 |
Jim Keltner | |
|---|---|
 Keltner performing at The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Lee Keltner |
| Born | April 27, 1942 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, R&B, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Formerly of | |
James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". [1]
Keltner was inspired to start playing because of an interest in jazz, but the popularity of jazz was declining during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it was the explosion of pop/rock in the mid-1960s that enabled him to break into recording work in Los Angeles. His first gig as a session musician was recording "She's Just My Style" for the pop group Gary Lewis and the Playboys. [2] [3]
Keltner's music career was hardly paying a living, and for several years at the outset he was supported by his wife. Toward the end of the 1960s, he finally began getting regular session work and eventually became one of the busiest drummers in Los Angeles. His earliest credited performances on record were with Gabor Szabo on the 1968 album Bacchanal . [2]
In 1968, Keltner was also working in a music shop in Pasadena just down the street from the old Ice House coffeehouse when he was recruited to play drums in a "psychedelic" vocal group named "MC Squared" along with Michael Crowley, Michael Clough, Linda Carey—all from the folk group The Back Porch Majority)—and session guitarist/bassist Randy Cierley Sterling. [4] They were signed by Mo Ostin and recorded an album for Warner/Reprise originally titled "MC Squared" which has later been re-mastered and re-released in 2012 with the album title "Tantalizing Colors." [5] They appeared live that same year on the Hugh Hefner / Playboy Magazine television show Playboy After Dark playing two songs: an original by MC Squared members Michael Clough and Michael Crowley titled "I Know You" and a version of the Fred Neil song Everybody's Talkin'. Both Playboy After Dark performances with Keltner playing drums can currently be viewed on YouTube.
It was his work with Leon Russell playing on Delaney & Bonnie's Accept No Substitute that attracted the attention of Joe Cocker, who recruited Russell and everyone else he could out of the Delaney & Bonnie band for his Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. Playing with Joe Cocker led to work in 1970 and 1971, on records by Carly Simon (No Secrets), Barbra Streisand ( Barbra Joan Streisand ), Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & Priscilla), George Harrison ( The Concert for Bangladesh ) and John Lennon ( Imagine ). [2]
Keltner is well known for his session work on solo recordings by three members of the Beatles, working with George Harrison, John Lennon (including Lennon solo albums, as well as albums released both by the Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono), and Ringo Starr. [3]
Keltner played on many key former Beatle solo releases, including Harrison's 1973 album Living in the Material World and Lennon's 1974 album Walls and Bridges . When Ringo Starr recorded his first full-fledged pop album, Ringo , Keltner was featured on five tracks. Following this, Keltner joined George Harrison on his 1974 tour of the United States. [2]
In 1974, Keltner played on the Lennon-produced Harry Nilsson album Pussy Cats alongside Ringo (and Keith Moon) on "Rock Around the Clock". Keltner was featured on the Nilsson albums Son of Schmilsson with Harrison, Starr and Beatles associate Klaus Voormann as well as Duit on Mon Dei with Starr and Voormann.
Keltner's relationship with the former Beatles was such that, in 1973, his name was used to mock Paul McCartney on albums released by Harrison and Starr. Early that year, McCartney, the only Beatle not to have worked with Keltner, included a note on the back cover of his Red Rose Speedway album, encouraging fans to join the "Wings Fun Club" by sending a "stamped addressed envelope" to an address in London. Later that year, both Harrison's Living in the Material World and Starr's Ringo contained a similar note encouraging fans to join the "Jim Keltner Fan Club" by sending a "stamped undressed elephant" to an address in Hollywood. [6] [7] Keltner performed with George Harrison throughout his solo career. He even worked on Harrison's final posthumous album Brainwashed.
Keltner played the role of the judge in the music video for George Harrison's 1976 Top 30 hit, "This Song".
In 1989, Keltner toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. [8]
Keltner is an endorser of DW drums, hardware and pedals, Ahead drumsticks/gloves/griptape, Paiste Cymbals, Remo drumheads and world percussion and Roland electronics.
In 1987, Keltner, along with guitarist Ry Cooder and bassist Nick Lowe, played on John Hiatt's Bring the Family . Four years later the four musicians reunited as the band Little Village, recording an eponymous album. [3]
Keltner played drums on both albums released by the 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, playing under the pseudonym "Buster Sidebury". [3]
Keltner became Ry Cooder's go-to drummer, recording with him on many of his albums for over 40 years, including the following, as well as playing with him in Little Village.
Keltner, as a freelance drummer, has worked with a long list of artists.
Jim Keltner recorded two albums with his band Attitudes for George Harrison's Dark Horse label. The band also included Danny Kortchmar, David Foster and Paul Stallworth, and recorded Attitudes in 1975 and Good News in 1977.
He is featured on Carly Simon's 1971 album, Anticipation .
He played on various tracks on Randy Newman's albums Sail Away and Little Criminals , including "You Can Leave Your Hat On", "Short People", and "Jolly Coppers On Parade".
He also played drums on the Bee Gees 1973 album Life in a Tin Can .
He played on five songs on Jackson Browne's For Everyman album recorded in 1973 including the song "These Days."
In 1973, he was the session drummer on Bob Dylan's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid , which includes the hit "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". He described that session as "a monumental session for me because it was such a touching song, it was the first time I actually cried when I was playing". [3] [9]
In 1974, he played on most tracks on the Jack Bruce album Out of the Storm .
