For the first time since The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John Lennon got back together in the studio in 1973 to record the song “I’m The Greatest” for Ringo’s self-titled solo album.
Producer Richard Perry oversaw the March 1973 recording session at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, which featured longtime Beatles colleagues Klaus Voorman on bass and Billy Preston on organ in addition to John, George, and Ringo. The three ex-Beatles would only collaborate on one song after the band disbanded and John passed away in 1980.
John was inspired to write “I’m The Greatest” in 1970, just after the world’s most renowned band broke up, by witnessing the first UK television broadcast of A Hard Day’s Night and by Muhammad Ali’s famous catchphrase. A few years later, John modified the lyrics for Ringo to sing. In 1980, John told Playboy, “I couldn’t sing it.” But for Ringo, it was ideal. People wouldn’t be offended if he declared himself to be the greatest. However, if I declared that I was the best, they would all take me very seriously. It’s very tongue in cheek, Ringo said. It could only have been composed by [John] and sang by me.
“I’m The Greatest” (Ultimate Mix), including John’s guide vocal from the original session as the lead vocal, is now available to stream for the first time ever. Producer Sean Ono Lennon oversaw the song’s new mix, which was made from the original tapes by triple Grammy Award-winning mixer Paul Hicks and engineer Sam Gannon.
