by Robert Wilkinson
Today we offer very merry 68th birthday greetings to Ringo Starr, Beatle and drummer extraordinaire. This trouper is still on the road pounding the skins from time to time, and is as entertaining a performer as has ever lived. Keep "rockin' on one time for us," and thanks for all the amazing videos you've been a part of, a few of which we'll enjoy today.
Today we have live video performances of "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph," and "You're 16" from his post Beatle years, as well as contemporary performances of "Matchbox" and "Honey Don't," both written by the legendary Carl Perkins and sung by Ringo when he was "the most popular" Beatle. Today's videos show Carl and Ringo at their best doing those two songs, along with Eric Clapton, who on a separate track also joins George, Elton, and Ringo live to do George's major Beatle hit "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
I also found live performances of Ringo doing songs that he sang lead on when he was with the Beatles, including "Boys" and "I Wanna Be Your Man," and while mining for gold found a lot of videos of the Beatles live in Japan, as well as footage of their Shea Stadium concerts.
To finish this bunch of odds and sods, there are videos of the Beatles from Shindig and Ready Steady Go, both television series where lip synching was the norm, and a couple of music videos created for Ringo's post-Beatle hits. Enjoy the concert, and a big happy merry and jolly to my mom's favorite Beatle.
"It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr, Jack Bruce & Peter Frampton
"Matchbox" - Carl Perkins, Ringo Starr & Eric Clapton
"Honey Don't" - Ringo Starr, Carl Perkins and friends
"I Wanna Be Your Man" - Ringo Starr live at the Mohegan Sun
"Photograph" - Ringo Starr live at Montreux 1992
"Only You" - John Lennon & Ringo Starr music video featuring both
"You're Sixteen" - Ringo Starr original music video song promo
"It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr original music video song promo
To continue this reely big shew, heeeeere's THE BEATLES!
"Boys" - The Beatles (dig the Spanish subtitles!)
From The Beatles live in Japan 1966:
"If I Needed Someone" & "Daytripper"
Here's a 10 minute clip of the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965, introduced by Ed Sullivan. This will give you an idea of what Beatlemania was like! Opening with "Twist and Shout" was bold, given that it shredded John's voice pdq. Also offered here are "Baby's in Black," "I'm Down," and a clever use of "Help" set to shots of the pandemonium going on in NY that night.
(They couldn't hear a note they played or sang, so all in all it's a pretty good performance. Of course, some of the kids there probably suffered ear drum damage from the decibel level of screams, which were constant throughout the concert!)
For those who remember when tv show performances didn't actually allow the acts to perform their hits, here are the Beatles "performing" a couple on Shindig! circa 1964:
"Kansas City" and ""I'm a Loser" and "Boys"
Closing today's feast is a video where the audio-video synch is horrible, but the footage is classic. From their live "performance" on the British television hit series, "Ready Steady Go," we have "Twist and Shout" and "She Loves You."
And of course, if you just can't get enough of Ringo and "the lads," please go to last year's birthday tribute where there are links to other Ringo hits such as "A Little Help From My Friends," "Only You," and performances with the Beatles and others. The Paul McCartney link at the bottom of the article is also rich with Beatle performances not found "Here, There, and Everywhere."
I trust you will enjoy your trip to another place, space, and time, when things weren't nearly as weird as they are today. It really was a time when magic, love, and hope were in the air.
© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson
That 1965 Shea Stadium visit to New York, was broadcast live and I attended that in Omaha, Nebraska at the Orpheum Theatre. I was 17 and stood on my seat screaming and swooning as did the entire, packed theatre. It was amazing we could hear them at all. We were crying and in ecstacy and it was a time like no other. I moved to Berkeley shortly after that time to continue the "magic".
What a time the Beatles heralded in, I will love them always, and especially you, dear Ringo, Happiest of Birthdays.
Posted by: Sue Moon | July 08, 2008 at 05:55 AM
Oh, and wanted to add that for my 60th birthday last year my favorite gift was the White Album.
Posted by: Sue Moon | July 08, 2008 at 05:57 AM
I saw him on Larry King last night. He looks incredibly young and almost boyish for his age. He's genuinely happy just to still be able to play music and have some fun. He's a neat guy.
Posted by: Nan | July 08, 2008 at 07:42 AM