Other demonstrations of his style and range can be found in "Jealous Guy" on John Lennon's Imagine, the hit single "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright, and "Watching the River Flow" by Bob Dylan. [3]
Keltner is the drummer on the Steely Dan tune "Josie" (released in 1977). In the DVD "Steely Dan - Classic Albums: Aja", Donald Fagen states that in the bridge of the tune, Keltner overdubbed a 16th note based pattern played on a metal trash can lid.
Keltner appeared in the 1979 film "Old Boyfriends" playing drums as a 'Bloodshot Band' member.
Keltner is credited as the drummer on the 1979 album by Roy Clark and Gatemouth Brown, Makin' Music. [10]
Keltner appears on Marc Jordan's 1979 album "Blue Desert" on tracks "Twilight" and "Lost in The Hurrah".
Keltner specialized in R&B, and developed a deceptively simple drumming style that melds a casual, loose feel with extraordinary precision. [3] He is said[ according to whom? ] to have influenced Jeff Porcaro and Danny Seraphine of Chicago.
Keltner played on the Saved and Shot of Love albums by Bob Dylan.
Keltner performed on many classic recordings by J. J. Cale and often worked with bassist Tim Drummond. [3]
He played on most of the tracks on Roy Orbison's swansong Mystery Girl .
He played on four Richard Thompson albums: Daring Adventures (1986), Amnesia (1988), Rumor and Sigh (1991) and you? me? us? (1996).
Keltner played drums on the song "Now We're Getting Somewhere" from the hit album Crowded House (1986).
Also, he was a session drummer for the reunited Pink Floyd on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason .
In the mid-1990s, Keltner joined the London Metropolitan Orchestra on its recording of "An American Symphony" on the movie soundtrack for Mr Holland's Opus .
In 1992, he played (together with Booker T. & the M.G.'s) at Bob Dylan's The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration.
In 1993, he toured with Neil Young and Booker T. & the M.G.'s.
He played on Brian Wilson's 1995 album, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times . [11]
He guested on Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album, on the track "The Book".
He played on Gillian Welch's album Revival , on the track "The Only One and Only".
Keltner played on the 1997 Bill Frisell album Gone, Just Like a Train with Viktor Krauss and toured as a member of the trio in support of the album. He also played on the 1999 Frisell album Good Dog, Happy Man and is pictured in the CD leaflet and back cover (Nonesuch 79536-2).
In 2000, Keltner toured with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on their "Tour of America".
In 2000, he was the drummer on Neil Young's album Silver & Gold.
In 2000, Keltner collaborated with Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, on an instrumental album entitled The Charlie Watts–Jim Keltner Project. [12] Watts played drums for each track, while Keltner contributed sequenced sounds and percussion. Tracks were named after famous drummers.
In 2002, he briefly joined Bob Dylan's band during the European gigs while its main drummer, George Receli, recuperated from a hand injury. Later in the year, Keltner played in Concert For George, a tribute to George Harrison a year following his death. Wearing a sweatshirt with a Bob Dylan logo, he reprised his role as the Wilburys' drummer, joining Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne for "Handle with Care." During that project and performance, he worked with Paul McCartney along with other percussionists, including Ringo Starr.
In 2003, he toured with Simon & Garfunkel in their Old Friends tour.
In 2004, he was one of the "Hot Licks" on Dan Hicks' Selected Shorts CD. [13]
In 2006, he toured with T-Bone Burnett in The True False Identity tour and was featured on Jerry Lee Lewis's album Last Man Standing . He played on Mavis Staples's album We'll Never Turn Back, produced by Ry Cooder.
He also lent his drumming skills to the tracks on Richard Shapero's full-length album entitled Wild Animus: The Ram, recorded the same year.
In 2007, he appeared with Lucinda Williams on West . The album was listed No. 18 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007. He also played on Phish keyboardist's self titled debut album Page McConnell, released in 2007.
In 2008, Keltner appeared on Break up the Concrete by The Pretenders, on One Kind Favor by B. B. King and on Oasis's "The Boy with the Blues", a non-album-track from Dig Out Your Soul .
Also in 2008, Keltner participated in the production of the album Psalngs, [14] the debut release of Canadian musician John Lefebvre.
In 2009, Keltner played drums on singer/songwriter Todd Snider's Don Was-produced album, The Excitement Plan .
In 2010, Keltner produced Jerry Lee Lewis's Mean Old Man duets CD. He played drums on Fistful of Mercy's debut album, As I Call You Down , which one of the band's members, Dhani Harrison, described in an interview as the first project of his that he felt worthy to bring to Keltner, who was an old family friend (Dhani is the son of George Harrison). Keltner also played on The Union by Leon Russell and Elton John, produced by T-Bone Burnett and released on October 10, 2010. He also appeared on the eponymous Eric Clapton album, on 8 of the 14 tracks.
Joseph Arthur's 2011 album, The Graduation Ceremony , features Keltner on drums, reprising a partnership that began with the Fistful of Mercy project.
He has recorded twice with the indie band She & Him, on 2011's A Very She & Him Christmas and 2014's Classics .
He played drums on Michael Buble’s 2011 “Christmas” album. The tracks are “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and “Blue Christmas.”
For the 2012 release, Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, Keltner sat in a studio with Outernational covering Dylan's "When the Ship Comes In".
In 2012, he also played drums on John Mayer's "Something Like Olivia", the fifth track of the album Born and Raised . [15]
That same year, he recorded with Italian instrumental band Sacri Cuori on their second record, Rosario.
