Written by John Lennon, ‘(It’s All Down To) Goodnight Vienna’ was the opening song on Ringo Starr’s fourth solo album Goodnight Vienna.
Lennon wrote the song in 1974, and recorded a demo at Los Angeles’ Record Plant West while producing Harry Nilsson’s album Pussy Cats. The recording was released in November 1998 in the box set John Lennon Anthology.
After finishing work on his own album Walls And Bridges, Lennon flew from New York to California, where on 6 August 1974 he played piano on Starr’s recordings of ‘Goodnight Vienna and’ ‘Only You’ at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles.
Starr’s version featured a count-in and piano by Lennon, and clavinet by Billy Preston.
In addition to opening the Goodnight Vienna album, it was issued as a single in the United States as a medley with ‘Goodnight Vienna (Reprise). The album track ‘Oo-Wee’ was on the b-side.
The single was released on 2 June 1975, and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the fourth and final single taken from the album.
