A UK Apple Records picture sleeve 45 of Ringo Starr’s ‘Photograph/Down and Out’, from the record collection of Ringo and his first wife, Maureen “Mo” Starkey.

This single was part of a collection of Ringo and Maureen Starkey’s records and books we obtained from Starkey’s second husband, Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues co-founder Isaac Tigrett.  Maureen was married to Ringo Starr from 1965-1975, and all of the items in the collection date from her time with Starr.

Maureen “Mo” Starkey Tigrett was a hairdresser from Liverpool who met Starr at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles were playing. They married in 1965, and divorced in 1975, having three children together, including Zak Starkey, who has played drums with Oasis and The Who.

Maureen Starr sang backup vocals on “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” on the Beatles’ White Album, and was in attendance at the Apple Corps rooftop concert in 1969. Responding to applause, McCartney can be heard saying “Thanks, Mo” after the final performance of “Get Back” on the Let It Be album.

After the Beatles broke up, the Starrs’ marriage began to founder, with Ringo’s infidelities  becoming more frequent, and his alcoholism escalating.  When the George and Pattie Harrison were visiting the Starrs, George confessed his love to Maureen, leading to an affair. Starr threatened divorce when Pattie found the pair in bed together.  John Lennon was equally angry with Harrison, describing the affair as being “virtual incest.”  Despite the couple’s problems, Maureen did not want to divorce, but they eventually did, in July 1975.

In 1976, Maureen began living with Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of the Hard Rock Café and House of Blues. They were married in May 1989 and had one child together. Cox died of leukemia at age 48 in 1994; with her four children, 82-year-old mother, husband Tigrett and ex-husband Starr were at her bedside. Following her death, McCartney wrote the song “Little Willow” in her memory, which appears on his 1997 album, Flaming Pie.

Single in Very Good+ condition with center punched out; sleeve Very Good+.

With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity, and a copy of Isaac Tigrett’s inventory of the collection/letter of authenticity.

Read Recordmecca owner Jeff Gold’s blog post on collecting artist-owned records here.