Snookeroo

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"Snookeroo"
Snookeroo (Ringo Starr single - cover art).jpg
A-side label
Single by Ringo Starr
from the album Goodnight Vienna
A-side "No No Song (US)"
B-side "Oo-Wee (UK)"
Released21 February 1975 (UK only)
Genre Rock
Length3:29
Label Apple Records
Songwriter(s) Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Producer(s) Richard Perry
Ringo Starr singles chronology
"No No Song"
(1974)		"Snookeroo"
(1975)		"(It's All Down to) Goodnight Vienna"
(1975)

"Snookeroo" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and released by Ringo Starr on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna .

Contents

Writing and release

The song, which concerns a happy-go-lucky lout from northern England, and was possibly inspired by, if not specifically written about Starr himself, the lyric referencing Starr's upbringing in the north of England and his laid-back manner. John recalled, "Bernie wrote really simple lyrics, very Ringo type lyrics and I tried to write a simple sort of melody to it". [1] John also plays piano on the track and provides the count-off.

The title refers to the billiards game snooker, and has several connotations, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. [2] Charting as a tag-along with "No No Song" in the US, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. On the Cash Box chart, which listed single sides separately, it "bubbled under" at number 105. [3]

The UK version of the single was released on 21 February 1975 with "Oo-Wee" on the B-side, [nb 1] ; [4] both tracks were taken from the album Goodnight Vienna.

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the Goodnight Vienna CD liner notes [5]

Reception

Billboard described "Snookeroo" as "a perfect Ringo type cut" that is "an uptempo, happy song" with good use of horns and string instruments. [6] Cash Box said that "it shares [John's and Taupin's] usual hit qualities" [7] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it Starr's 8th greatest solo song. [8] The record failed to chart in the UK. [8]

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ UK Apple R 6004 [4]
Citations
  1. ↑ "Elton John: The Four-Eyed Bitch Is Back". www.rollingstone.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "SNOOKERED | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 481. ISBN   978-0-89820-213-7.
  4. 1 2 Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN   9780753508435.
  5. ↑ Ringo Starr - Goodnight Vienna, 15 November 1974, retrieved 13 November 2023
  6. ↑ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1 February 1975. p. 78. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 1 February 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. 1 2 Swenson, Dave (23 November 2013). "Top 10 Ringo Starr Solo Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
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