Number 12 - Six O'Clock

Beatles Involved:

Paul and Ringo

Listenability: 3.5 out of 5

Like ‘Fool On The Hill’, the first time you hear this tune you can tell by the melody that it’s been written by McCartney. Adding to the fact that he wrote it, he also played piano and synthesiser and sang backing vocals (with Linda) on the track. Little wonder then that the track sounds like pure Paul with Ringo happening to be singing on it. While it’s not necessarily one of McCartney’s best songs it’s enjoyable just the same.

What they said about it:

Ringo: 

"Six o'clock in the morning/You've just gone to sleep." Paul wrote that. See, they knew me so well, they would write songs that they felt I could get away with. A lot of the songs they wrote for me, they would not have thought of doing themselves.  

Taken from: Billboard.com: RINGO'S ALL STARRS PLAY AND ACT NATURALLY by Timothy White May 26, 2001

The one thing that was planned in the end was that [producer] Richard Perry and I decided -- with this incredible gift of fate that we've got these two [ex-Beatles] on it -- let's call Paul and see if he wants to get on it. And he said yeah!

Taken from: Billboard.com: RINGO'S ALL STARRS PLAY AND ACT NATURALLY by Timothy White May 26, 2001

Paul:

The others did some tracks for it in Los Angeles and then the material was brought over here for me. I worked on a track called ‘Six O’Clock’, so in a way there’s been some collaboration already and I think that kind of thing might happen more often. I’m happy to play with the other three and I’m sure they are too if it is physically possible but more important for me is the new thing because I really get turned on by new ideas. 

Taken from The Beatles Diary  Vol.2. Keith Badman

Question: Why did you do the Ringo song?I would do it for any friend. I would do it for Rod Stewart if he rang up. 

Taken from The Beatles Diary  Vol.2. Keith Badman

 Other Bits and Pieces:

An extended version of the song with a longer refrain was released on the Goodnight Vienna CD. It had previously been released on 8 Track Cartridge.

According to author Keith Badman, after hearing that Paul would write him a song if he rang Rod Stewart did call,  resulting in the song Mine for Me. This song was written by Paul and Linda McCartney. It was released on Rod Stewart's 1974 album titled 'Smiler'.