"Oh My My" is a song by English musician Ringo Starr from his 1973 album Ringo. It was also issued as the third single from the album, becoming a top-five hit in the United States and Canada. The recording was produced by Richard Perry and includes backing vocals by Merry Clayton and Martha Reeves.
| "Oh My My" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Ringo Starr | ||||
| from the album Ringo | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 18 February 1974 (US) 9 January 1976 (UK) | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:38 | |||
| Label | Apple | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia | |||
| Producer(s) | Richard Perry | |||
| Ringo Starr singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
edit"Oh My My" was co-written by Starr (credited by his real name, "Richard Starkey") and Vini Poncia, a recurrent collaborator of Starr's during the 1970s. Billy Preston plays keyboards on the track.[1] Both Starr and Jim Keltner play drums, while Klaus Voormann plays bass. Tom Scott plays the saxophone solo.
Personnel
edit- Ringo Starr - lead vocals, drums
- Klaus Voormann - bass
- Tom Scott - saxophone
- Jimmy Calvert - electric guitar
- Billy Preston - piano, organ
- Jim Keltner - drums
- Vini Poncia - backing vocals
- Martha Reeves – backing vocals
- Merry Clayton – backing vocals
Release
editThe song was first released as the opening track on side two of the Ringo LP, in November 1973. Issued as a single on 18 February 1974 in the US,[nb 1][2] Billboard felt that the instrumental portion of the song was more effective than the lyrics.[3] Cash Box said that the "Richard Perry production adds the 'hit' touch to this amusing little ditty."[4] Record World said that "the superb Perry production is the super-solid stuff from which gold records are made."[5]
"Oh My My" peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 3 in Canada and number 24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, making it one of the most successful songs of Starr's career. The song was released on a UK single on 9 January 1976,[nb 2] backed with "No No Song",[6] to promote Starr's Blast from Your Past compilation album.[7]
Starr first performed "Oh My My" in 2008 with the tenth incarnation of his All-Starr Band.[8]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada | 3 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening | 24 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 5 |
Cover versions
edit- The song was covered by Ike & Tina Turner, who performed it on a 1975 episode of Soul Train and on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1976.[10][11]
- Bette Midler performed a cover of the track on her live album Live at Last.[12]
- David Hentschel released an instrumental version on Starr's Ring O' Records label, in 1975.
- Maggie Bell recorded the song in 1974.
- Kirka, a Finnish band, released the song with Finnish lyrics.
References
edit- Footnotes
- Citations
- ^ Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980 (illustrated ed.). New York: Backbeat Books. p. 74. ISBN 9780879309688.
- ^ a b Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 183. ISBN 9780753508435.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 2 March 1974. p. 60. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 2 March 1974. p. 18. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 2 March 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ a b Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN 9780753508435.
- ^ "Ringo Starr - Oh My My". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ Jackson, Andrew Grant (2012). Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of the Beatles' Solo Careers (illustrated ed.). Scarecrow Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780810882225.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 800.
- ^ "Soul Train - Ike & Tina Turner/Lonette McKee". IMDb. 18 January 1975.
- ^ "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert: March 12, 1976: Coke & Vida / Lisa Hartman / C.W. McCall / Ike & Tina Turner Revue / Queen (music video)". TV.com.
- ^ Viglione, Joe. "Live at Last - Bette Midler : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2012.