In 2013, Keltner appears on the track "If I Were Me" from Sound City: Real to Reel with Dave Grohl, Jessy Greene and Rami Jaffee. Also, on "Our Love Is Here To Stay", a classic Gershwin jazz standard recorded by Eric Clapton for his album, Old Sock .
In 2014, Keltner played on Peter Himmelman's album The Boat That Carries Us.
In 2016, Keltner recorded drums for Neil Young's thirty-seventh studio album, Peace Trail . In 2016, Keltner also appeared on the Rolling Stones' CD "Blue & Lonesome", playing percussion on "Hoo Doo Blues."
In 2017, Keltner played drums and percussion as well as co-producing Conor Oberst's Salutations album. Oberst described Keltner's production as "flawless". [16]
In 2018, he played drums and percussion on Boz Scaggs' 19th album, Out of the Blues, and Eric Clapton's Happy Xmas .
In 2019, Keltner played drums along with bassist Mike Watt for guitarist Mike Baggetta's Wall of Flowers album released in March. [17] Keltner played drums on the original soundtrack for the movie "The Irishman". The music was written by Robbie Robertson.
Keltner plays drums on the song "Kanashiki LA Tengoku" (悲しきLA天国) included on Mike Viola's 2020 album The Best of Mike Viola. [18] Manga artist Naoki Urasawa, who wrote the original song, [18] also performs on it and drew a short manga of the experience for his "Musica Nostra" series that features Keltner.
| Collaborator | Album | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Adams | Gold | Lost Highway Records | 2001 |
| Karen Alexander | Voyager | Elektra Records | 1978 |
| Peter Allen | Taught by Experts | A&M Records | 1976 |
| Fiona Apple | When the Pawn... | Epic Records | 1999 |
| Extraordinary Machine | Epic Records | 2005 | |
| Jann Arden | Time for Mercy | A&M Records | 1993 |
| Happy? | A&M Records | 1997 | |
| Joseph Arthur | Come to Where I'm From | Virgin Records | 2000 |
| The Graduation Ceremony | Lonely Astronaut Records | 2011 | |
| The Ballad of Boogie Christ | Lonely Astronauct Records | 2013 | |
| Murray Attaway | In Thrall | Geffen | 1993 |
| Hoyt Axton | Life Machine | A&M Records | 1974 |
| Fearless | A&M Records | 1976 | |
| Free Sailin' | MCA Records | 1978 | |
| Sara Bareilles | Amidst the Chaos | Epic Records | 2019 |
| Carole Bayer Sager | Carole Bayer Sager | Elektra Records | 1977 |
| ...Too | Elektra Records | 1978 | |
| Sometimes Late at Night | The Broadwark Entertainment | 1981 | |
| Jessie Baylin | Little Spark | Blonde Rat | 2012 |
| The Beach Boys | Still Cruisin' | Capitol Records | 1989 |
| Bee Gees | Life in a Tin Can | RSO Records | 1973 |
| Bob Bennett | Non-Fiction | Star Song | 1985 |
| Marc Benno | Minnows | A&M Records | 1971 |
| Ambush | A&M Records | 1972 | |
| Lost in Austin | A&M Records | 1979 | |
| Matraca Berg | The Speed of Grace | MCA Records | 1994 |
| Frank Black | Fast Man Raider Man | Cooking Vinyl | 2006 |
| Hanne Boel | Dark Passion | Medley Records | 1990 |
| Debby Boone | Surrender | Sparrow Records | 1983 |
| Delaney Bramlett | Sounds From Home | Zane | 1998 |
| Michelle Branch | Everything Comes and Goes | Reprise Records | 2010 |
| Phoebe Bridgers | Punisher | Dead Oceans | 2020 |
| Jackson Browne | For Everyman | Asylum Records | 1973 |
| Lives in the Balance | Asylum Records | 1986 | |
| I'm Alive | Elektra Records | 1993 | |
| Standing in the Breach | Inside Recordings | 2014 | |
| Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown | Makin' Music | MCA Records | 1978 |
| Long Way Home | Verve Records | 1995 | |
| Carla Bruni | French Touch | Barcklay Records | 2017 |
| Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack | Born to Love | Capitol Records | 1983 |
| Michael Bublé | Christmas | Reprise Records | 2011 |
| To Be Loved | Reprise Records | 2013 | |
| Higher | Reprise Records | 2022 | |
| Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks | Buckingham Nicks | Polydor | 1973 |
| J. J. Cale | Shades | Island Records | 1981 |
| 8 | Mercury Records | 1983 | |
| Travel-Log | BMG | 1990 | |
| Closer to You | Virgin Records | 1994 | |
| Roll On | Rounder Records | 2009 | |
| Irene Cara | Carasmatic | Elektra Records | 1987 |
| Kim Carnes | Kim Carnes | A&M Records | 1975 |
| Keith Carradine | Lost & Found | Asylum Records | 1979 |
| Carlene Carter | I Fell in Love | Reprise Records | 1990 |
| Carter Girl | Rounder Records | 2014 | |
| Beth Nielsen Chapman | Sand and Water | Reprise Records | 1997 |
| Cher | Stars | Warner Bros. Records | 1975 |
| Toni Childs | House of Hope | A&M Records | 1991 |
| Eric Clapton | Journeyman | Reprise Records | 1989 |
| From the Cradle | Warner Bros. Records | 1994 | |
| Me and Mr. Johnson | Reprise Records | 2004 | |
| Clapton | Reprise Records | 2010 | |
