Ringo Starr - I Wanna Be Santa Claus

I Wanna Be Santa Claus is the twelfth studio album by British drummer and singer-songwriter Ringo Starr, originally released in October 1999 via Mercury Records.

Ringo Starr and then musical partner Mark Hudson wrote a couple of Christmas themed songs in 1998 that would become the basis for Ringo’s first Christmas themed album release, I Wanna Be Santa Claus. The two songs were “Dear Santa” and “Christmas Eve”.

The songs were recorded between September 1998 and September 1999 in the US and featured a number of guest musicians including Eagles member Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals, Jeff Lynne on backing vocals and Aerosmith member Joe Perry on lead guitar on a reworking of The Beatles song “Christmas Time Is Here Again”.

Six of the twelve songs are original compositions by Ringo with Mark Hudson and others, and the remainders are covers, including some classic Christmas songs, such as “The Little Drummer Boy”. The title track “I Wanna Be Santa Claus” is about spreading Christmas cheer on every day of the year, compared to just on Christmas Day.

The album garnered strong reviews upon release, however commercial sales were disappointing and the album failed to chart.

This is a fun Christmas album, and a must-have for any Ringo fan.

This album is being released for the very first time on vinyl, just in time for Christmas 2017!

Check out the tracks:  “Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On”; “I Wanna Be Santa Claus”; “Christmas Eve”; and “Dear Santa”.

This LP record a 2017 reissue is on black vinyl, pressed in the US.