Video: 'This Be Called a Song'

(Tuesday, May 25, 1976) — Ringo Starr returned to the studio today to continue work on his upcoming album Ringo’s Rotogravure, recording the track “This Be Called a Song,” featuring a guest guitar performance by Eric Clapton.

The song originated during sessions earlier that year for Clapton’s album No Reason to Cry, which had been recorded in March 1976 at the Village Recorder and Shangri-La studios in Los Angeles.

Although Clapton’s own version of “This Be Called a Song” was ultimately left off No Reason to Cry and remains unreleased, he later offered the composition to Starr for possible use on Ringo’s Rotogravure.

A fresh backing track was recorded during today’s session, with multiple takes attempted before Take 15 was chosen as the master performance. Clapton contributed electric guitar to the recording, helping give the track a relaxed, roots-rock feel consistent with the musical direction he had explored on No Reason to Cry.

The collaboration marked another instance of Starr drawing on close friends and fellow rock musicians for his recordings during the mid-1970s.

While his former bandmates from The Beatles had frequently contributed songs or performances to his earlier solo work, Ringo’s Rotogravure also featured appearances from artists within Starr’s wider musical circle, including Clapton and other prominent session players active in Los Angeles at the time.