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Writing and release

The song, which concerns a happy-go-lucky lout from northern England, was written about Starr himself.¹ Bernie Taupin backs this up by calling it "a simple biographical thing".² Elton John recalled, "Bernie wrote really simple lyrics, very Ringo type lyrics and I tried to write a simple sort of melody to it".³ Elton John also plays piano on the track and provides the count-off.

The title refers to the billiards game snooker. Charting as a tag-along with "No No Song" in the US, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. On the Cash Box chart, which listed single sides separately, it "bubbled under" at number 105.⁴

The UK version of the single was released on 21 February 1975 with "Oo-Wee" on the B-side,⁵;⁶ both tracks were taken from the album Goodnight Vienna.

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the Goodnight Vienna CD liner notes⁷

• Ringo Starr – drums, vocals
• Klaus Voormann – bass
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Elton John – piano
• Robbie Robertson – guitar
• Bobby Keys, Chuck Findley, Steve Madaio and Trevor Lawrence – horns
• James Newton Howard – synthesizer
• Clydie King, Joe Greene and Linda Laurence – backing vocals

Reception

Billboard described "Snookeroo" as "a perfect Ringo type cut" that is "an uptempo, happy song" with good use of horns and string instruments.⁸ Cash Box said that "it shares [John's and Taupin's] usual hit qualities"⁹ Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it Starr's 8th greatest solo song.¹⁰ The record failed to chart in the UK.¹¹

References

1. Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom. Rocket Man: Elton John A to Z. p. 95. ↩

2. Fong-Torres, Ben (21 November 1974). "The Four Eyed Bitch is Back". Rolling Stone. p. 61. /wiki/Rolling_Stone ↩

3. Fong-Torres, Ben (21 November 1974). "The Four Eyed Bitch is Back". Rolling Stone. p. 61. /wiki/Rolling_Stone ↩

4. Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 481. ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7. 978-0-89820-213-7 ↩

5. UK Apple R 6004[4] ↩

6. Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN 9780753508435. 9780753508435 ↩

7. Ringo Starr - Goodnight Vienna, 15 November 1974, retrieved 13 November 2023 https://www.discogs.com/release/1091336-Ringo-Starr-Goodnight-Vienna ↩

8. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 1 February 1975. p. 78. Retrieved 17 July 2020. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-02-01.pdf ↩

9. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 1 February 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 11 December 2021. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-02-01.pdf ↩

10. Swenson, Dave (23 November 2013). "Top 10 Ringo Starr Solo Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 July 2019. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/ringo-starr-solo-songs/ ↩

11. Swenson, Dave (23 November 2013). "Top 10 Ringo Starr Solo Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 July 2019. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/ringo-starr-solo-songs/ ↩