STOP And Smell The Roses

Ringo Starr
 
STOP And Smell The Roses - Front cover STOP And Smell The Roses - Rear Cover
STOP And Smell The Roses - Front Cover STOP And Smell The Roses - Rear Cover
Label R.C.A.
Catalogue No. RCALP 6022
RCAK 6022 (cassette)
Release date 20th November 1981
Total time 32:24
U.K. L.P. Chart Detail : Did NOT Chart.
Detail : Ringo Starr's eighth official solo studio album release, and his only R.C.A. product.
Credited to Ringo Starr

This album was intended for release in April 1981 under the title "Can't Fight Lightning", but Ringo had a dispute with C.B.S. (who distributed Portrait records in the U.S.) and left the label. There was then a delay while Ringo negotiated with new distributors, until he signed with R.C.A. The former title track was dropped, and the album was re-christened "Stop And Smell The Roses".

Recording Sessions
11th - 21st July 1980 at the Super Bear Studios in Bear-Les-Alpes, France (2,700 feet up a mountain !).
4th - End of September 1980 at the Cherokee Studios in L.A. (23rd September - Ronnie Wood records "Dead Giveaway" with Ringo).
19th-25th November 1980 at George's Friars Park Studios (F.P.S.H.O.T).
1st-5th December 1980 at the Compass Point Studios in L.A. with Harry Nilsson (4th December Ringo records the new "Back Off Boogaloo" vocals).
20th January until 12th February 1981, the final sessions are back at Cherokee Studios.
And on 13th February 1981 the final mixes are prepared at Compass Point.
Out of the fifteen tracks recorded, ten are selected for the final running order.
The five unreleased tracks recorded during the sessions being :
"Can't Fight Lightning" (written by Ringo for Barabara, when they were almost hit by lightning !)
"Brandy" (recorded 25th September with Ronnie Wood)
"I Don't Believe You" (recorded 6th November 1980 with Ronnie Wood).
"Life Begins At 40" (written for Ringo by John), and
"Wake Up" (written by Ringo).

"Dead Giveaway" was almost a minute longer before editing, and the full version, including a count-in by Ronnie Wood can be heard on the bootleg Rizz Off !.

The sessions above basically have five different producers, with each producer having his own set of musicians. Therefore over twenty-five musicians and almost as many backing vocalists can be split into five different units, as you will see in the track details below.

The album cover is again designed by John Kosh, with photography by Aaron Rapoport.

Finally, during a visit to New York on 26th November 1980 and with Paul and George already having made their contributions to this release, Ringo met John, and John agreed to appear on this album.
A date was set for 14th January 1981.

"Thanks To My Three Brothers" - Ringo.

Side 1

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Private Property McCartney Produced by Paul McCartney.
Ringo - Lead vocals, drums
Paul - Bass, piano, percussion and backing vocals
Linda - Backing vocals
Lawrence Juber - Guitars
Howie Casey - Saxophones.
2:42
Wrack My Brain Harrison Produced by George Harrison
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
George - Guitars, backing vocals
Herbie Flowers - Bass, tuba
Al Kooper - Piano, electric guitar
Ray Cooper - Piano, synthesiser, lead guitar.
This track was chosen as the single, see Wrack My Brain.
2:20
Drumming Is My Madness Nilsson Produced by Harry Nilsson.
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
Jim Keltner - Drums
Dennis Budimir - Guitar
Ritchie Zito - Guitar
Fred Tackett - Guitar
Jane Getz - Piano
Dennis Belfield - Bass
Jerry Jumonville - Tenor Saxophone
Jim Gordon - Baritone Saxophone
Bruce Paulson - Trombone
Lee Thornburg - Trumpet
Rick Riccio - Flute
3:28
Attention McCartney Produced by Paul McCartney.
Ringo - Lead vocals, drums
Paul - Bass, piano, percussion and backing vocals
Linda - Backing vocals
Lawrence Juber - Guitars
Howie Casey - Saxophones.
3:19
Stop And Take The Time To Smell The Roses Starkey-Nilsson Produced by Harry Nilsson.
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
Jim Keltner - Drums
Dennis Budimir - Guitar
Ritchie Zito - Guitar
Fred Tackett - Guitar
Jane Getz - Piano
Dennis Belfield - Bass
Jerry Jumonville - Tenor Saxophone
Jim Gordon - Baritone Saxophone
Bruce Paulson - Trombone
Lee Thornburg - Trumpet
3:09

Side 2

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Dead Giveaway Starkey-Wood Produced by Ron Wood and Ringo
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
Ron Wood - Guitars, acoustic bass, saxophones, backing vocals
Greg Mathieson - Piano
Joe Sample - Piano
Wilton Felder - Electric bass.
4:28
You Belong To Me King-Stewart-Price Produced by George Harrison
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
George - Lead guitar
Al Kooper - Piano, synthesizer
Ray Cooper - Piano, synthesizer, tambourine
2:09
Sure To Fall
(In Love With You)
Perkins-Claunch-Cantrell Produced by Paul McCartney.
Ringo - Lead vocals, drums
Paul - Bass, piano, percussion and backing vocals
Linda - Backing vocals
Lawrence Juber - Guitars
Lloyd Green - Pedal Steel Guitar
3:41
Nice Way Stills-Stergis Produced by Stephen Stills
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
Stephen Stills - Lead guitar, backing vocals
Mike Finnigan - Piano, organ, backing vocals
Mike Stergis - Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Harley Thompson - Bass
Joe Lala - Percussion.
3:31
Back Off Boogaloo Starkey Produced by Harry Nilsson.
A new arrangement by Van Dyke Parks, which includes parts of 6 other Beatle songs.
Ringo - Lead vocal, drums
Harry Nilsson - Backing vocals
Jim Keltner - Drums
Dennis Budimir - Guitar
Ritchie Zito - Guitar
Fred Tackett - Guitar
Jane Getz - Piano
Dennis Belfield - Bass
Jerry Jumonville - Tenor Saxophone
Jim Gordon - Baritone Saxophone
Bruce Paulson - Trombone
Lee Thornburg - Trumpet
3:15


Released Versions

First pressings (1981)
    RCALP 6022 - is worth about £10.

C.D.

No C.D. has been issued in England of "STOP And Smell The Roses".

Ringo's L.P. Releases


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