Ringo Starr Goodnight Vienna CD

Personnel: Ringo Starr (drums, percussion, vocals); George Harrison, Robbie Robertson, Jesse Ed Davis, Dennis Coffey, Richard Bennett, Alvin Robinson, Steve Cropper (guitars); Vini Poncia (acoustic guitar, background vocals, percussion); Lon Van Eaton (guitar, horn, background vocals); Carl Fortina (accordion); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Trevor Lawrence, Bobby Keys, Lou McCreery, Chuck Finley (horns); John Lennon (piano, guitar); Elton John, Jim Keltner, David Foster, Lincoln Mayorga (piano); Dr. John (piano, electric piano); Tom Hensley, Nicky Hopkins (electric piano); Billy Preston (Clavinet, electric piano); Paul McCartney (keyboards, background vocals); Gary Wright (keyboards); James Newton Howard (synthesizer); Klaus Voorman (bass); Jim Keltner (drums).
Background vocals: Harry Nilsson, Clydie King, The Blackberries, The Masst Alberts, Jimmy Gilstrap, Joe Greene, Ira Hawkins, Linda Lawrence, Richard Perry, Derrek Van Eaton, Cynthia Webb, Madeleine Bell, Lesley Duncan, Jean Gilbert, Linda McCartney.
Producers: Richard Perry, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voorman.
Principally recorded at Sunset Studios and The Producers Workshop, Los Angeles, California in the summer of 1974. Includes liner notes by Staffan Olander.
Personnel: Ringo Starr (vocals, drums); Paul McCartney (vocals, piano, synthesizer); Harry Nilsson, Linda McCartney, Vini Poncia (vocals); Dennis Coffey, Jesse Ed Davis , John Lennon, Alvin Robinson, Richard Bennett , Robbie Robertson, Steve Cooper, George Harrison (guitar); Carl Fortina (accordion); Steve Madaio, Trevor Lawrence, Bobby Keys (horns); Elton John, Lincoln Mayorga, David Foster (piano); Dr. John, Nicky Hopkins, Tom Hensley (electric piano); Gary Wright, Lon VanEaton, Billy Preston (keyboards); James Newton Howard (synthesizer); Klaus Voormann (bass guitar); Jim Keltner (drums); Clydie King, Joe Greene, Madeline Bell, Richard Perry, Chuck Finley (background vocals).
Goodnight Vienna was very much a follow-up to Ringo, on which Ringo Starr called upon his bevy of musical buddies. Most prominent among them was John Lennon, who again wrote the leadoff track, "(It's All Da-Da-Down To) Goodnight Vienna," and played on three songs; also included are Elton John, who wrote and played on "Snookeroo," Dr. John, Billy Preston, Robbie Robertson, and Harry Nilsson. Richard Perry again produced, bringing his strong pop sensibility to the diverse material. The only real fall-off was in the songwriting; the album's Top Ten hits were "Only You," the old Platters song, and Hoyt Axton's novelty number "No No Song," which winked at intoxicants, but little else on the set stood out. Goodnight Vienna was another enjoyable Ringo record, but it lacked the star power and consistency of its predecessor. Still, compared to the rest of his '70s albums, it was a masterpiece. ~ William Ruhlmann
Ringo-shy Beatles fans needn't fear, GOODNIGHT VIENNA is one of Starr's most solid efforts, full of infectious pop ditties that benefit from the bejeweled one's amiable delivery. On a par with the self-titled album that is Ringo's milestone, this one finds him tackling tuneful, light-hearted ditties with the kind of quasi-music hall backing that is the hallmark of the drummer/vocalist's best solo work. Though one of the finest moments is a durable cover of Roger Miller's slippery country classic "Husbands and Wives," Ringo scored major hits with two other VIENNA tunes. "Back Off Boogaloo" is wacky and charming, with an irresistible, semi-martial beat, and the anti-drug "No No Song" (written by Hoyt Axton) is impossible not to sing along with.