| Old Sock | Polydor Records | 2013 | |
| Happy Xmas | Polydor Records | 2018 | |
| Jimmy Cliff | Follow My Mind | Reprise Records | 1975 |
| Give Thankx | Warner Bros. Records | 1978 | |
| Bruce Cockburn | Nothing but a Burning Light | True North Records | 1991 |
| Joe Cocker | Joe Cocker | A&M Records | 1972 |
| Civilized Man | Capitol Records | 1984 | |
| Night Calls | Capitol Records | 1991 | |
| Organic | 550 Music | 1996 | |
| Hymn for My Soul | EMI | 2007 | |
| Adam Cohen | Adam Cohen | Columbia Records | 1998 |
| Leonard Cohen | Death of a Ladies' Man | Warner Bros. Records | 1977 |
| Marc Cohn | The Rainy Season | Atlantic Records | 1993 |
| Join the Parade | Decca Records | 2007 | |
| Jude Cole | Start the Car | Reprise Records | 1992 |
| Judy Collins | Hard Times for Lovers | Elektra Records | 1979 |
| Shawn Colvin | Fat City | Columbia Records | 1992 |
| Cover Girl | Columbia Records | 1994 | |
| Ry Cooder | Boomer's Story | Reprise Records | 1972 |
| Paradise and Lunch | Reprise Records | 1974 | |
| Chicken Skin Music | Reprise Records | 1976 | |
| Bop till You Drop | Warner Bros. Records | 1979 | |
| Borderline | Warner Bros. Records | 1980 | |
| The Slide Area | Warner Bros. Records | 1982 | |
| Get Rhythm | Warner Bros. Records | 1987 | |
| Chávez Ravine | Nonesuch Records | 2005 | |
| My Name Is Buddy | Nonesuch Records | 2007 | |
| I, Flathead | Nonesuch Records | 2008 | |
| Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down | Nonesuch Records | 2011 | |
| Priscilla Coolidge and Booker T. Jones | Booker T. & Priscilla | A&M Records | 1971 |
| Chronicles | A&M Records | 1973 | |
| Rita Coolidge | Rita Coolidge | A&M Records | 1971 |
| The Lady's Not for Sale | A&M Records | 1972 | |
| Satisfied | A&M Records | 1979 | |
| Elvis Costello | King of America | F-Beat Records | 1986 |
| Spike | Warner Bros. Records | 1989 | |
| Mighty Like a Rose | Warner Bros. Records | 1991 | |
| Kojak Variety | Warner Bros. Records | 1995 | |
| Painted from Memory | Mercury Records | 1998 | |
| Christina Courtin | Christina Courtin | Nonesuch Records | 2009 |
| Cracker | Cracker | Virgin Records | 1992 |
| Marshall Crenshaw | Jaggedland | 429 Records | 2009 |
| A. J. Croce | A. J. Croce | Private Music | 1993 |
| That's Me in the Bar | Private Music | 1995 | |
| Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young | Looking Forward | Reprise Records | 1999 |
| David Crosby | Oh Yes I Can | A&M Records | 1989 |
| Thousand Roads | Atlantic Records | 1993 | |
| Crowded House | Crowded House | Capitol Records | 1986 |
| Rodney Crowell | Ain't Living Long Like This | Warner Bros. Records | 1978 |
| Sheryl Crow | Sheryl Crow | A&M Records | 1996 |
| Patti Dahlstrom | Your Place or Mine | 20th Century Records | 1975 |
| Ron Davies | Silent Song Through the Land | A&M Records | 1970 |
| Kiki Dee | Stay With Me | Rocket | 1978 |
| Diana DeGarmo | Blue Skies | RCA Records | 2004 |
| Delaney & Bonnie | The Original Delaney & Bonnie & Friends | Elektra Records | 1969 |
| Motel Shot | Atco Records | 1971 | |
| Lana Del Rey | Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd | Polydor Records | 2023 |
| Michael Des Barres | Somebody Up There Likes Me | MCA Records | 1986 |
| Dion DiMucci | Born to Be with You | Phil Spector Records | 1975 |
| Céline Dion | Taking Chances | Columbia Records | 2007 |
| Craig Doerge | Craig Doerge | Columbia Records | 1973 |
| Denny Doherty | Waiting for a Song | Ember Records | 1974 |
| Donovan | Slow Down World | Epic Records | 1976 |
| Beat Cafe | Appleeseed Records | 2004 | |
| Les Dudek | Ghost Town Parade | Columbia Records | 1978 |
| Bob Dylan | Saved | Columbia Records | 1980 |
| Shot of Love | Columbia Records | 1981 | |
| Empire Burlesque | Columbia Records | 1985 | |
| Time Out of Mind | Columbia Records | 1997 | |
| Tim Easton | Break Your Mother's Heart | New West Records | 2003 |
| Yvonne Elliman | Night Flight | RSO Records | 1978 |
| Yvonne | RSO Records | 1979 | |
| Melissa Etheridge | Breakdown | Island Records | 1999 |
| Terry Evans | Blues for Thought | Point Blank Records | 1994 |
| Puttin' In Down | AudioQuest Music | 1995 | |
| Walk That Walk | Telark Records | 2000 | |
| Don Everly | Don Everly | Ode Records | 1970 |
| Eye to Eye | Eye to Eye | Warner Bros. Records | 1982 |
| Don Felder | American Rock 'n' Roll | BMG | 2019 |
| José Feliciano | And the Feeling's Good | RCA Victor | 1974 |
| For My Love... Mother Music | RCA Victor | 1974 | |
| Neil Finn | One Nil | Parlophone Records | 2001 |
| Firefall | Elan | Atlantic Records | 1978 |
| Roberta Flack | I'm the One | Atlantic Records | 1982 |
| Dan Fogelberg | Twin Sons of Different Mothers | Epic Records | 1978 |
