Ringo Starr: “Only You” (1974)
Only Ringo and Harry could have spun gold out of this moldy oldie.
Kronomyth 4.01: Imitation is the sincerest form of plattery.
John Lennon basically handed this hit to Ringo Starr on a silver Platters. John recorded a stylized version that sounded a lot like his Rock And Roll recordings at the time and gave it to Ringo to re-record. Ringo apparently liked the version so much that he kept John’s guide vocals and guitar and simply re-recorded his own version on top of it. If you’ve heard John’s version, you’ll hear that that the two are almost identical; Harry Nilsson’s backing vocals are really the only difference, but what a difference they make! (It’s a wonder Ringo wasn’t shadowed by a small army of backing vocalists all the time: shopping, in the shower, on the phone.) Ringo and Harry also made a music video for this song featuring Ringo in his spaceman costume and Harry Nilsson in a bathrobe. The B side is the elpee track, “Call Me,” a likeable pop song in the mold of “Don’t Pass Me By.” The piano is provided by a young David Foster, who would go on to take over the L.A. music scene in later years.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. Only You (Buck Ram/Ande Rand) (3:16)
B1. Call Me (Richard Starkey) (4:05)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single on November 11, 1974 in the US and Canada (Apple, 1876), on November 15, 1974 in the UK (Apple, R6000) and in 1974 in France (Apple, 2C 006-05764), Germany (Apple, 1C 006 05764), Japan (Apple, EAR 10670) and Yugoslavia (Jugoton, SAP 88804) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #6 on the US charts (charted on November 16, 1974 for 13 weeks) and #28 on the UK charts. Also released as promotional 7-inch single in the US (Apple, 1874) feat. A stereo and mono versions.
