Move over, Ms L!

Hi all, wondering why you are looking at this jumbled up page? This is due to the fact that Facebook didn't like our url since it starts with wog, so we have been forced to move the blog. This was some time ago, and we have placed a script which would automatically send you to our new location. Obviously, this hasn't worked for all of you, since we have just finished moderating some of your comments which appeared on this site recently, and not on our new (and improved!) site. So what we're saying is head on over to our new site, and update your bookmarks!

Monday 31 October 2016

Book review: All You Need Is Love

The LP sized book comes in an outer slipcase.
"All You Need Is Love" by Paul Skellett & Simon Weitzman is one of the new books released by UK based Archivum Publishing. Money to publish the book comes from crowd funding through Pledge Music and The Fest for Beatles Fans. The book is 180 pages and looks like a happening, thanks to a modern, collage-like layout. It features essays on the June 25, 1967 Our World satellite telecast, quotes from The Beatles themselves and a few insiders like engineer Geoff Emerick and producer George Martin, courtesy of old interviews and books, the creation and recording of "All You Need Is Love" and a little bit about the B-side of the single, "Baby, You're A Rich Man".

John and Paul with manager Brian Epstein.

Sprinkled throughout the book are a lot of photos from the recording session, the live event and the previous day's balloon promotions inside EMI studios (and at the back outside the no. 1 studio). Also featured are lots of "All You Need Is Love" front covers from singles released around the world, blown up to 12" size.

International front covers of the "All You Need Is Love" single.
Although fairly good at describing the circumstances under which the Our World TV special came about, as well as the technical intricacies of the recording of the main song itself (which initially had George Harrison playing the violin and Paul McCartney on double bass!), the text still falls a little short and is still not the final word on the live event. For instance, we do get a photo of Paul painting the "Come back Millie" sign, as well as glimpses of the sign in photos from the broadcast, but the text fails to explain the background story.

Paul, painting a sign which was an inside joke in the McCartney family.
Still, the book is a nice trip back to the days when The Beatles ruled the world. And yet, they didn't. The book also examines how "the straights" reacted to the fact that Great Britain and the BBC's contribution to the first global TV broadcast was this pop group. It's revealed that the countries in the "Eastern bloc" at the time, with the Soviet Union at the helm, all decided to withdraw their participation in the broadcast after all, after finding out that The Beatles were participants. They were probably afraid that The Beatles' music could corrupt their youth. Which they probably did anyway. Of course, in hindsight, The Beatles contribution is the only significant thing that makes us all still remember the "Our World" TV-show.

Colour photos from the broadcast and rehearsal was used as a guide to colourise the clip in the 90's.
The Our World TV special was shot and televised in black and white, and the Beatles' performance of "All You Need Is Love" was colourised in the nineties for the Beatles' documentary TV series "The Beatles' Anthology". In 2015, the full colourised clip was used as a promotional music video in the DVD and Blu-ray release of The Beatles 1.

Links:
Archivum Publishing
PledgeMusic
Paul Skellett

In 1997, Tracks released their book on the subject, 'All You Need is Love': "Beatles" Dress Rehearsal, which featured lots of colour and black and white photos and an essay from Steve Turner. It's still available here and there.

Wednesday 26 October 2016

New song from Paul McCartney

Ethel & Ernest soundtrack album.
A new McCartney song will be out on 28 October as a download and 11 November as a physical product - from Decca Records! The song was written for the upcoming animated motion picture, "Ethel & Ernest".

This hand drawn 94 minutes long animated film, based on the award winning graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, is an intimate and affectionate depiction of the life and times of his parents, two ordinary Londoners living through extraordinary events, from their chance first encounter in the 1920s until their deaths in the 1970s.

Ethel and Ernest were solid members of the English working class, part of the generation that lived through the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century. They met during the Depression--she working as a maid, he as a milkman--and we follow them as they court and marry, make a home, raise their son, and cope with the dark days of World War II. Briggs portrays how his parents succeeded, or failed, in coming to terms with the events of their rapidly shifting world: the advent of radio, television and telephones; the development of the atomic bomb; the moon landing and the social and political turmoil of the sixties.

The soundtrack features an original score by composer and conductor Carl Davis CBE and an exclusive new song by Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney's new song, titled "In the Blink of An Eye", plays over the end credits of the movie.

