Ringo's Rotogravure
	Produced by Arif Mardin
	Released on September 17, 1976
	US CHART POSITION #28
	Find it at GEMM
SD 18193 cover [high resolution photo]

T he word “rotogravure” refers to a printing process that involves pictures etched on a copper cylinder (which, I realize, is apropos of nothing). And yet Ringo’s Rotogravure hardly paints a rosy picture of the future, revealing a visible decline in quality from Ringo and Goodnight Vienna. The troubling point is that Ringo clearly set out to duplicate those albums this time around, staying in the same boogaloo ballpark with covers, songs from the other Beatles, and a few originals. It might have been better if he did more with the material he was given; “I’ll Still Love You” (written by George) and “Pure Gold” (from Paul) would have fared better under their care, but Ringo glosses over them like cheaply bought baubles. Still, the album does have a few good tracks, including the hit “A Dose of Rock ‘N’ Roll,” Eric Clapton’s “This Be Called A Song” (which features neat steel drums), and John Lennon’s “Cookin’ (In The Kitchen Of Love).” I’d rank that last song among Ringo’s best, but the rest of the record is easily dismissed in lieu of his last two albums. Ringo at least retains a sense of the right setting for his voice, since the originals “Cryin’,” “Las Brisas” and “Lady Gaye” flatter his limited range. If you’re intent on buying all of Ringo’s albums, nothing I can say will stop you from buying Ringo’s Rotogravure, but it’s obvious that he’s milked this formula for all it’s worth. Unlike the usual party endings, the last track is a bit called “Spooky Weirdness” that sounds like you think it would.

SD 18193 inner gatefold	SD 18193 picture sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. A DOSE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL    (Carl Grossman)    3:24
2. HEY BABY    (Margaret Cobb/Bruce Channel)    3:10
3. PURE GOLD    (Paul McCartney)    3:13
4. CRYIN'    (Vini Poncia/Richard Starkey)    3:17
5. YOU DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL    (Dave Jordan)    3:15
6. COOKIN' (IN THE KITCHEN OF LOVE)    (John Lennon)    3:37
7. I'LL STILL LOVE YOU    (George Harrison)    2:56
8. THIS BE CALLED A SONG    (Eric Clapton)    3:13
9. LAS BRISAS    (Andrews/Richard Starkey)    3:33
10. LADY GAYE    (Vini Poncia/Richard Starkey/Clifford T. Gaye)    2:56
11. SPOOKY WEIRDNESS    (uncredited)    1:15

CREDITS

RINGO STARR -- vocals, drums, maracas
JOHN JARVIS -- keyboards
JIM "LIGHTNIN" KELTNER -- drums
VINI PONCIA -- background vocals, vocals
LON VAN EATON -- guitar
KLAUS VOORMAN -- bass
Joe Bean -- background vocals
Michael Brecker -- tenor sax
Randy Brecker -- trumpet
Eric Clapton -- guitar (8)
Lewis Delgatto -- baritone sax
George Devens -- congas, marimbas
Jesse Ed Davis -- guitar
King Errisson -- percussion (6)
Peter Frampton -- guitar (1)
Los Galleros -- the Mariachi band (9)
Jane Getz -- keyboards, piano
Robert Greenidge -- steel drums (8)
The "Fab" Harry -- background vocals (10)
Dutch Helmer -- background vocals
Sneaky Pete -- pedal steel (4)
Danny Kortchmar -- guitar
David Lasley -- background vocals
Will Lee -- bass (6)
John Lennon -- piano (6)
Cooker Lo Presti -- bass
The Mad Mauries -- background vocals and claps (2)
Melissa Manchester -- background vocals
Arif Mardin -- electric piano, ARP string ensemble, string & horn arrangements
Lou Marini -- tenor sax (10)
Linda McCartney -- background vocals (3)
Paul McCartney -- background vocals (3)
Gene Orloff -- concert master for strings
Mac Rebennack -- keyboards, guitar, organ
Alan Rubin -- trumpet (1)
Alan Young -- trumpet (2)
George Young -- tenor sax
Lew Hahn -- recording & mixing engineer
David Alexander -- cover photography

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