| Richie Furay | Seasons of Change | Myrrh Records | 1982 |
| Ted Gärdestad | Blue Virgin Isles | Polar | 1978 |
| Melody Gardot | The Absence | Decca Records | 2012 |
| Art Garfunkel | Breakaway | Columbia Records | 1975 |
| Perfume Genius | Set My Heart on Fire Immediately | Matador Records | 2020 |
| Lowell George | Thanks, I'll Eat It Here | Warner Bros. Records | 1979 |
| Indigo Girls | Nomads Indians Saints | Epic Records | 1990 |
| Lesley Gore | Love Me By Name | A&M Records | 1976 |
| Marjoe Gortner | Bad, but Not Evil | Chelsea Records | 1972 |
| Henry Gross | Henry Gross | ABC Records | 1972 |
| Arlo Guthrie | Hobo's Lullaby | Reprise Records | 1972 |
| Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys | Reprise Records | 1973 | |
| Arlo Guthrie | Reprise Records | 1974 | |
| Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt | Trio II | Asylum Records | 1999 |
| George Harrison | Living in the Material World | Apple Records | 1973 |
| Dark Horse | Apple Records | 1974 | |
| Extra Texture (Read All About It) | Apple Records | 1975 | |
| Somewhere in England | Dark Horse Records | 1981 | |
| Gone Troppo | Dark Horse Records | 1982 | |
| Cloud Nine | Dark Horse Records | 1987 | |
| Brainwashed | Dark Horse Records | 2002 | |
| Wings Hauser | Your Love Keeps Me Off the Streets | RCA Records | 1975 |
| Ted Hawkins | The Next Hundred Years | DGC | 1994 |
| Don Henley | Building the Perfect Beast | Geffen | 1984 |
| The End of the Innocence | Geffen | 1989 | |
| Joe Henry | Tiny Voices | Anti- | 2003 |
| Susanna Hoffs | Susanna Hoffs | London Records | 1996 |
| Thelma Houston | I've Got the Music in Me | Sheffeld Lab | 1975 |
| John Lee Hooker | Mr. Lucky | Virgin Records | 1991 |
| Chris Isaak | Silvertone | Warner Bros. Records | 1985 |
| San Francisco Days | Reprise Records | 1993 | |
| Mick Jagger | Wandering Spirit | Atlantic Records | 1993 |
| Goddess in the Doorway | Virgin Records | 2001 | |
| Colin James | Limelight | MapleMusic Recordings | 2005 |
| Elton John and Leon Russell | The Union | Mercury Records | 2010 |
| Tom Johnston | Everything You've Heard Is True | Warner Bros. Records | 1979 |
| Tonio K. | Notes from the Lost Civilization | A&M Records | 1988 |
| Eric Kaz | Cul-De-Sac | Atlantic | 1974 |
| Barbara Keith | Barbara Keith | Reprise Records | 1973 |
| Albert King | Lovejoy | Stax Records | 1971 |
| B. B. King | B.B. King in London | ABC Records | 1971 |
| There Is Always One More Time | MCA Records | 1991 | |
| Deuces Wild | MCA Records | 1997 | |
| One Kind Favor | Geffen | 2008 | |
| Freddie King | Woman Across the River | Shelter Records | 1973 |
| Diana Krall | Wallflower | Verve Records | 2015 |
| Alison Krauss | Forget About It | Rounder Records | 1999 |
| Christine Lakeland | Reckoning | Virgin Records | 1993 |
| Rickie Lee Jones | Flying Cowboys | Geffen | 1989 |
| Traffic from Paradise | Geffen | 1993 | |
| William Lee Golden | American Vagabond | MCA Records | 1986 |
| Claudia Lennear | Phew! | Warner Bros. Records | 1973 |
| John Lennon | Imagine | Apple Records | 1971 |
| Mind Games | Apple Records | 1973 | |
| Walls and Bridges | Apple Records | 1974 | |
| Rock 'n' Roll | Apple Records | 1975 | |
| Jenny Lewis | On the Line | Warner Bros. Records | 2019 |
| Nick Lowe | Party of One | Reprise Records | 1990 |
| Lonnie Mack | Second Sight | Alligator Records | 1986 |
| Aimee Mann | Whatever | Geffen | 1993 |
| Melissa Manchester | Don't Cry Out Loud | Arista Records | 1978 |
| Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers | Spirit of Music | Elektra Records | 1999 |
| Dave Mason | Alone Together | Blue Thumb Records | 1970 |
| It's Like You Never Left | Blue Thumb Records | 1973 | |
| John Mayer | Born and Raised | Columbia Records | 2012 |
| The Search for Everything | Columbia Records | 2017 | |
| Delbert McClinton | One of the Fortunate Few | Rising Tide | 1997 |
| Maria McKee | Maria McKee | Geffen | 1989 |
| You Gotta Sin to Get Saved | Geffen | 1993 | |
| Pat McLaughlin | Pat McLaughlin | Capitol Records | 1988 |
| Shannon McNally | Jukebox Sparrows | Capitol Records | 2002 |
| Bette Midler | Broken Blossom | Atlantic Records | 1977 |
| No Frills | Atlantic Records | 1983 | |
| Steve Miller Band | Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden | Capitol Records | 1972 |
| Rhett Miller | The Instigator | Elektra Records | 2002 |
| Joni Mitchell | Turbulent Indigo | Reprise Records | 1994 |
| Keb' Mo' | The Door | Epic Records | 2000 |
| Howdy Moon | Howdy Moon | A&M Records | 1974 |
| Gaby Moreno and Van Dyke Parks | ¡Spangled! | Nonesuch Records | 2019 |
| Gaby Moreno | Alegoría | Metamorfosis | 2022 |
| Maria Muldaur | Maria Muldaur | Reprise Records | 1973 |
| Willie Nelson | Across the Borderline | Columbia Records | 1993 |
| Aaron Neville | Warm Your Heart | A&M Records | 1991 |
| Ivan Neville | If My Ancestors Could See Me Now | Polydor Records | 1988 |
| Randy Newman | Sail Away | Reprise Records | 1972 |
| Good Old Boys | Reprise Records | 1974 | |
| Little Criminals | Reprise Records | 1977 | |
| Randy Newman's Faust | Reprise Records | 1995 | |
| Harry Nilsson | Nilsson Schmilsson | RCA Victor | 1971 |
| Pussy Cats | RCA Victor | 1974 | |
| Duit on Mon Dei | RCA Victor | 1975 | |
| Sandman | RCA Victor | 1976 | |
| ...That's the Way It Is | RCA Victor | 1976 | |
| Flash Harry | Mercury Records | 1980 | |
| Conor Oberst | Salutations | Nonesuch Records | 2017 |
| Danny O'Keefe | The Global Blues | Warner Bros. Records | 1979 |
| Yoko Ono | Fly | Apple Records | 1971 |
| Feeling the Space | Apple Records | 1973 | |
| Roy Orbison | Mystery Girl | Virgin Records | 1989 |
| King of Hearts | Virgin Records | 1992 | |
| Beth Orton | Daybreaker | Heavenly Records | 2002 |
| Tom Pacheco | The Outsider | RCA Victor | 1976 |
| Nerina Pallot | Fires | Idaho Records | 2005 |
| Van Dyke Parks | Clang of the Yankee Reaper | Warner Bros. Records | 1976 |
| Jump! | Warner Bros. Records | 1984 | |
| Dolly Parton | Here You Come Again | RCA Records | 1977 |
| Great Balls of Fire | RCA Records | 1979 | |
| Rainbow | Mercury Records | 1987 | |
| Michael Penn | March | RCA Records | 1989 |
| Free-for-All | RCA Records | 1992 | |
| Tom Petty | Full Moon Fever | MCA Records | 1989 |
| Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | Damn the Torpedoes | MCA Records | 1979 |
| Southern Accents | MCA Records | 1985 | |
| Sam Phillips | Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) | Virgin Records | 1996 |
| Fan Dance | Nonesuch Records | 2001 | |
| A Boot and a Shoe | Nonesuch Records | 2004 | |
| Pink Floyd | A Momentary Lapse of Reason | Columbia Records | 1987 |
| Michel Polnareff | Michel Polnareff | Atlantic Records | 1975 |
| David Pomeranz | It's in Every One of Us | Arista Records | 1975 |
| Don Preston | Been Here All The Time | Shelter Records | 1974 |
| The Pretenders | Break Up the Concrete | Shangri-La Music | 2008 |
| Tristan Prettyman | Cedar + Gold | Capitol Records | 2012 |
| Joshua Radin | Underwater | Mom + Pop Music | 2012 |
| Bonnie Raitt | Takin' My Time | Warner Bros. Records | 1973 |
| Willis Alan Ramsey | Willis Alan Ramsey | Shelter Records | 1972 |
| Martha Reeves | Martha Reeves | MCA Records | 1974 |
| Johnny Rivers | Home Grown | United Artists Records | 1970 |
| Outside Help | Big Tree Records | 1977 | |
| Not a Through Street | CBS | 1983 | |
| Robbie Robertson | How to Become Clairvoyant | 429 Records | 2011 |
| Sinematic | UME | 2019 | |
| Smokey Robinson | Smokey & Friends | Verve Records | 2014 |
| Janice Robinson | The Color Within Me | Columbia Records | 1999 |
| Linda Ronstadt | Feels Like Home | Elektra Records | 1995 |
| We Ran | Elektra Records | 1998 | |
| Leon Russell | Leon Russell and the Shelter People | Shelter Records | 1971 |
| Carney | Shelter Records | 1972 | |
| Stop All That Jazz | Shelter Records | 1974 | |
| Will O' the Wisp | Shelter Records | 1975 | |
| Boz Scaggs | Come On Home | Virgin Records | 1997 |
| Out of the Blues | Concord Records | 2018 | |
| Patti Scialfa | Rumble Doll | Columbia Records | 1993 |
| Seals and Crofts | Summer Breeze | Warner Bros. Records | 1972 |
| Takin' It Easy | Warner Bros. Records | 1978 | |
| Vonda Shepard | The Radical Light | Reprise Records | 1992 |
| Shivaree | I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump | Capitol Records | 1999 |
| Carly Simon | No Secrets | Elektra Records | 1972 |
| Hotcakes | Elektra Records | 1974 | |
| Another Passenger | Elektra Records | 1976 | |
| Christmas Is Almost Here | Rhino Records | 2002 | |
| Christmas Is Almost Here Again | Rhino Records | 2003 | |
| Jill Sobule | California Years | Pinko Records | 2009 |
| J. D. Souther | Black Rose | Asylum Records | 1976 |
| Splinter | The Place I Love | Dark Horse Records | 1974 |
| Harder to Live | Dark Horse Records | 1975 | |
| Mavis Staples | We'll Never Turn Back | Anti- | 2007 |
| Pops Staples | Peace to the Neighborhood | Pointblack Records | 1992 |
| Father Father | Pointblack Records | 1994 | |
| Ringo Starr | Ringo | Apple Records | 1973 |
| Goodnight Vienna | Apple Records | 1974 | |
| Ringo's Rotogravure | Polydor Records | 1976 | |
| Stop and Smell the Roses | RCA Records | 1981 | |
| Steely Dan | Aja | ABC Records | 1977 |
| Rod Stewart | Vagabond Heart | Warner Bros. Records | 1991 |
| Curtis Stigers | Brighter Days | Columbia Records | 1999 |
| Chris Stills | 100 Year Thing | Atlantic Records | 1998 |