Paul's song features strings arranged by Carl Davis and an orchestra arrangement by Chris Egan.
"I knew that Paul McCartney was a big animation fan and I knew that Raymond Briggs' book Fungus the Bogeyman had influenced Paul's 1980s track Bogey Music," director Roger Mainwood told British newspaper The Telegraph. "So I asked Raymond if he might write a letter to Paul to see if he was interested in composing a track for Ethel and Ernest, which he did on Fungus the Bogeyman headed paper!"

"It obviously worked and we were thrilled when Paul said he was interested," he continued.  "We met up and he produced a CD which included a track called Mum and Dad theme.  This eventually became In the Blink of An Eye which we have used in the film."

Back in the 1920s Sir Paul McCartney’s father, James McCartney, wrote a tune called "Walking in the Park with Eloise" when he was leader of the Jim Mac’s Jazz band, a version of which was recorded by Paul McCartney with Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins as "The Country Hams" in 1974. This tune has been re-arranged specially for the film by Carl Davis (Paul McCartney's collaborator on his first classical outing, "Liverpool Oratorio") and performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London. "Walking in the Park with Eloise" is heard during a sequence early on in the film, set outside a ballroom. Paul's composition "In The Blink Of An Eye" plays over the first part of the end credits before leading into a reprise of "Walking in the Park with Eloise".

The Country Hams: Walking In The Park With Eloise (1974).
The film also uses original recorded music from the periods depicted in the film. A vast range of popular tunes from four decades are woven into the soundtrack, from Al Bowlly’s 1934 recording of "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" through to The Shadows 1963 hit "Foot Tapper". In addition, internationally renowned composer and conductor Carl Davis has composed an original score for the production. The film will be broadcast on the BBC around Christmas (potentially Christmas Day – TBC).


Ethel & Ernest Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music by Carl Davis.

1. Opening Titles
2. London 1928
3. Ethel and Ernest introduce Themselves
4. Walking in the Park with Eloise (composed by James McCartney)
5. We’re Going To Be Married
6. Now You’re In My Arms
7. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
8. Homemaking Montage
9. Blue Skies Are Around The Corner
10. The Baby
11. Housekeeping
12. Tea for Two
13. Paddington
14. The Deepest Shelter in Town
15. Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree
16. We’ll Meet Again
17. Blitzkrieg
18. Dorset – A Visit
19. Singing In The Bathtub
20. A Perfect Day
21. Stagecoach Theme
22. Grammar School
23. A Clever Boy
24. The Laughing Policeman
25. An Ordinary Copper
26. The Young Ballerina
27. Sous Le Ciel de Paris
28. Foot Tapper
29. Little Things
30. Reflections of Charlie Brown
31. Tea For Two Reprise
32. She’s Gone
33. Pear Tree
34. In The Blink Of An Eye – Paul McCartney

Sunday 23 October 2016

New Apple documentary coming up

The 2012 documentary.
British television company Sky Arts has a documentary in the making, all about The Beatles' company, Apple Corps Ltd. Of course, the company has been profiled in documentaries before, like the 2 hours and 42 minutes Strange Fruit: The Beatles' Apple Records from 2012 (see review). Not to mention The Beatles' own three part Apple documentary, which is available on YouTube.
Still, one hopes that a new look at the company may tell more about Apple's other divisions - and perhaps follows the company into our own era. Already they have filmed a wealth of great interviews and performances but no celebrity talking heads, they say - they are only interviewing people who were there at the time...so no Elvis Costello, Eddie Izzard or Sigourney Weaver! The documentary is due for broadcast in the UK some time in 2017, hopefully also internationally, but whether it will be released to on DVD/Blu-ray is still not decided upon.

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Ringo Starr: Music videos

Some of Ringo's music videos are here.
This is the final chapter: Ringo’s promotional videos. For some, the less interesting but still great to watch and collect. See also the other articles on the subject of music (or promotional) videos by Mike Carrera:




To date no official or bootleg label has released the ultimate Ringo video compilation, but good efforts have been made by some underground labels (not all in the best possible quality), but they're all missing many versions and videos. Some "video collection" compilations out there add clips from concerts and TV shows to fill in, but these are not actual promos.

On the official side we only have one release: "Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr" from 2007.
The problem with those videos is that the original audio of many of them were replaced by the commercial remastered versions, erasing the original mixes, and the bootleg labels have copied exactly THAT version  because of the high visual quality. Sometimes the videos also differ from the original versions and the bootleg makers or few fans haven’t noticed.

