| "Snookeroo" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) A-side label | ||||
| Single by Ringo Starr | ||||
| from the album Goodnight Vienna | ||||
| A-side | " No No Song (US)" | |||
| B-side | "Oo-Wee (UK)" | |||
| Released | 21 February 1975 (UK only) | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Apple Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Elton John and Bernie Taupin | |||
| Producer(s) | Richard Perry | |||
| Ringo Starr singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Snookeroo" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and released by Ringo Starr on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna.
Writing and release
The song, which concerns a happy-go-lucky lout from northern England, was written about Starr himself. [1][ failed verification] Bernie Taupin backs this up by calling it "a simple biographical thing". [2][ failed verification] Elton John recalled, "Bernie wrote really simple lyrics, very Ringo type lyrics and I tried to write a simple sort of melody to it". [2] Elton John also plays piano on the track and provides the count-off.
The title refers to the billiards game snooker. Charting as a tag-along with " No No Song" in the US, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. On the Cash Box chart, which listed single sides separately, it "bubbled under" at number 105. [3]
The UK version of the single was released on 21 February 1975 with "Oo-Wee" on the B-side, [nb 1]; [4] both tracks were taken from the album Goodnight Vienna.
Personnel
Personnel are taken from the Goodnight Vienna CD liner notes [5]
- Ringo Starr – drums, vocals
- Klaus Voormann – bass
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Elton John – piano
- Robbie Robertson – guitar
- Bobby Keys, Chuck Findley, Steve Madaio and Trevor Lawrence – horns
- James Newton Howard – synthesizer
- Clydie King, Joe Greene and Linda Laurence – backing vocals
Reception
Billboard described "Snookeroo" as "a perfect Ringo type cut" that is "an uptempo, happy song" with good use of horns and string instruments. [6] Cash Box said that "it shares [John's and Taupin's] usual hit qualities" [7] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it Starr's 8th greatest solo song. [8] The record failed to chart in the UK. [8]
References
- Footnotes
- Citations
- ^ Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom. Rocket Man: Elton John A to Z. p. 95.
- ^ a b Fong-Torres, Ben (21 November 1974). "The Four Eyed Bitch is Back". Rolling Stone. p. 61.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 481. ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7.
- ^ a b Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN 9780753508435.
- ^ Ringo Starr - Goodnight Vienna, 15 November 1974, retrieved 13 November 2023
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1 February 1975. p. 78. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 1 February 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ a b Swenson, Dave (23 November 2013). "Top 10 Ringo Starr Solo Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
 | This 1970s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about a song by one or more members of the Beatles is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |