Tuesday 12 August 1980 | Ringo Starr, Studio
| Studio | Devonshire Sound Studios, Los Angeles |
| Producer | Stephen Stills |
| Engineers | Stanley Johnston, Steve Gursky |
Ringo Starr began recording two songs for his eighth studio album Stop And Smell The Roses on 12 August 1980 at Devonshire Sound Studios in Los Angeles. The session was produced by Stephen Stills, who had co-written ‘You’ve Got A Nice Way’ with guitarist Michael Stergis just two days earlier, on 10 August 1980.
The songs
‘You’ve Got A Nice Way’
‘You’ve Got A Nice Way’ was co-written by Stephen Stills and guitarist Michael Stergis on 10 August 1980, two days before the first recording sessions with Ringo. It was included on Stop And Smell The Roses.
‘Red And Black Blues’
‘Red And Black Blues’ was written by Lane Tietgen and recorded across this and the subsequent two sessions. It was an album outtake and was not included on the finished record.
Ringo Starr — officially licensed merch
Ringo Starr Unisex T-Shirt: Colour Peace (Black).
Stephen Stills on Ringo
“What a love. I mean, everybody in England knows Richie and I’m just happy I know him. I haven’t seen him in a while. We owe each other a catch-up. He was always willing to come and play. He had me come and produce [‘You’ve Got A Nice Way’]. He had one album where he had different producers. No pressure at all. You’re a producer – produce. Aaaargh! But Maureen, his first wife, was always good at setting everyone at ease.
When I first went over to visit he was living in Hampstead, and Mo [Maurice] Gibb was down the street, and Klaus [Voormann]. We had kind of a hootenanny. It qualified as a hootenanny, just hacking away. It was mostly friends. The first time he had any impact on me was when I went over to visit him in Hampstead, then I ended up buying the house that he bought from Peter Sellers [Brookfield House in Elstead, Surrey].”
— Stephen Stills, Classic Rock, 17 February 2022
Stephen Stills and Stop And Smell The Roses
Stephen Stills was one of the most celebrated figures in American rock, best known as a co-founder of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. His guitar work on tracks such as ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ and ‘Love The One You’re With’ had made him one of the defining voices of the late 1960s and early 1970s California rock scene.
Stills’ quote reveals the warmth of his friendship with Starr, and the informal, social nature of their musical connection — rooted in the Hampstead music scene of the late 1960s, where Starr’s neighbours included Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees and Klaus Voormann, the German bassist and artist who had designed the cover of Revolver and played on numerous solo Beatles recordings. Stills also reveals that he later purchased Brookfield House in Elstead, Surrey — the property Starr had bought from actor Peter Sellers.
Stop And Smell The Roses was structured around contributions from different producers for different tracks, with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Wood and Stephen Stills all contributing. It was released in October 1981.
Ringo Starr — officially licensed merch
Ringo Starr Unisex T-Shirt: Peace Red Circle (Grey).
Key Facts
| Date | Tuesday 12 August 1980 |
| Songs | ‘You’ve Got A Nice Way’ (Stills/Stergis); ‘Red And Black Blues’ (Tietgen, outtake) |
| Producer | Stephen Stills (co-founder, Buffalo Springfield; CSNY) |
| Album | Stop And Smell The Roses (released October 1981) |
| Other producers on album | Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Wood |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Stephen Stills?
Stephen Stills is a guitarist and singer-songwriter, co-founder of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He produced Ringo Starr's 'You've Got A Nice Way' for the Stop And Smell The Roses album in 1980.
What was Stop And Smell The Roses?
Stop And Smell The Roses was Ringo Starr's eighth studio album, released in October 1981. It featured tracks produced by different collaborators including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Wood and Stephen Stills.
Who was Klaus Voormann?
Klaus Voormann was a German bassist and artist who designed the cover of The Beatles' Revolver album (1966) and played bass on numerous solo Beatles recordings. He was a neighbour of Ringo Starr's in Hampstead in the late 1960s.
What was Brookfield House?
Brookfield House was a property in Elstead, Surrey, that Ringo Starr purchased from actor Peter Sellers. Stephen Stills later bought the same house from Starr.
→ Recording: Woman, Yes I’m Your Angel – 11 August 1980
→ Recording: Mind Games by John Lennon – 12 August 1973
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→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
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