This is a humble research of all available Ringo official videos, including the alternate versions and variations, many of them uncirculated or unbootlegged to date, as well a few revelations and stories TOLD and published FOR THE FIRST TIME. Any corrections/mistake reports are so welcome.

For the spelling mistakes, I apologize, English is not my native language. Youtube links are illustrative only, not the researched sources.

Mike Carrera


1970:

Sentimental Journey 

Sentimental Journey
Directed by Neil Aspinall. Filmed at The Talk of The Town nightclub, London March 15, 1970 . First broadcast on "Frost on Sunday" March 29, 1970.

The original film audio mix features a pre-recorded live vocal performance over a mono mix for the backing track cut two days before at EMI Studio three (it’s not live directly on the video, Ringo’s vocal sometimes don’t synch and the recording at the end has applauses and more Ringo chat and on the video NOBODY is clapping!). Sadly when it was released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”, this unique audio was replaced by the commercial LP/CD version. This was copied over and over on many bootleg compilations, instead of the original. The best visual quality though, is in this 2007 release.
Very odd but the remastered video version with the correct alternate audio is available on the official VEVO and EMI youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50bJ8yMJPII


 1971:

It Don’t Come Easy- Version #1 

It Don't Come Easy, Version #1.
Directed by Ringo Starr.

Although reported as "filmed" at Ringo’s Sunny Heights house in Weybridge, Surrey, a closer look reveals that contains footage from at least 3 different years, from late 1968 or early 1969, 1970 and 1971, since there are at least four different looks from Ringo over the video: scenes with beard and without, longest and shorter hair, moustache ("Candy" era) etc, plus also more home movies that could come from his other two homes (and also from Sunny Heights) from 1968 and 1969 : Brookfields, Elstead also in Surrey; and Roundhill, Highgate. Also, by 1971, Sunny Heights wasn’t even one of his properties, he and his family left that home by the end of 1968 and it was sold by 1969, so he couldn’t be filmed there in 1971.

So, we can assure that Version #1 was not "filmed" specifically to make a video (at least not in full), but consists of a compilation of  home movies and other footage from many years and was put together  in form of a video to be broadcast on Top of The Pops 22 April, 1971.

The original audio mix for Version #1 runs faster and for that reason, the video is shorter in time (only 2:46 vs 2:59 on the other two versions or the commercial version). This very same mix was duplicated (using the remastered audio) on the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” from 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcZxEpA9XY


It Don’t Come Easy- Version #2 
It Don’t Come Easy- Version #3

Versions 2 & 3 filmed in Norway.
Directed by Michael Hurll.

Version 2  and 3 were filmed in Norway April  27, 1971 while he was taping the "Cilla in Scandinavia" TV special (broadcast 27 Nov, 1971).

WogBlog: Ringo in Norway

None of these two versions were filmed for the "Cilla" special, which included a different performance of this song backed with an orchestra (uncirculated) and also (in circulation), a rendition of "The Snowman Song" with Cilla doing all the singing (the live vocal was substituted with a different recording by Cilla, so we can’t hear Ringo’s voice).

Version #2 was broadcast on “Top of The Pops” 29 April, only two days after it was filmed, which sounds very odd, giving not so much time for editing, but the editor David Spence did a great job if in fact he only had one day to do it.

Some authors report that there were actually two tapings, one in April 27 for "Top of The Pops" and for the "Cilla" special was June 24,  which is incorrect, a closer look at the available materials shows Ringo wearing the very same outfit: coat, gloves, winter hat and sweater, too much coincidence or it was the only snow clothes he had? His beard and hair are also the same length.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvEexTomE1I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0Z8p8ZOIQ

Ringo started filming "Blindman" in Rome June 17, and spent the next days in Italy and Spain, it’s doubtful if he would have had the time to leave the set and go to Scandinavia for one day and more important: Ringo’s length of beard is different from the available video of "Cilla" (according to those authors, filmed June 24) and the Blindman look;  authors like Bill Harry or Keith Badman (After The Breakup) say that he was in Scandinavia June 24  -while others even add "Stockholm" - shooting the Cilla Black Special doing a live version of "It Don’t Come Easy" and “singing” with Cilla and a puppet fox  "The Snowman Song", but if you look closely, Ringo is wearing the very same outfit from top to toes as from the April 24 shooting and also, if you compare the available video and pictures from the "Blindman" shooting days and film, his beard is way longer. So, IF he was doing some additional work between takes of the Blindman film and flew one day to Stockholm, well, he did something different, not the "Cilla" Special! Maybe that uncirculated “live” version of "It Don’t Come Easy", backed with an orchestra?  .

