The Beatles Colonel Cokey Cokey 45 1975 Ringo Starr Ring O' Records

	£		27
	$		36

FROM 1975 ON THE UK RING O' RECORD LABEL COMES THIS STUNNING 45 BY COLONEL ENTITLED 'COKEY COKEY / AWAY IN A MANGER" (2017 104).
RINGO STARR'S OWN RECORD COMPANY

HOUSED IN A COMPANY PAPER SLEEVE. SLEEVE HAS HAD ITS CORNER CUT

45 IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH CLEAN LABELS AND A NICE SHEEN. A NICE COPY
I SELL WORLDWIDE 

Back in 1997, The World Beatles Forum fanzine published an article documenting the RING O’ RECORDS discography. As the name implies, Ring O’ was a company owned by Ringo Starr. Since that first article was printed, several new facts have come to light. Here is our revised version of the label’s history and discography, with continuous updates to be added as new information is discovered.

As early as 1970, Ringo had involvement with a production company, Beachport Company Ltd. (in fact, most of the RING O’ RECORDS releases feature this name). On July 26, 1973, Ringo started a new music publishing company, Wobble Music Ltd.. However, his own compositions were published by two other Ringo-owned companies, Startling Music Inc. and Richoroony Ltd.. Ringo purchased Tittenhurst Park, John and Yoko’s old manor, on September 18,1973 and immediately made the in-house studio, re-christened Startling Studios, available for use by other recording artists.

With Apple Records not being fun anymore and virtually little product being released, George formed Dark Horse Records Ltd. on May 23, 1974. Hot on George’s heels, on June 28, 1974, Ringo started a company called Reckongrade Ltd.. By December 11, Ringo changed the name to Pyramid Records Ltd.. On April 4, 1975, Ringo officially declared that RING O’ RECORDS was open for business, even though one single and an album had already been released! Just to add more confusion to the paper trail, the RING O’ name and logo were trademarks of another Ringo company, Wibble Records Limited.

RING O’ RECORDS actually signed artists and produced records. However, Ringo was not, personally, an active participant in the company, nor was he signed to the label. Over a three-year period, seven albums, and 17 singles were released.

In North America, Capitol Records distributed the first two singles and the first album of the fledgling label. Polydor issued the label throughout the rest of the world. But, distribution problems and the lack of a personal recording deal saw Ringo put his floundering company on hiatus for 18 months.

Polydor became the worldwide distributor for the newly re-launched RING O’ RECORDS in March 1977. Only a handful of artists (eleven) recorded for the label.

In 1978, RING O’ RECORDS, in Europe, became a production company, the Able Label. Ringo’s financially disastrous venture into the record business was over.

Finding these releases will be quite difficult. The luckiest collectors will be those in Europe, where most of the records were released.

The following RING O’ RECORDS discography is the most thorough one offered, to date. However, some information is still lacking. If you have any knowledge about any of the artists (especially Carl Grossman, Suzanne, and Stormer) or other recordings on the RING O’ RECORDS label, please notify TWBF (beatles@happy.mondenet.com). We will gladly offer an updated version, in the future. Special thanks go to Mitch McGeary, Takashi Watanabe, and Robert Boulter for their input.

©1997-2004 Brad Howard, The World Beatles Forum
©1997-2004 Brad Howard, Mitch McGeary, Rare Beatles.com web-site

