recorded live in Atlanta on 6 July 2012, appeared on Songs After Sandy, a 2012 charity compilation raising funds for communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
I want to thank everyone for what they are doing. This is how Peace & Love works. Well done Green Ground Zero, Occupy Sandy & Restore Red Hook. Peace & Love, Ringo.
thebeatles.com
