By Brad Howard- originally printed in The World Beatles Forum Newsletter.
Adapted to the web and updated by Mitch McGeary.

Back in 1997, The World Beatles Forum fanzine published an article documenting the RING O’ RECORDS discography. As the name implies, Ring O’ was a company owned by Ringo Starr. Since that first article was printed, several new facts have come to light. Here is our revised version of the label’s history and discography, with continuous updates to be added as new information is discovered.

As early as 1970, Ringo had involvement with a production company, Beachport Company Ltd. (in fact, most of the RING O’ RECORDS releases feature this name). On July 26, 1973, Ringo started a new music publishing company, Wobble Music Ltd.. However, his own compositions were published by two other Ringo-owned companies, Startling Music Inc. and Richoroony Ltd.. Ringo purchased Tittenhurst Park, John and Yoko’s old manor, on September 18,1973 and immediately made the in-house studio, re-christened Startling Studios, available for use by other recording artists.

With Apple Records not being fun anymore and virtually little product being released, George formed Dark Horse Records Ltd. on May 23, 1974. Hot on George’s heels, on June 28, 1974, Ringo started a company called Reckongrade Ltd.. By December 11, Ringo changed the name to Pyramid Records Ltd.. On April 4, 1975, Ringo officially declared that RING O’ RECORDS was open for business, even though one single and an album had already been released! Just to add more confusion to the paper trail, the RING O’ name and logo were trademarks of another Ringo company, Wibble Records Limited.

RING O’ RECORDS actually signed artists and produced records. However, Ringo was not, personally, an active participant in the company, nor was he signed to the label. Over a three-year period, seven albums, and 17 singles were released.

In North America, Capitol Records distributed the first two singles and the first album of the fledgling label. Polydor issued the label throughout the rest of the world. But, distribution problems and the lack of a personal recording deal saw Ringo put his floundering company on hiatus for 18 months.

Polydor became the worldwide distributor for the newly re-launched RING O’ RECORDS in March 1977. Only a handful of artists (eleven) recorded for the label.

In 1978, RING O’ RECORDS, in Europe, became a production company, the Able Label. Ringo’s financially disastrous venture into the record business was over.

Finding these releases will be quite difficult. The luckiest collectors will be those in Europe, where most of the records were released.

©1997-2004 Brad Howard, The World Beatles Forum
©1997-2004 Brad Howard, Mitch McGeary, Rare Beatles.com web-site