P-4030
(pro-8072)
PROMO4129
Alternate sleeveABC-12148
PROMORING O' RECORDS Singles: Europe & other Countries
(Manufactured and Distributed by Polydor unless otherwise noted)2017 1012017 101aDW10912017 1022017 103ABC 16739 AT2017 105SFL-2201
(Mercury)2017 1056001 108
(Mercury)2017 1062017 1072017 1082017 1102017 1112017 1122017 1132017 1142017 114
PROMOPOSP 2POSP 2
PROMOblank side)2017 115DIB 1 RING O' RECORDS Singles: U.S.A.
(Manufactured and Distributed by Capitol unless otherwise noted) Catalog # Release Date Title Artist 4030 2-17-75 Oh My My / Devil Woman David Hentschel (A.R.P. 2500 Synthesizer performer) 2-xx-75
Oh My My / Devil Woman David Hentschel 8-25-75 Gimmie The Key / Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2) Bobby Keys (saxophone player who has played with the Rolling Stones, Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton) SPRO 8193
PROMO 8-25-75
Gimmie The Key 
(Elongated 'disco' mix) Bobby Keys The following single was issued in Europe on RING O' RECORDS, but it was not picked up by Capitol in the U.S.. It was, however, released as a Christmas novelty record by ABC Records. A mono/stereo promotional copy was issued for the B side. ABC-12148 8-12-75 Cokey Cokey / Away In A Manger Colonel Doug Bogie (British entertainer, a one-man band!) 8-12-75 Away In A Manger / Away In A Manger (Mono/Stereo) Colonel Doug Bogie Catalog # Release Date Title Artist 03-21-75
Europe Oh My My / Devil Woman David Hentschel 03-xx-75
France Oh My My / Devil Woman David Hentschel (very scarce) 03-xx-75
Japan Oh My My / Devil Woman David Hentschel (scarce) 09-05-75
Europe Gimmie The Key / Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2) Bobby Keys 11-14-75
Europe I've Had It / C'mon And Roll Carl Grossman 1975
Germany Cokey Cokey / Away In A Manger Colonel (Doug Bogie) 2017 104 11-25-75
Europe Cokey Cokey / Away In A Manger Colonel (Doug Bogie) 06-03-77
Europe It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / Heroes On My Picture Wall Graham Bonnet (now with the Underground) 1978
Japan It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / Heroes On My Picture Wall Graham Bonnet (scarce) 06-xx-77
Holland It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / Heroes On My Picture Wall Graham Bonnet 1978
Holland It's All Over Now, Baby Blue / Heroes On My Picture Wall Graham Bonnet (re-issue) 08-12-77
Europe Danny / Rock Island Line Graham Bonnet 10-xx-77
Europe Face Of A Permanent Stranger / Your Own Affair Carl Grossman (also issued with promotional only title sleeve) 11-xx-77
Europe Born On Halloween / Like No One Else Suzanne (also issued with promotional only title sleeve) 2017 109
(Not used) ------ ------ (this catalog number not used) 11-xx-77
Europe Goodnight And Goodmorning / Wino Song Graham Bonnet 01-xx-78
Europe You've Really Got A Hold On Me / You Could Be Right This Time Suzanne 01-xx-78
Europe Head On Collision / London's Burning / Mind Games Johnny Warman (recently co-wrote Don't Go Where The Road Don't Go with Ringo Starr) 02-xx-78
Europe My Home Town / Shake It Baby Stormer (also issued with promotional only title sleeve) 03-xx-78
Europe Warm Ride / 10/12 Observation Graham Bonnet (Warm Ride was written by the 3 Bee Gee brothers, Robin, Maurice, and Barry, in 1977, it was a #1 hit for Graham (and RING O' Records) in Australia in July 1978). 03-xx-78
Europe Warm Ride / 10/12 Observation Graham Bonnet (Promotional copy of above). 03-xx-78
Europe Warm Ride / 10/12 Observation Graham Bonnet (12-inch single) 03-xx-78
Europe Warm Ride / 10/12 Observation Graham Bonnet (12-inch one-sided PROMO single. Label scan of  05-xx-78
Europe Waiting Here For You / Restless Rab Noakes (Scottish folk singer who dabbles in pop, rock, and blues. His current band is the Varaflames) 2017 116
(withdrawn) 1978
Europe (song titles unknown; planned but withdrawn) Suzanne 2017 117 07-xx-78
Europe I Won't Let You Down / Long After Dark Rab Noakes 07-xx-78
Europe Ging Gang Goolie / Mr. Sheene Dirk and Stig (duo from the Rutles. The cover drawing is NOT George Harrison, but Rikki Fataar). EMI 2852 1978?
U.K. Ging Gang Goolie / Mr. Sheene Dirk and Stigre-issue). EMI 2852
PROMO 1978?
U.K. Ging Gang Goolie / Mr. Sheene Dirk and Stig (promo).

Most of the European singles were issued with custom sleeves as well as picture sleeves. Many of the picture sleeves were promotional or withdrawn before reaching the public, with the following sleeves having been confirmed: 2017-103, 106, 107, 108, 112, 113 & 115.

Singles by Dirk & Stig (front/back), Bobby Keys, Johnny Warman, Graham Bonnet, and Stormer.