Version #2 and #3 were re-broadcast many times over the years on the BBC, they could look the very same but they aren’t.

The differences between the two occur at:

00:42- 00:44
01:43- 01:47
01:50- 02:06
02:32- 02:37
02:52- 02:54

Showing completely different scenes of Ringo or people skiing from one version to the other.
None of these two versions appear on the official DVD “Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr”.

Version #3 hasn’t been included on any bootleg compilation to date.


1972:

Back Off Boogaloo- Version #1
Back Off Boogaloo- Version #2

Directed by Ringo with the help of Caravel Films, although the original credits always mention Tom Taylor as the director, but the liner notes and DVD credits for the official release “Photograph: The Beast of Ringo Starr” only shows Ringo Starr as director. Alan Tavener was the cameraman.
Filmed on March 20, 1972 at Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, while he was staying in John’s mansion (Ringo bought it later, September 18, 1973).

The only differences between the two occurs over the intro and finale: Version #1 starts with a shoot of a “Back to Mono” button over Ringo’s coat, while Version #2, released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” starts with outtake footage from the film Born to Boogie, filmed the same week and same location. The finale also on this second version is cut prematurely while on Version #1 we can see Ringo and Frankenstein passing in front of the camera after the song ended.

This second version was copied over and over on many recent bootleg compilations, instead of the original.

Here is Version #2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXg1AxBXN5g



1973:

Photograph 

Apparently also directed by Michael Hurll for "Top of The Pops", and filmed at his new property in Tittenhurst Park, Ascot and also using brief non-Ringo footage from the BBC archives, like a scene of  Davie Bowie at backstage during his 1973 UK tour in Bournemouth, 25 May, shown on "Nationwide News" June 5, 1973. This is not the time Ringo was with Bowie in his dressing room (June 3 at the Hammersmith Odeon, video footage that exist).

Broadcast 1 Nov 1973 on "Top of The Pops". One of those “lost” videos, it wasn’t even included on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”, but was recently recovered from the TOTP raw archives, with a total duration of 3:14, although the BBC master keeps rolling with a black screen and the song continues until 3:34 (remember, it’s a raw tape).

A fake video uploaded on youtube that runs the full length of the song, simply edits back some of the scenes. Be aware of that version floating around.

This is the raw original version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcOZWroUDE0


1974:

Only You 

Only You.
Directed by Stanley Dorfman. Filmed in Los Angeles, CA, at the top of the Capitol Records tower with Harry Nilsson by his side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5zpFpfw3Fw


1976: 

Hey Baby (Audio Variation A)
Hey Baby (Audio Variation B)

Filmed in Hamburg on August 6.  The original audio used for this video is an alternate Rough Mix. Although it cuts 30 seconds out of the released version from 01:39 to 02:11, it has the full warm-up intro and count in and the end is not only longer than the released version but also different during the final seconds, and also lacks of some instruments (a trumpet during the final, for example, that can be heard on the commercial version from 02:41  to 02:45).

Audio Variation A starts directly with the count-in and it runs 02:46.

Audio Variation B features pre count-in warm-up audio (over the slate). Running time of the video is also 02:46 but if we count only the audio length over the slate with the full unedited intro, it runs 02:51.

The official studio version runs 03:06.

The video is the very same on the two versions except for the slates: Variation A starts with a countdown starting from 8 to 2 and goes directly with the song, while Variation B starts with a different countdown picture, starting from 10 until 3 and after that, the slate appears with the title “Ringo Starr /RS 194/Hey Baby”.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

Here is a sample of Audio Variation B:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozhXOs_jjrM


You Don’t Know Me At All #1 (Variation A)
You Don’t Know Me At All #2 (Variation B)

Filmed in Monte Carlo and Hamburg.

A countdown “slate” for Version A is available and features between numbers 8 and 7, a glimpse from a vintage photo of a woman (or a doll?).

The only difference between the two versions is the intro on Variation B that has a translucent title: “Ringo Starr /You Don’t Know Me” that fades out  while the song is starting, maybe to tell the watcher that the bald guy who will later appear is no other than Ringo the ex Beatle. This is the rarest version to get.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.
A sample of Variation B:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eGI5mbf_8I

I’ll Still Love You

Filmed at the Schloss Hotel, Tremsbüttel, outside Hamburg in the West Germany on August 8, 1976.
The slate is labeled as “I Still Love You”.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN7H7mJdSxQ


1977:                            

Drowning in the Sea of Love

A countdown “slate” is available and features between numbers 8 and 7, a glimpse of a vintage picture of a woman (or a doll), the same from the "You Don’t Know Me At All" video, but in a different pose.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGfKqMW5WiQ


1978:

Tonight

Filmed in Monaco, Directed by Christian Topps. Girlfriend Nancy Andrews appear.
A countdown “slate” is available and this time, does not feature any picture of any woman.
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1zDA2cGPMo

You’re Sixteen (1973 audio edit)

The original audio for this video features an undocumented alternate edit, and although this video was released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”  it does not contains the original audio mix.

This “video” was originally created as part of the “Ognir Rrats” or “Ringo” TV Special from 1978, a mixture of animated and real scenes of Ringo and Carrie Fisher.

Also, the audio was re-recorded in 1978 and features a duet between Ringo and Carrie. This is the well known version, and we are not talking about this “alternate audio”.

The original video from that TV show was used to create a separate promotional clip, but instead of having the re-recorded audio from 78, a new edit from the original track from 1973 was prepared.

Lasting only two minutes to match with the original film, this alternate edit starts with the second verse: “You're all ribbons and curls”, while the original track starts with “You come on like a dream”, so the full first verse was erased and also near the end this line of “You're sixteen, so beautiful, and you're mine” was also edited out.

This is the original audio edit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ainB6qnWBI

When it was released on the official DVD, they didn’t bother to include this audio edit, but instead they just put the original track from start and until it reached the 2 minute mark. Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm6xQnNbcaw

And this is the 1978 audio track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZiGA4teqC8


1981:

Stop and take the time to Smell The Roses

Or “Stop and Smell the Roses” as the slate says. Directed by Keefco. First part was filmed in Tittenhurst Park, Ascot while the second at the Egham Aerodrome in Surrey between September 16 and 17, 1981, filming at the same time the “Wrack My Brain” video. Wife Barbara makes a cameo.
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4mcNIqnX_8


Wrack My Brain (Variation A)
Wrack My Brain (Variation B)

Another Harrison composition, another Ringo video. Filmed in part at the Egham Aerodrome between September 16 and 17, and also in a London location on September 18.
Wife Barbara makes a cameo as well. The same video is available with two variations.

Variation A shows the title “RINGO STARR ‘RACK MY BRAIN” at the 15 seconds of start.

Variation B digitally “erases” this title although we can still see a distorted spot where they tried to erase it. This is the most common version available on bootleg compilations.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” and is incomplete on youtube and all video channels on the web (missing all the introduction, when Ringo awakes and walks towards the Haunted House)

Link to the incomplete video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVovCtmCmXU


1982:

Private Property

Directed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. Extracted from the MPL short film "The Cooler" (with three songs as part of the story: "Private Property", "Attention" and "Sure To Fall"), this was the only song also released as a separate promotional video.

This clip was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.



1990:

It Don’t Come Easy (live) #1 (Long Version)
It Don’t Come Easy (live) #2 (Short Version)

Filmed at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA Sep 3, 1989. Video clip created for promotion of the home video release (VHS/Laser Disc) for the first All Star Band in 1990, it features over the intro, still pictures from all the members of the band (different from the home video release) while the rest is taken directly from the live film. The only difference between the two versions is the end, one has a full “What’s my Name?” joke and the other doesn’t.

There are no links to see this actual promo on the web.



1992:

Weight of The World #1 (Long Version)
Weight of The World #2 (Short Version)

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Filmed at the Variety Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Joe Walsh and two members of the group Jellyfish: Roger Joseph Manning and Andy Sturmer also appear.
Long version has an introduction for the “Summer’92” All Star Band Tour members and last 4:15, while short version omits this intro and lasts only 3:49.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.





Don’t Go Where The Road Don’t Go 

Directed by Stanley Dorfman, features soundcheck footage and live shots mostly from Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland on July 13, 1992 and  Liverpool, England July 6, 1992.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.




1998:

La De Da #1 (Regular Version)
La De Da #2 (W/O Noose Version)
La De Da #3 (Short Version) 

Directed by Nancy Bennett, filmed mostly in Time Square, New York. Features cameos from wife Barbara and daughter Lee Starkey, Mark Hudson and the Roundheads  and even the boy-band Hanson. Also footage of Paul McCartney during the recording sessions.

The only difference between Version #1 and #2 is the aspect ratio. #1 has a simulated widescreen view (in a 4:3 format) with black bars on top and bottom, while #2 (named “W/O” or “Without Noose”) is a real widescreen 16:9 and no black bars.

The audio on both versions is a 4:07 edit, while the commercial version runs around 5:40.
Version #3 is the shortest lasting only 2:11 and was broadcast in a few countries in Europe and Japan. It cuts out a few verses during the middle and goes directly with the sing-along coda. The edit occurs at 1:05 and goes directly with the scene where Paul appears.

Second and third versions are the rarest and never seen on bootleg video compilations to date.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlbedF4VIvc


2001:

Yellow Submarine (live)
With A Little Help from my Friends (Live)

Two videos created to promote the official Anthology of the All Star Band CD and DVD release, using footage from all incarnations of the band from 1989 to 1999.


2003: 

Never Without You

Never Without You CD single.
Ringo’s tribute to George Harrison. Directed by Brent Carpenter. The audio for this music video features a different mix, staring with the sound of girls screaming and also lasting only 4:30, while the commercial version is 5:19. Also different from the Promo CD  Radio Edit (4:15).
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” but was included on the “Ringo Rama Deluxe Edition” 2CD/1DVD.

The deleted DeLuxe edition of "Ringo Rama" featured the "Never Without You" promo on a DVD disc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PjnOdHq-T8


2005:

Fading in Fading Out #1 (Variation A)
Fading in Fading Out #2 (Variation B)

Directed by Brent Carpenter using footage from the Choose Love sessions.  Variation A has the title of the song over the intro, while Variation B is clean; also the end is complete on first variation when we can see Ringo turning off the camera while the second version fades out earlier. The audio mix is also different from the commercial version.




This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jfGWEaSoI


2007:

Liverpool 8

Co-directed by Seth Dalton and Dave Stewart, the video features footage from The Beatles and pictures from Ringo’s collection, footage from Liverpool’s soccer team and also appearance from  Dave Stewart. This is also a unique video edit of the musical track.
Commercial version runs 4:51, Radio edit is 3:59 and this video edit is 4:33.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM34giD4o4w

Although footage from the 2010 ‘Y NOT’ sessions exists, no promotional video was created or distributed.

2012:

Wings

Directed by Jem Gerrard, winner of the Genero.tv contest to create a video for the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKxryaxPfcE

Think it Over

The song was recorded in 2011 for the Buddy Holly tribute CD ‘Listen To Me’ and also included on his ‘Ringo 2012’ CD. A partial video was included on the making of documentary DVD for the same ‘2012’ disc, and later released in full as a “promotional video”, also appears on the official DVD release of ‘Buddy Holly: Listen To Me,  The Ultimate Buddy Party’ in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrQcD7uFMeY


2015:

Postcards from Paradise

Directed by Willie Witte. A combination of animation and some concert footage filmed at the Ryman July 7, 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4BZgOEJfps


RINGO STARR RELATED VIDEOS:

1973:

Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Children of the Revolution 

More songs from the ‘Born to Boogie’ film features Ringo, but the only song also released as a "video clip" was this.

1979:

Ron Wood & The New Barbarians: Buried Alive

Recorded  in April, this live promo video was later broadcasted on the Midnight Special TV Show on June 8, 1979, thus many people thinks it comes from this show.
Also, a second song with Ringo on drums was recorded (Seven Days), but the video only features Ron Wood playing all the instruments.

1985:

Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City

Directed by Jonathan Demme, Hart Perry, Godley & Creme.

A super group was reunited by Steven Van Zandt to help South Africa, and features Ringo and son Zack playing the drums (footage from the recording session was included on the video). Also appearances from Pete Townshend (The Who), Bono (U2), David Ruffin (The Temptations), Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Clarence Clemons among others.

The Singing Rebel’s Band: Freedom (Promo Version)

Directed by Dick Clement for Handmade films, produced by Harrison for the film ‘Water’.
Billy Connolly (vocals), Chris Tummings (vocals), The Singing Rebels Band: George Harrison (guitar, backing vocals), Ringo Starr (drums), Eric Clapton (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Stainton (bass), Ray Cooper (drums), Jon Lord (keyboards), Mike Moran (keyboards), Jenny Bogle and Anastasia Rodriguez (backing vocals).

The actual promo video for this song is available in regular quality and unbootlegged to date and consist of the same “performance” from the film and a mixture of many scenes from the movie, but the audio over the intro is clean and slightly different, when in the film we can see and hear an actor saying “My God, it's The Concert for Cascara!” (a parody for ‘The Concert For Bangladesh’). Also, actor Fred Gwynne (Herman from The Munsters) who also appears on the “Water” film, can be seen in this version saying “Gentlemen, We’re in the water business” .

Freedom (Film Version 1)
Freedom (Film Version 2)

The common version on bootleg compilations over the years is taken directly from the film Version #1. And when it was re-released on DVD in 2010, a new cut was made including some alternate scenes (an exclusive Harrison/Clapton scene for example), we will call that Film Version #2, cut in Widesceen from the original film tapes adding even more picture on the sides that is not available in the original print that let us see a few more Harrison (and many other members of the band, like Clapton) shots. These two versions are not promotional videos, but worth mentioning.


1989:

Tom Petty: I Won’t Back Down

Directed by David Leland. The backing band consisted of Jeff Lynne on bass, George Harrison on acoustic guitar, Mike Campbell on lead guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums.
Almost replicating the same personnel from the studio recording, except for Ringo that didn’t play but Phil Jones.


Gentlemen Without Weapons: Spirit Of The Forest

Another charity super-star video to save the rainforest. Directed by Storm Thorgerson, with participation from Ringo (singing this time), Brian Wilson, Richard Page, David Gilmour, Bonnie Raitt, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer, Debbie Harry, Kate Bush, among others.


Buck Owens: Act Naturally 


Directed by George Bloom. This video was also included on the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”. Behind the scenes footage is also in circulation.




 Jan Hammer: Too Much to Lose

The video features the participation of Ringo Starr, David Gilmour and Jeff Beck, although they didn’t play on the studio recording.


1990:

John Lennon Tribute: I Call Your Name 

Not really a musical video, but this was Ringo’s contribution for the Lennon tribute. Features half of the Wilburys (Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Jim Keltner) and Joe Walsh.

1991:

Nils Lofgren: Valentine

A member of the All Star Band, this video features Ringo on drums as well Bruce Springsteen on vocals and comes from the album “Silver Lining”.

1994:

RADD- Drive My Car #1
RADD- Drive My Car #2

Two different versions (one features the ‘rap’ stars and the other don’t). Paul McCartney, Julian Lennon and Ringo Starr, among many others appear during this campaign to drive responsibly.

2005:

Hurricane Relief

Tears in Heaven Version #1
Tears in Heaven Version #2

Another charity single. Directed by Marcus Raboy. Ringo plays drums on the recording and makes a cameo on the video, along with: Elton John, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink, Gewn Stefani, Steven Tayler, etc.
Both versions have different footage from all the artists, some are most notable than others.
Version 1: Ringo is sitting on his drum kit receiving a blue brick (a symbolic way the musicians contribute to the rebuild what the tsunami in southeast Asia destroyed), and in a different scene, he’s passing that brick to another person. He also appear playing the drums in a shoot from his actual recording. A picture of him holding the blue brick is also near the end of this version.

Version 2 features a different scene of Ringo receiving the brick, and when he’s passing it to another person the scene is more brief, contrary to Version #1 when we can see his face. There are no more Ringo scenes or picture in this second version.




2009:

Peter Kay’s Animated All Star Band: Children in Need Medley.

