from GOODNIGHT VIENNA
written by Richard Starkey
In the fall of 1974, legendary former Beatle, Ringo Starr released his new album entitled “Goodnight Vienna.” Produced by the great Richard Perry, “Goodnight Vienna” was a solid pop/rock endeavour with several catchy moments and chock full of special guests like John Lennon, Elton John, Robbie Robertson and Harry Nilsson.
The album went straight into the top ten, it was certified gold in the US and spawned a couple of hit singles, “Only You (And You Alone)” and “No No Song,” that went into the top ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 respectively at #6 and #3.
Lennon contributed the opening number, the bouncy, up-tempo “(It’s All Da-Da-Down To) Goodnight Vienna” while the feel-good “Snookeroo” was co-written by Elton John and his partner, Bernie Taupin especially for Starr. Another highlight is Allen Toussaint’s “Ocappella,” a fantastic r&b song with Dr. John guesting on electric piano. One of the strong points of “Goodnight Vienna” was Perry’s exquisite production with top performances by the cream of American session players. As a good example, listen to the first piano bars of “Call Me” and you’ll find a young David Foster playing wonderfully on this pretty ballad, a Starr original, clearly influenced by the Beach Boys’ classic vocal harmonies. Other session legends appearing on “Goodnight Vienna” were drummer Jim Keltner, keyboard player Billy Preston and guitarist Steve Cropper. Foster, who was at the beginning of his career, also appeared on the drummer’s “Ringo The 4th,” in 1977. Starr nowadays still tours with his incredible All Starr Band that includes some of the best musicians in the world and recently released his new album entitled “Ringo 2012.”
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/call_me.mp3|titles=Call Me|artists=Ringo Starr]
Lead Vocals & Drums: Ringo Starr
Piano: David Foster
Guitar: Steve Cropper
Bass & Backing Vocals: Klaus Voormann
Backing Vocals: Lon & Derrek Van Eaton, Vini Poncia, Richard Perry & Cynthia Webb
Produced by Richard Perry
Lyrics
Call me, if you wanna see me,
Call me, if you still believe me.
‘Cause i’m not gonna hide,
No, i’m not gonna hide from you.
If you still think you need me,
Like i do, i want you to feed me.
With your love, i’ll be strong,
With your love, ill be strong and carry on.
Don’t be hurt by what you’ve seen, dear,
I know it’s like a dream, dear.
Remember, i slept too,
Remember, i slept too with you.
(uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-ah-)
(uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-ah-)
(ah-ah, ah-ah)
It’s time that we both went through it,
If we don’t, then we know we’ll blew it.
‘Cause we’ve gotta give it a try, (gotta give it, give it a try)
Yeah, we’ve gotta give it a try, yeh, you and i.
We tried, (we know that we tried)
But we didn’t make it. (we tried, you know that we tried)
Now we don’t (we don’t, you know that we don’t)
Ever have to fake it. (we tried, you know that we tried)
Well, we’ll go on our way, (go on our way)
Yeh, we’ll go on our way, it’s a brand new day.
(ah-ah, ah-ah)
Call me, if you wanna see me,
Call me, (call me, call me, oo-)
If you wanna still be my friend.
You can call me, (call me, call me, oo-)
If you wanna see me again.
Why don’t you call me? (we tried, you know that we tried)
You can call me. (we tried, you know that we tried)
If you wanna still be my friend. (we tried, you know that we tried)
(be-doo-be-doo)
(we tried, you know that we tried, ah -)
(we tried, you know that we tried)
(we tried)