ST-11372RING O' RECORDS Albums: Europe & other Countries
(Manufactured and Distributed by Polydor unless otherwise noted)2320 1012320 1036321 108
(Mercury)2320 1042339 201RING O' RECORDS: Misc2320 102
(Polygram) RING O' RECORDS Albums: U.S.A.
(Manufactured and Distributed by Capitol) Catalog # Release Date Title Artist Tracks 02-17-75 STA*RTLING MUSIC David Hentschel
(synthesizer version of 
the Ringo album) SIDE ONE
1. Devil Woman (Phil Collins on drums)
2. 6 O'Clock (Phil Collins on drums)
3. Step Lightly (Ringo on finger clicks)
4. Oh My My
5. You're 16 (1) (Phil Collins on drums)
6. You're 16 (2)

SIDE TWO
1. Photograph
2. Have You Seen My Baby (Phil Collins on drums)
3. I'm The Greatest (Phil Collins on drums)
4. Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)
5. You And Me (Babe) (Phil Collins on drums) Catalog # Release Date Title Artist Tracks 04-18-75
Europe STA*RTLING MUSIC David Hentschel (contents same as American release) 2320 102
(withdrawn) 11-xx-75
Germany CARL GROSSMAN Carl Grossman (details unknown) 09-xx-77
Europe GRAHAM BONNET Graham Bonnet

Features:
Mike Giles
Dave Markee
Micky Moody
Pip Williams
Stevie Langer
Jacquie Sullivan SIDE ONE
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
Tired Of Being Alone
Wino Song
It Ain't Easy

SIDE TWO
Goodnight And Goodmorning
Danny
Sunday 16
Rock Island Line
Soul Seeker RJ-7232
(Mercury) 01-xx-78
Japan GRAHAM BONNET Graham Bonnet (same tracks as European release)
25PP-70
(Mercury) 08-xx-82
Japan GRAHAM BONNET Graham Bonnet (re-issue, same tracks as European release)
1980
Australia GRAHAM BONNET Graham Bonnet (Rock Legends Series, same tracks as European release)
09-xx-77
Europe
reissue of Apple SAPCOR 15 THE WHALE John Tavener (features a different cover from its Apple release) SIDE ONE
The Whale

SIDE TWO
The Whale (concluded)
2320 105
(withdrawn) 03-xx-78
Europe SUZANNE Suzanne (This catalog number was originally planned for an album by Suzanne, but the LP was withdrawn. The number was then reassigned for a new album from Stormer. It is believed neither of these LPs were ever pressed.) 2320 105
(re-assigned #, 
withdrawn) 03-xx-78
Europe STORMER Stormer (See above) 05-xx-78
Europe RESTLESS Rab Noakes

Features:
Rikki Fataar [Rutles]
John Perry
Terry Melcher
Gerry Rafferty SIDE ONE
She's All I See
Restless
Don't Stop Now
I Won't Let You Down
Fallen Ones

SIDE TWO
Somebody Counts On Me
Lonely Boy
Tonight
Long Dark Night
Get Away From Here 2339 201 05-xx-78
Netherlands RESTLESS Rab Noakes

Features:
Rikki Fataar [Rutles]
John Perry
Terry Melcher
Gerry Rafferty (released as Deluxe 2339 201, gatefold cover) 

SIDE ONE
She's All I See
Restless
Don't Stop Now
I Won't Let You Down
Fallen Ones

SIDE TWO
Somebody Counts On Me
Lonely Boy
Tonight
Long Dark Night
Get Away From Here 2339 202 05-xx-78
Germany HOUR GLASS Johnny Warman 

Features:
Peter Solley (Procol Harem) (issued in Germany only) 

SIDE ONE
Twilight Zones
Silver Towers
It Ain’t Funny
The Laughing Academy
Street Angels

SIDE TWO
Tomorrow’s Babies
Wonderland
So Long
The Hour Glass
War Of The Worlds PL 30052
(RCA) 06-xx-79
Germany HOUR GLASS Johnny Warman (re-issue by RCA Records, same tracks as above, issued in Germany only) Catalog # Release Date Title Artist Tracks 1990
Australia GRAHAM BONNET THE ROCK SINGERS ANTHOLOGY Graham Bonnet

Features:
Graham Bonnet
The Marbles
Rainbow
& other artists (Startrax series Compact Disc. Contains 4 songs from Graham Bonnet's 2320 103 album and 1 from his Ring O' 2017 114 single)

1. Only One Woman (The Marbles)
2. The Walls Fell Down (The Marbles)
3. To Love Somebody (The Marbles)
4. It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Graham Bonnet)
5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (Graham Bonnet)
6. It Ain't Easy (Graham Bonnet)
7. Goodnight And Goodmorning (Graham Bonnet)
8. Warm Ride (Graham Bonnet)
9. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
10. Won't You Join Me?
11. Is There A Way To Sing The Blues?
12. All Night Long (Rainbow)
13. Since You've Been Gone (Rainbow)
14. Night Games
15. Liar
16. Be My Baby