The English comedian Peter Kay reunited the original actors and celebrities that have given his voices to children TV shows and cartoons over the years, from different companies that agreed to lend the copyrights so the characters could appear all together in an animated video. Ringo is mistaken as  “Thomas the Tank Engine”, when in fact he was the narrator from the first two seasons. And for this recording and video, he’s NOT providing the voice of Thomas (as many have written), he’s in fact only singing one line: “Can you Feel it!” from 00:45 to 00:46  (yep, that’s all!), but not as the Thomas character, we simply hear his voice while there are more characters on screen at this time.
The medley of songs consist of: “Can You Feel It”,  “Don’t Stop”, “Jai Ho (You are My Destiny)”, “Tubthumping”, “Never Forget”, “Hey Jude” and “One Day Like This”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpk-Y3W1BhQ

2016:

Ringo Starr and All Stars for United Nations: Now the Time Has Come

A new song released on the International Day of Peace, Sept 21, Co-written with producer Bruce Sugar with verses sung by Richard Page, Colin Hay and Billy Valentine and backing vocals from many others, who also appear on the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVLo1CjIiAU

An “alternate” version with a verse sung in Spanish by Colombian singer Fonseca is also available, but the video does not features any of the artists.


With a Little Help from his Friend: (more info, check the separate reviews)

Ringo appears on the following Paul McCartney official promo videos:

-Take it Away
-So Bad
-No More Lonely Nights
-Beautiful Night
-Nod Your Head

Ringo appears on the following George Harrison official promo videos:

-When We Was Fab
-Living in the Material World (2006)

Official videos from other artists. Ringo plays on the tracks but does not make any video cameo.

2003:

Liam Lynch: Try Me.

Ringo plays drums on the song but is not present on the official video.


Fake Videos circulating:

1972-1974:
-Harry Nilsson:
Fake videos circulating for the songs:  “You’re Breaking my Heart” and “Spaceman”.
These are very good fan-created youtube videos using footage from the actual ‘Son of Schmilsson’ sessions, taken from the unreleased documentary “Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?” with Ringo Starr footage on it, sadly they are NOT official videos even when they are on a few bootleg compilations.
Plus another two fake videos: “At my Front Door” and “Daybreak”, using footage from the film ‘Son of Dracula, also with Ringo Starr. Do not be confused, no official videos for those four songs were ever made.

1976:
Guthrie Thomas: Band of steel
Another youtube fake video using photographs from the sessions. Ringo plays on the song but there is no official video.


Non musical videos:
Frequently included on bootleg video compilations, clips from TV Shows or films or concerts that are not official videos, like:
-The Snowman Song (Cilla special, 1971)
-The No No Song (Smothers Brothers, UK 1975)
-Nonsense (Alice in Wonderland, UK 1985)
-Songs from the Carl Perkins special (USA, 1985)
-Songs from the Prince’s Trust concert (UK, 1987)
Etc, etc

Tuesday 18 October 2016

Gadgetmania

Gadget
Here's one gadget we fell for; it's a mobile phone charger in the shape of a cassette. Exclusively sold at Ringo's upcoming Japan concerts. Capacity: 3.7V / 2500mAh (9.25Wh)
See this page for the gadget, and more Ringo merchandise.

Ringo & His All Starr Band Japan tour 2016:
Oct 24 Orix Gekijo, Osaka
Oct 25 Aichi-Ken Geijutsu Gekijo, Nagoya
Oct 27 Sun Palace Hall, Fukuoka
Oct 28 Bunkagakuen HBG Hall, Hiroshima
Oct 30 NHK, Tokyo
Oct 31 Orchard Hall, Tokyo
Nov 1 Orchard Hall, Tokyo
Nov 2 Orchard Hall, Tokyo

Thursday 13 October 2016

Eight Days a Week DVD for the media

Photo of the item
A vendor in Brazil recently sold a copy of a DVD of "Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years" on Ebay. Here's the description: "On offer here is an ultra rare Beatles demo DVD "Eight Days A Week" (Issued only for the edia, the menu contains 1) Eight Days A Week (compleat movie) 2) Eight Days A Week (official trailer) 3) Help! (Intertel clip colorized) 4) I Feel Fine (Intertel clip colorized) 5) Don't Let Me Down, (rooftop 1969)".

Photo of the back of the item
This raises a few questions, given that this is a legitimate item. In the film, the colourised "Help!" was not the Intertel promo, they colourised a Blackpool televised concert performance of the song. No colourised Intertel "I Feel Fine" in the film either. The description of the bonus items for the November DVD and Blu-ray release makes no mention of including these promos. The version of "Help!" in the bonus material is labeled as live in concert and is probably the Blackpool performance. The full "Don't Let Me Down" rooftop performance was not in the film, it was segued into "I've Got A Feeling" (McCartney gave directions about exactly where the songs should segue into each other).

The ebay item was very reasonably priced.