| Syd Straw | Surprise | Virgin Records | 1989 |
| Barbra Streisand | Barbra Joan Streisand | Columbia Records | 1971 |
| Matthew Sweet | In Reverse | Volcano | 1999 |
| James Taylor | Gorilla | Warner Bros. Records | 1975 |
| In the Pocket | Warner Bros. Records | 1976 | |
| Livingston Taylor | Three Way Mirror | Epic Records | 1978 |
| Rob Thomas | Cradlesong | Atlantic Records | 2009 |
| Someday | Atlantic Records | 2010 | |
| Richard Thompson | Daring Adventures | Polydor Records | 1986 |
| Amnesia | Capitol Records | 1988 | |
| Rumor and Sigh | Capitol Records | 1991 | |
| You? Me? Us? | Capitol Records | 1996 | |
| Tanita Tikaram | Lovers in the City | East West Records | 1995 |
| Cal Tjader | Cal Tjader Sounds Out Burt Bacharach | Skye Records | 1968 |
| Toto | Fahrenheit | Columbia Records | 1986 |
| The Seventh One | Columbia Records | 1988 | |
| Kingdom of Desire | Relativity Records | 1992 | |
| The Manhattan Transfer | Coming Out | Atlantic Records | 1976 |
| Valdy | Landscapes | Haida | 1973 |
| See How the Years Have Gone By | A&M Records | 1975 | |
| Frankie Valli | Closeup | Private Stock Records | 1975 |
| Rosie Vela | Zazu | A&M Records | 1986 |
| Loudon Wainwright III | Unrequited | Columbia Records | 1975 |
| Here Come the Choppers | Sovereign Records | 2005 | |
| Rufus Wainwright | Rufus Wainwright | DreamWorks Records | 1998 |
| Poses | Dreamworks Records | 2001 | |
| Unfollow the Rules | BMG | 2020 | |
| Wayne Watson | Field of Souls | Warner Alliance | 1995 |
| Gillian Welch | Revival | Almo Sounds | 1996 |
| Brian Wilson | I Just Wasn't Made for These Times | MCA Records | 1995 |
| No Pier Pressure | Capitol Records | 2015 | |
| Bill Withers | Just as I Am | Sussex Records | 1971 |
| Lauren Wood | Lauren Wood | Capitol Records | 1979 |
| Ronnie Wood | Gimme Some Neck | Columbia Records | 1979 |
| 1234 | Columbia Records | 1981 | |
| I Feel Like Playing | Eagle Rock Entertainment | 2010 | |
| Bill Wyman | Stone Alone | Atlantic Records | 1976 |
| Neil Young | Silver & Gold | Reprise Records | 2000 |
| Peace Trail | Reprise Records | 2016 | |
| Warren Zevon | Mr. Bad Example | Giant | 1991 |
| The Wind | Artemis Records | 2003 |
Sir Richard Starkey, known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help from My Friends". He also wrote and sang the Beatles songs "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden", and is credited as a co-writer of four others.
The fifth Beatle is an informal title that has been applied to people who were at one point a member of the Beatles or who had a strong association with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The "fifth Beatle" claims first appeared in the press immediately upon the band's rise to global fame in 1963–64. The members have offered their own views as to who should be described with the title:
"Love Me Do" is the debut single by the English rock band the Beatles, backed by "P.S. I Love You". When the single was originally released in the United Kingdom on 5 October 1962, it peaked at number 17. It was released in the United States in 1964 and topped the nation's song chart. Re-released in 1982 as part of EMI's Beatles 20th anniversary, it re-entered the UK charts and peaked at number 4. "Love Me Do" also topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand.
The Plastic Ono Band were a rock band formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 for their collaborative and solo projects based on their 1968 Fluxus conceptual art project of the same name.
Ringo is the third studio album by English musician Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached No. 1 on the RPM national albums chart.
"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was written and sung by John Lennon and released on the album Help! in August 1965.
"Flying" is an instrumental recorded by the English rock band The Beatles which first appeared on the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour release. It is one of the few songs credited to all four members of the band: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as a non-album single in April 1971. It was produced by Starr's former Beatles bandmate George Harrison, who also helped write the song, although only Starr is credited. Recording for the track took place in March 1970 at Trident Studios in London, with overdubs added in October. Starr and Harrison performed the song together in August 1971 at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh shows in New York City, a recording from which was released on the live album of the same name. Starr has continued to perform it in subsequent decades with his All-Starr Band.
