Photograph (Ringo Starr song)

"Photograph" is a song written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison. It was released by Starr as a single on 5 October 1973, reaching number eight in the UK and number one in the U.S. singles charts. It can also be heard on the Ringo album and several compilation and live albums.

1 Recording and structure
2 Performance at the Concert for George
3 Personnel
4 Cover versions and references

Recording and structure

On "Photograph", Starr is the lead vocalist and plays drums, and Harrison plays 12-string acoustic guitar and sings harmony vocals; Jim Keltner (drums), Klaus Voorman (bass), Nicky Hopkins (piano), Vini Poncia (acoustic guitar), Jimmy Calvert (acoustic guitar), Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (percussion), Bobby Keyes (tenor saxophone solo) are also featured. The orchestral arrangements are by Jack Nitzsche, and Richard Perry produced the recording. This is one of many songs of Ringo's to feature Harrison, including "I'm The Greatest".

A promotional film was shot for the "Photograph" single, showing Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park, which had been previously the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The B-side of the "Photograph" single, "Down And Out", was written by Starr on his own.

Performance at the Concert for George

On 29 November 2002, Starr performed "Photograph" at the Concert for George held in the Royal Albert Hall, London on the first anniversary of Harrison's death. According to the official Concert for George website, "Ringo Starr caught everyone with a tear in their eye with a rendition of "Photograph", a composition he wrote with George, which seemed to sum up how everyone felt." In this concert, Starr mentioned that the song took on a whole new meaning after the passing of Harrison. The lyrics were felt to be poignantly appropriate for this occasion, including:

“

Ev'ry time I see your face,

It reminds me of the places we used to go.

But all I've got is a photograph,

And I realise you're not coming back anymore.

I can't get used to living here,

While my heart is broke, my tears I cried for you.

I want you here to have and hold,

As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

”

Personnel

Ringo Starr: Drums, vocals.
George Harrison: 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals.
Vini Poncia: Acoustic guitar.
Jimmy Calvert: Acoustic guitar.
Nicky Hopkins: Piano.
Klaus Voormann: Bass guitar.
Bobby Keyes: Tenor saxophone.
Lon Van Eaton: Percussion.
Derrek Van Eaton: Percussion.
Jim Keltner: Drums.
Jack Nitzsche: Orchestral and choral arrangements.

Cover versions and references

Adam Sandler covered "Photograph" for the 2009 Judd Apatow film Funny People.
Canadian band Sloan made reference to the song in their 1996 single "The Lines You Amend": "You'll always come to mind / Whenever I hear that song / The one about photographs / Sung by Ringo Starr / Especially in the chorus part / You always said, 'Now don't you start'."
Camper Van Beethoven recorded a cover of this song, which appears on their 1993 rarities compilation album, Camper Vantiquities.

Preceded by "Keep on Truckin' (Part 1)" by Eddie Kendricks	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single November 24, 1973 - November 30, 1973	Succeeded by "Top of the World" by The Carpenters

Ringo Starr singles

Beaucoups of Blues	"Beaucoups of Blues (1971)

Ringo	"Photograph" (1973) · "You're Sixteen" (1973) · "Oh My My" (1974)

Goodnight Vienna	"Only You (And You Alone)" (1974) · "No No Song" / "Snookeroo" (1975) · "It's All Down to Goodnight Vienna" / "Oo-Wee" (1975)

Ringo's Rotogravure	"A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll" (1976) · "Hey! Baby" (1976)

Ringo the 4th	"Wings" (1977) · "Drowning in the Sea of Love" (1977)

Bad Boy	"Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)" (1978) · "Heart on My Sleeve" (1978) · "Tonight" (1978)

Stop and Smell the Roses	"Wrack My Brain" (1981) · "Private Property" (1982)

Time Takes Time	"Weight of the World" (1992)

Vertical Man	"La De Da" (1998)

I Wanna Be Santa Claus	"Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On" (1999)

Ringo Rama	"Never Without You" (2003)

Choose Love	"Fading In, Fading Out" (2005)

Liverpool 8	"Liverpool 8" (2008)

Y Not	"Walk with You" (with Paul McCartney) (2009)

Singles only	"It Don't Come Easy" (1971) · "Back Off Boogaloo" (1972) · "Act Naturally" (with Buck Owens) (1989) · "The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" (with Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band) (2009) ·

Photograph (Ringo Starr song)

Contents

Recording and structure

Performance at the Concert for George

Personnel

Cover versions and references