"Stop and Smell the Roses" is the eighth studio album by English rock musician Ringo Starr, released in October 1981. It followed the commercial failures of Ringo the 4th (1977) and Bad Boy (1978). The album features the hit single "Wrack My Brain," written and produced by George Harrison, but it did not achieve significant commercial success. Other contributors include Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Wood, and Stephen Stills.
The album originated in mid-1980 as Can't Fight Lightning while Starr was signed to Portrait Records. After the label withdrew its support, the project stalled until he signed with RCA's Boardwalk Records in 1981. John Lennon had planned to participate, offering Starr the songs "Life Begins at 40" and "Nobody Told Me," but he was murdered a month before the sessions. Starr was deeply affected by this news and chose not to record the songs.
Background and recording included significant collaborations with other artists. During a visit to Lennon’s apartment, Starr received a demo of "Life Begins at 40." Shortly after meeting Barbara Bach, he began sessions in France, later moving to Los Angeles where he worked with McCartney and other musicians. The recording process involved multiple studios and contributions from various artists, culminating in sessions from late 1980 to early 1981.
After the album's release, Starr filmed promotional videos and gave interviews to promote it. Despite some success with "Wrack My Brain," which became his last US Top 40 hit, the album overall underperformed. It was later reissued in 1994 with bonus tracks and again in 2023 for Record Store Day.
