On Tuesday 9 July 1968, Ringo Starr arrived early for The Beatles' recording session at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. Finding himself with time to spare, he wandered into Studio Two, where the soul singer Solomon King was in the middle of recording a ballad called 'A Hundred Years Or More'. Starr sat in and contributed handclaps to the track.
It is one of the more charming footnotes in Beatles history: the drummer of the most famous band in the world, killing time before his own session by clapping along to a soul ballad in the next studio. The handclaps can be heard in the UK mix of the recording, most audibly from around the 1'18" mark. 'A Hundred Years Or More' was released as the b-side of Solomon King's 1968 single 'Goodbye My Old Gal', issued on Columbia DB 8505.
Solomon King: Who Was He?
Solomon King was an American-born soul and pop singer who found his greatest success in the United Kingdom. Born in the United States, he relocated to Britain in the 1960s and built a following on the club and cabaret circuit. His biggest hit was 'She Wears My Ring', released in January 1968, which reached number three in the UK singles chart – a significant commercial success that made him a recognisable name in British pop at the time of the Abbey Road session.
'She Wears My Ring' was a lush, orchestrated ballad in the Tom Jones mould – big voice, big production, aimed squarely at the mainstream pop market. It was the kind of record that sold well in Britain in 1968 alongside the more experimental work coming out of the rock and psychedelic scenes. Solomon King was not a rock and roll artist; he was a balladeer, and a successful one.
'Goodbye My Old Gal', the single that carried 'A Hundred Years Or More' as its b-side, was released later in 1968 on Columbia DB 8505. It did not replicate the chart success of 'She Wears My Ring', but the b-side carries its own small piece of history: Ringo Starr's handclaps, contributed on a Tuesday morning in July 1968 while The Beatles were in the middle of recording what would become the White Album.
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9 July 1968: The White Album Sessions
The Beatles' own session on 9 July 1968 was part of the long, fractious recording process that would produce The Beatles – the double album universally known as the White Album – released in November 1968. The sessions had begun in late May and would continue through the summer and into the autumn, producing thirty tracks across four sides of vinyl.
The White Album sessions were notable for the degree to which the four Beatles were working separately. John, Paul, George, and Ringo each had their own songs, their own ideas, and increasingly their own agendas. George Martin later described the period as difficult; the band's internal tensions, which had been building since the death of Brian Epstein in August 1967, were becoming harder to manage.
Ringo Starr's early arrival on 9 July – the circumstance that led to his appearance on the Solomon King session – was entirely in character. Of the four Beatles, Ringo was consistently described by those who worked with them as the most professional, the most punctual, and the most straightforward to deal with in the studio. He arrived when he was supposed to arrive, played what was needed, and got on with it.
Ringo Starr as Session Musician
The Solomon King appearance was not the only time Ringo Starr contributed to recordings outside The Beatles. Throughout his career – both during the Beatles years and after – he was a sought-after session drummer and guest musician, valued for his distinctive feel and his ability to serve the song rather than dominate it.
During the Beatles years, Ringo played on recordings by other artists including Cilla Black, whose early records were produced by George Martin and featured Beatles-adjacent musicians. After the band's break-up, his session appearances became more frequent: he played on records by John Lennon, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, and many others.
The handclaps on 'A Hundred Years Or More' are a minor entry in that catalogue – a spontaneous contribution rather than a formal session booking – but they are characteristic of the man. Ringo Starr, finding himself in a recording studio with time on his hands, did what came naturally: he joined in.
For more on Ringo's work beyond the drum kit, see our deep-dive on his acting career, films, and TV roles.
The Recording: Technical Details
The handclaps contributed by Ringo Starr appear in the UK mix of 'A Hundred Years Or More'. They are most audible from approximately the 1'18" mark. The UK mix was the version released as the b-side of 'Goodbye My Old Gal' on Columbia DB 8505 in 1968.
The distinction between UK and other mixes is worth noting: different mixes of the same recording were sometimes prepared for different markets, and the Ringo handclaps are specifically a feature of the UK version. Collectors seeking to hear his contribution should ensure they are listening to the Columbia DB 8505 pressing or a reissue derived from the UK master.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Ringo Starr play on any other artists' records?
Yes. Ringo Starr contributed to recordings by other artists both during and after the Beatles years. On 9 July 1968, he contributed handclaps to Solomon King's recording of 'A Hundred Years Or More' at Abbey Road. After the Beatles, he played on records by John Lennon, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, and many others.
Who was Solomon King?
Solomon King was an American-born soul and pop singer who found success in the UK in the late 1960s. His biggest hit was 'She Wears My Ring', which reached number three in the UK charts in January 1968. His 1968 single 'Goodbye My Old Gal' (Columbia DB 8505) featured Ringo Starr's handclaps on its b-side, 'A Hundred Years Or More'.
Where can you hear Ringo Starr's handclaps on A Hundred Years Or More?
Ringo Starr's handclaps are most audible from approximately the 1'18" mark of the UK mix of 'A Hundred Years Or More', released as the b-side of Solomon King's 1968 single 'Goodbye My Old Gal' on Columbia DB 8505.
What were The Beatles recording in July 1968?
In July 1968, The Beatles were recording tracks for what would become the White Album (The Beatles), released in November 1968. The sessions ran from late May through the autumn of 1968 and produced thirty tracks.
More from On This Day in Beatles History
- Ringo Starr: Acting Career, Films, TV Roles & Cult Classics
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps: George Harrison's White Album Masterpiece
- On This Day in Beatles History – full archive
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