Number 17 - Back Off Boogaloo

Beatles Involved:

Ringo and George

Listenability: 4 out of 5

When first released as a single in 1972 Ringo was listed as the sole composer. George produced the song and also played guitar on the track. It wasn't until the release of Ringo's 2017 album, 'Give More Love' which featured a new version of the song that George was credited as a co-writer of the song. This makes the song one of only two to be officially credited as having been written by Ringo and George.

The track itself is an upbeat number with a glam rock sound. Evidently Ringo seems to quite like the song as he has now recorded three different studio versions, the single version released in 1972, an album version on 1981's 'Stop and Smell The Roses' and then finally, the version on 2017's 'Give More Love' album. George only actually plays on the 1972 version.

What they said about it:

Ringo: 

We were moving house to Los Angeles, and a ship brought six containers of my stuff – of course, most of it was Barbara's. But I'm going through it, and found a box of little two-inch reel-to-reel tapes. My assistant Scotty was checking out everything in the office, and he said, "You should listen to this." It's me singing Back Off Boogaloo with this great guitar. I'm thinking who the hell is that playing? Then I realise, I'm on guitar! It's 1971, Marc Bolan had been over the night before and used the word "Boogaloo", and I woke up and the reel-to-reel captures the song coming. So I gave the tape to Jeff (Lynne) to do some new production around that, which he did, then he got busy on tour, but his guitar is on it.

(Source: Sydney Morning Sun, September 5, 2017)