"Goodnight Vienna" is the fourth studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 1974. Following the commercial success of his previous album Ringo (1973), Goodnight Vienna continued Starr's collaboration with many of the same musicians, including Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Robbie Robertson, and Harry Nilsson, as well as producer Richard Perry. The album’s title is a British slang phrase meaning “it’s all over,” which reflects the playful, yet somewhat reflective nature of the work.
The recording of Goodnight Vienna took place during the summer of 1974 in Los Angeles, and the album includes contributions from several notable figures in rock music. Unlike Ringo, which featured contributions from all three of his former Beatles bandmates, only John Lennon participated in the recording of Goodnight Vienna. Lennon, who was working on his own album Walls and Bridges, wrote the title track, "Goodnight Vienna," and also played piano on the song. He further suggested that Starr cover The Platters' classic ballad "Only You (And You Alone)" and provided a guide vocal and acoustic guitar for the track. Both songs were recorded during sessions produced by Lennon himself. Additionally, Elton John co-wrote the track "Snookeroo" with Bernie Taupin, and Harry Nilsson offered Starr the song "Easy for Me," which Starr would later record his own version of for Nilsson's Duit on Mon Dei album.
"Goodnight Vienna" became the centerpiece of the album. It has a catchy, upbeat rock vibe, with Lennon’s piano playing giving it a distinct feel. The song was inspired by the phrase "Goodnight Vienna," which Lennon described as meaning "it’s all over" or "it’s finished," a sentiment that resonated with Starr’s mood at the time. "Only You (And You Alone)" was a cover of the 1955 hit by The Platters, with Starr's version reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a commercial success in the U.S. and is one of the album's standout tracks. Lennon’s guide vocal and acoustic guitar can be heard on this version, providing a unique spin on the classic.
"Snookeroo," written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, became a significant single, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. It’s an upbeat, piano-driven song that showcases John’s knack for crafting catchy pop-rock melodies. "No No Song" was another hit from the album, featuring a tongue-in-cheek take on the pitfalls of excessive partying and excess. It was released as a single in January 1975 and reached number 3 on the U.S. charts.
Goodnight Vienna was released in November 1974, both in the U.S. and the U.K., and while it didn’t achieve the same level of success as Ringo, it still performed well commercially. In the U.S., the album peaked at number 8 on the charts and went gold. However, it only reached number 30 in the U.K., making it Starr's last album to chart in his home country until 1998. The album was initially released in quadraphonic sound, a surround sound format that was becoming popular in the 1970s. Goodnight Vienna also received generally favorable reviews, with many appreciating the album’s upbeat, polished pop-rock sound.
The single "Only You (And You Alone)" reached number 6 on the U.S. charts, and "No No Song" reached number 3 in 1975. The track "(It's All Down to) Goodnight Vienna" also received attention, though it didn’t chart as highly.
The promotional video for "Only You (And You Alone)" is one of the more memorable aspects of the album's release. Filmed on the roof of the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles, the video features Starr in a spacesuit, along with a giant robot and a marching band, all in a surreal, comedic style. The commercial itself was a lighthearted homage to the album cover art, which was based on a still from the 1951 sci-fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still, replacing the film's alien character Klaatu with Ringo Starr's face. The commercial, which aired on Top of the Pops in December 1974, featured a voiceover by John Lennon, adding an extra layer of Beatles-related intrigue for fans. Starr himself later provided a voiceover for the commercial promoting Lennon’s Walls and Bridges album.
Goodnight Vienna was reissued in 1981 and again in 1992 and 1993, with the latter versions containing bonus tracks, including the hit "Back Off Boogaloo" and its B-side "Blindman." The remastered versions also included an extended version of the track "Six O'Clock," which had originally appeared on Ringo.
Goodnight Vienna stands as one of Ringo Starr’s more notable solo albums, offering a collection of songs that blend catchy pop hooks, rock energy, and the playful sensibility Starr was known for. With contributions from friends and fellow musicians like John Lennon, Elton John, and Harry Nilsson, the album remains a fun, if not groundbreaking, part of his post-Beatles career.
