“Wings,” from Ringo Starr’s forthcoming Ringo 2012 album, is actually a badly needed remake of a song he co-wrote during a dark period decades ago.
Originally part of Ringo the 4th, a dance-y flop produced in 1977 by disco maven Arif Mardin, “Wings” experiences a cool-rocking little do-over. Featured are brother-in-law Joe Walsh and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers.
It’s a highlight of Starr’s 17th solo album, to be released on January 31, 2012 in the U.S., and January 30 elsewhere, through HIP-O/UMe Records. Other guests include Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Charlie Haden, Amy Keys, Van Dyke Parks, Dave Stewart, Don Was and Edgar Winter, among others. Parks, Stewart and Walsh share songwriting credits.
Ringo the 4th only got to No. 162 in the U.S., and didn’t chart at all in Britain. Atlantic Records later dropped Starr, and maybe you can see why, based on this draggy, maybe even druggy original version of “Wings”:
This new track, by the way, isn’t the only time Ringo Starr returns to his own recording past on Ringo 2012. There’s also a new take on “Step Lightly,” from the 1973 smash Ringo. There are two other covers, as well: “Think It Over” by Buddy Holly and “Rock Island Line,” a skiffle song made popular by Lonnie Donegan, a favorite of the Beatles as youngsters.
The complete track listing for Ringo Starr’s Ringo 2012:
1. Anthem (Richard Starkey/Glen Ballard)
2. Wings (Richard Starkey/Vince Poncia)
3. Think It Over (Buddy Holly/Norman Perry)
4. Samba (Richard Starkey/Van Dyke Parks)
5. Rock Island Line (Arr: Richard Starkey)
6. Step Lightly (Richard Starkey)
7. Wonderful (Richard Starkey/Gary Nicholson)
8. In Liverpool (Richard Starkey/Dave Stewart)
9. Slow Down (Richard Starkey/Joe Walsh)
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