Goodnight Vienna, the eagerly-anticipated follow up to the smash Ringo, was released November 15th in the UK and three days later in the US. The first single was a cover of "Only You (And You Alone)", an oldie made famous by the Platters. Ringo's version featured John Lennon on acoustic guitar and Harry Nilsson providing smooth backing vocals.
As John had a month earlier, Ringo sat down with EMI's Bob Mercer in Los Angeles around the beginning of November for a chat to promote the single and LP. Their brief conversation was issued on a white-label promo single for EMI's British sales staff, with "Only You" on the flip.
The single came out November 11th in the US, where it peaked at #6; the UK release (simultaneous to the LP) scraped into the top 30 for a couple of weeks, then disappeared. Ringo went all-out to promote the song, filming a humorous and elaborate promo on November 14th at the Capitol Tower building in Hollywood. Harry joined Ringo for the shoot, which carried out the LP cover's Day The Earth Stood Still theme to ridiculous proportions:
Footage from the day's shoot was also used in the TV advertising campaign, with a voice-over assist from John:
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Perhaps inspired by John's September DJ stint, Ringo spent three hours on November 19th co-hosting Billy Pearl's evening shift at KHJ-AM in Los Angeles. He proved to be a natural on-air personality, reading local ad spots, interacting with hysterical callers, and spinning discs by Neil Diamond, the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Jim Croce, Chuck Berry, Harry Nilsson, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Elton John, America, Billy Swan, B.T. Express, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Jim Stafford, Olivia Newton-John, Harry Chapin, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon, Wings, and of course... "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas.
This KHJ appearance is so fun! I like it when Ringo is warm and funny to the audience, as opposed to grouchy and Harrison-like, as he was on the call-in episode of "Ringo's Yellow Submarine" in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteThe funniest part is when the caller calls up to settle a bet as to who sings "Do You Want To Know A Secret"....and Ringo gets it wrong and says John! Lay off the booze, Ritchie!!
(thanks for this, not only is it fun hearing Ringo DJ AM radio...but it really takes you back to the 70s...."Kung Fu Fighting", the Elton version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds".....advertisements for the Osmonds TV special....!