Wings (Ringo Starr song)
{{Short description|1977 song by Ringo Starr}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Wings
| cover = Wings single.jpg
| alt =
| caption = A-side label
| type = single
| artist = Ringo Starr
| album = Ringo the 4th
| B-side = Just a Dream
| released = 25 August 1977
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = 3:26 (album version)
3:03 (single version)
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Richard Starkey
Vince Poncia
| producer = Arif Mardin
| prev_title = Las Brisas
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = Drowning in the Sea of Love
| next_year = 1977
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Wings
| cover = Ringo Starr - Wings (2012).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Download cover
| type = single
| artist = Ringo Starr
| album = Ringo 2012
| released = 10 January 2012
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Reggae rock
| length = 3:31
| label = Hip-O Records
| writer = Richard Starkey
Vince Poncia
| producer = Ringo Starr
Bruce Sugar
| prev_title = Walk with You
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = Postcards from Paradise
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|JKxryaxPfcE|Music Video}} |header=}}
}}
"Wings" is a song by Ringo Starr, originally recorded for and released as a single from the album Ringo the 4th. It was co-written with Vini Poncia in 1977. Starr later re-recorded it, produced by Starr and Bruce Sugar, and released it as a single from his 2012 studio album, Ringo 2012.
Recording
Starr on the 2012 re-recording of "Wings" was for Ringo 2012:{{cite AV media notes |title=Ringo 2012|title-link=Ringo 2012|others=Ringo Starr|year=2012|page=1|type=Booklet|publisher=Hip-O Records}}
{{quote|"This is a song I first recorded on Ringo the 4th back when an album meant vinyl. These are different days, and it's one of those songs I always wanted to revisit. I wrote 'Wings' with Vinnie Poncia in New York, and he doesn't know I've done this yet. I'm going to surprise Vinnie and send it to him...For the last two years, I've been listening to a lot of reggae, so this album has a reggae feel to it. What can I tell you? I'm a product of my environment. I always loved the sentiment of this song, and I'm glad we finally got it right."{{cite web|url=http://thebeatles.com/#/news/Wings_-_The_New_Single_From/|title="Wings" - The New Single From Ringo 2012 Download Today!|work=thebeatles|access-date=16 January 2012}}}}
Release
The original version was released as a single in the US on 26 August 1977, backed with non-album track "Just a Dream".{{#tag:ref|US Atlantic 3429|group="nb"}}{{cite book|last=Harry |first=Bill |title=The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia |year=2004 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=9780753508435 |page=183}}
A live version by Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, recorded live in Atlanta, was released on the Hurricane Sandy charity compilation Songs After Sandy: Friends of Red Hook for Sandy Relief.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ringo-starr-grooves-through-wings-in-atlanta-premiere-20121130 |title=Ringo Starr Grooves Through 'Wings' in Atlanta - Premiere | Music News |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}
Starr gave filmmakers the chance to do an official promo video for 2012 version of "Wings"; the winning video was chosen by Starr himself.{{cite web |url=http://genero.tv/ringo/ |title=Ringo Starr - Wings |publisher=Genero.tv |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323063826/http://genero.tv/ringo/ |archive-date=23 March 2013 |url-status=dead }} Starr called it "a great little video".{{cite web|first=Marsha |last=Lederman |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/vancouver-filmmaker-wins-with-ringo-starr-video/article4210255/ |title=Vancouver filmmaker wins with Ringo Starr video |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}
Reception
Cash Box said that "the haunting melody is carried by a closely-knit ensemble of vocalists, and supported by a richly-textured horn section and stabbing guitars."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=September 3, 1977|page=18|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2021-12-26|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-09-03.pdf}} In a review for Ultimate Classic Rock, Billy Dukes calls the remake "less passionate, borderline lifeless vocal performance" when compared to the original.{{cite web|last=Dukes |first=Billy |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/ringo-starr-wings-song-review/ |title=Ringo Starr, 'Wings' – Song Review |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=3 January 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}
Personnel
Ringo the 4th version{{cite AV media notes|title=Ringo the 4th|title-link=Ringo the 4th|others=Ringo Starr|year=1977|type=Inner sleeve|publisher=Polydor Records}}
- Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums
- David Spinozza – lead guitar
- Jeff Mironov or John Tropea – guitars
- Don Grolnick – keyboards
- Tony Levin – bass
- Steve Gadd – drums
Ringo 2012 version
- Ringo Starr – drums, percussion, vocals, keyboards, backing vocals
- Joe Walsh – guitar
- Benmont Tench – organ
- Bruce Sugar – piano, horn arrangement
- Amy Keys – backing vocals
- Kelly Moneymaker – backing vocals
References
; Footnotes
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}
; Citations
{{Reflist}}
{{Ringo Starr}}
Category:Songs written by Ringo Starr
Category:Songs written by Vini Poncia