Act Naturally

Shea Stadium, New York City: 15 August 1965
  

Writer: Johnny Russell
Performers:

• Ringo Starr — lead vocals
• Paul McCartney
• John Lennon
• George Harrison

The Beatles, 1965

"Act Naturally" is a witty song written by Johnny Russell, and fun in several formats, as we shall see. The song has an interesting history. It was recorded by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos in 1963 for a big country-music hit; and later by Ringo Starr with The Beatles in 1965. Over thirty million copies have been sold of the various recordings.
  

For best quality audio, choose one of The Beatles', or Ringo Starr's, DVD/CD releases of the song.

There are a number of filmed performances of "Act Naturally" on DVD and/or available as music videos via YouTube.

• My favorite of the videos I've seen, giving the feel of the great band and the intoxicating musical era, The Beatles live before 55,000 fans at Shea Stadium, 15 August 1965. (Unfortunately I no longer can find this clip on YouTube.) At Shea Stadium, after rambling a bit, Paul McCartney introduces the song with a resounding "Act Naturally — Ringo!"

  However, here's a live version in color (2nd half of the clip, begins 2:21):
  Act Naturally - Ringo Starr, The Beatles (Shea Stadium, 1965, live)   

• A nice close-up studio version, black-and-white, by The Beatles, with clearer picture and cleaner sound, 1965:
  Act Naturally - Ringo Starr, The Beatles (studio)
    
• A performance by Buck Owens with Don Rich, 1966:
  Act Naturally - Buck Owens & Don Rich
    
• A musical-comedy treat, Ringo Starr and Buck Owens together, "acting naturally" and singing in a Western-movie vignette, 1989:
  Act Naturally - Ringo Starr & Buck Owens
    

Also available in various locations and media are a number of Ringo's later performances.

© 2010 Robert Wilfred Franson