BEATLES MAGAZINE: THE SONG THAT UNITED RINGO STARR, ELTON JOHN, KLAUS VOORMANN & JIM KELTNER

Saturday, 21 February 2026

THE SONG THAT UNITED RINGO STARR, ELTON JOHN, KLAUS VOORMANN & JIM KELTNER

"Snookeroo" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and released by Ringo Starr on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna.

Centered on a carefree rogue from Northern England, this track was likely inspired by—if not explicitly written for—Ringo Starr, drawing on his regional roots.

John later noted that Bernie Taupin’s lyrics possessed a "Ringo-esque" simplicity, which John complemented with a straightforward melody. In addition to playing piano on the recording, John can be heard performing the opening countdown.

The song’s title is a nod to the game of snooker and carries various meanings as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary. In the United States, it climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 while paired with "No No Song." Conversely, the Cash Box chart tracked each side individually, placing this specific track at number 105 in its "Bubbling Under" section.

The single debuted in the United Kingdom on February 21, 1975, featuring "Oo-Wee" as its B-side. Both songs were originally included on the Goodnight Vienna LP.

Musicians featured on the track:

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

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