Ringo's Rotogravure is the fifth studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 1976. It was the last project to feature active involvement from all four former Beatles before John Lennon's murder in 1980, and the second of two projects following the band's 1970 breakup to hold the distinction. Following the end of his contract with EMI, Starr signed on with Polydor Records worldwide.
"Photograph" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as the lead single from his 1973 album Ringo. Starr co-wrote it with George Harrison, his former bandmate from the Beatles. Although they collaborated on other songs, it is the only one officially credited to the pair. A signature tune for Starr as a solo artist, "Photograph" was an international hit, topping singles charts in the United States, Canada and Australia, and receiving gold disc certification for US sales of 1 million. Music critics have similarly received the song favourably; Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic considers it to be "among the very best post-Beatles songs by any of the Fab Four".
Jesse Edwin Davis III was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist and solo performer, was a member of Taj Mahal's backing band and played with musicians such as Eric Clapton, John Lennon, and George Harrison. In 2018, he was posthumously inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual Native American Music Awards. Davis was an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma with Comanche, Muscogee, and Seminole ancestry.
"I'm the Greatest" is a song written by English musician John Lennon that was released as the opening track of the 1973 album Ringo by Ringo Starr. With Starr, Lennon and George Harrison appearing on the track, it marks the only time that three former Beatles recorded together between the band's break-up in 1970 and Lennon's death in 1980. Lennon wrote the song in December 1970 as a wry comment on his rise to fame, and later tailored the lyrics for Starr to sing. Named after one of Muhammad Ali's catchphrases, the song partly evokes the stage-show concept of the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
"Back Off Boogaloo" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as a non-album single in March 1972. Starr's former Beatles bandmate George Harrison produced the recording and helped Starr write the song, although he remained uncredited as a co-writer until 2017. Recording took place in London shortly after the pair had appeared together at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh shows in August 1971. The single was a follow-up to Starr's 1971 hit song "It Don't Come Easy" and continued his successful run as a solo artist. "Back Off Boogaloo" peaked at number 2 in Britain and Canada, and number 9 on America's Billboard Hot 100. It remains Starr's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.
The Beatles were originally a quartet, but only Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr remain.
"Early 1970" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as the B-side of his April 1971 single "It Don't Come Easy". A rare example of Starr's songwriting at the time, it was inspired by the break-up of the Beatles and documents his relationship with his three former bandmates. The lyrics to the verses comment in turn on Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison as individuals, and the likelihood of each of them making music with Starr again. In the final verse, Starr offers a self-deprecating picture of his musical abilities and expresses the hope that all four will play together in the future. Commentators have variously described "Early 1970" as "a rough draft of a peace treaty" and "a disarming open letter" from Starr to Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.
A Sideman's Journey is the first solo album by German musician and artist Klaus Voormann, released in July 2009. Voormann is best known as the creator of the cover art for The Beatles' album Revolver as well as for being a much-in-demand session musician during the 1970s. He played bass on a large number of well-known albums by ex-Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr − including All Things Must Pass, Imagine and The Concert for Bangladesh − and by artists such as Harry Nilsson, Doris Troy, Lou Reed, Gary Wright, Carly Simon and Randy Newman. Before then, Voormann had been a member of the 1960s pop group Manfred Mann. A Sideman's Journey is notable for including performances by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yusuf Islam, among others.
"You and Me (Babe)" is a song by English musician Ringo Starr, released as the final track on his 1973 album Ringo. Starr's fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison wrote the song along with Mal Evans, the Beatles' longtime aide and a personal assistant to Starr during the making of Ringo. The track serves as a farewell from Starr to his audience in the manner of a show-closing finale, by lyrically referring to the completion of the album. During the extended fadeout, Starr delivers a spoken message in which he thanks the musicians and studio personnel who helped with the recording of Ringo – among them, Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and his producer, Richard Perry.
"I'll Still Love You" is a song written by English rock musician George Harrison and first released in 1976 by his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr. Produced by Arif Mardin, the track appeared on Starr's debut album for Atlantic Records and Polydor, Ringo's Rotogravure. The composition had a long recording history before then, having been written in 1970 as "Whenever", after which it was copyrighted with the title "When Every Song Is Sung".
Lon & Derrek Van Eaton were an American vocal and multi-instrumentalist duo from Trenton, New Jersey, consisting of brothers Lon and Derrek Van Eaton. They are best known for their association with the Beatles through the brothers' brief stint on Apple Records, and for their subsequent session work in Los Angeles for producer Richard Perry. As well as recording their own albums, during the 1970s they appeared on releases by artists including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Carly Simon, Martha Reeves and Art Garfunkel. Beatles biographer Robert Rodriguez describes the Van Eaton brothers as arguably the closest the Apple record label came to delivering on its initial promise of "plucking unknowns from obscurity" and launching them as successful recording artists.
The Concert for Bangladesh is a film directed by Saul Swimmer and released in 1972. The film documents the two benefit concerts that were organised by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar to raise funds for refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War, and were held on Sunday, 1 August 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. As well as notable performances from Harrison and Shankar, the film includes "main performer" contributions from Harrison's fellow ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, Billy Preston and Leon Russell, and a surprise walk-on from Bob Dylan. Other contributing musicians include Ali Akbar Khan, Eric Clapton, the band Badfinger, Klaus Voormann, Jesse Ed Davis, Jim Horn and Jim Keltner.
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