Video: 'Lady Gaye'

(Saturday, May 22, 1976) — Ringo Starr returned to the studio today for the second day of recording sessions for his forthcoming album Ringo’s Rotogravure, cutting the track “Lady Gaye” at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles.

Produced by Arif Mardin, the track required numerous attempts before a satisfactory performance was captured. The final master was assembled from Take 23, selected after a lengthy run-through of the tune.

“Lady Gaye” was loosely based on “Birmingham,” a track written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Clifford T. Ward for his 1975 album No More Rock ’N’ Roll. Musically, the finished recording also bore similarities to the 1965 hit “The Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

Starr ultimately felt confident enough in the track to release it as the B-side to his single “Hey! Baby,” issued later the same year.

This second day of sessions also produced yet another outtake, “What Do You Say,” Take 14 of which was selected as the keeper.