Ringo I Love You by Bonnie Jo Mason

Album: Girls in the Garage, Vol. 4 (1964)

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Songfacts®:

Released at the height of Beatlemania, this is a novelty song dedicated to Ringo Starr (real name: Richard Starkey), who was The Beatles' drummer. "Ringo, I love you yeah yeah yeah," it goes, referencing the Beatles' hit "She Loves You."
Bonnie Jo Mason is Cherilyn Sarkisyan, who went on to stardom as Cher. She was 18 years old in 1964 when "Ringo I Love You" was released as her first single. It tanked, but it wasn't long before she teamed up with Sonny Bono (professionally and romantically) and became a wildly popular entertainer. As Sonny & Cher, they had a #1 hit with "I Got You Babe" in 1965.
This was written by Vini Poncia and Pete Anders, and produced by Phil Spector, who also got a songwriting credit. Poncia and Anders were members of The Trade Winds, and in an odd twist, Poncia would later write songs with Ringo Starr when he recorded as a solo artist: "Devil Woman" and "Oh, My My" from the 1973 album Ringo were both Starr/Poncia collaborations. Poncia went on to produce Kiss.
Cher has a very deep voice, so some listeners thought it was a boy singing this song.
In a 2001 interview with Rock's Backpages, Cher recalled recording this song in Studio B at Gold Star Studios. "It was a stupid song," she said. "Sonny was always pushing Philip to record me, and that was Philip's 'OK, let's just get this over with' song."

Comments: 1

Daniel from Derby, United KingdomThe origins of the song can be found on, "The Annette Records Story", at http://theannetterecordsstory.blogspot.com

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