Ringo

After the gushing reviews of my fellow reviewers, I'm prompted to write a more realistic review of this record for anyone thinking of taking the plunge.

Yes this is without any shadow of doubt,Ringo's finest work as a solo artist.

Ringo was and is a very innivotive drummer (and anyone that has ever picked a pair of drumsticks will tell you that) and all round good egg. A great singer and songwriter,by his own admission, he ain't. In my opinion you have to be at least one those to make a truely great (5 star)album.

That said,although this isn't a great album, it is a great album FOR RINGO.

The trouble with not being a prolific writer is that you have to rely on others for the songs and the problem with that is you sometimes get left with songs that others have discarded as not being good enough. McCartney's "Six O'clock" is an example of this. Although a Macca cast off is a masterpiece by some other writers standards and Ringo does a great job with this song.

The Lennon penned "I'm The Greatest" and "Photograph", co-written with Harrison are the best songs here and that is probably because both songs were written specifically for Ringo rather than being songs that they didn't want.

I remember hearing "Your 16" on the radio,as a kid and thinking it was a great song back then.I didn't know it was a cover then, in fact i didnt know Ringo was a Beatle. It's still a great version.

"Oh My My" a song co written by Ringo is a stomper with nonsense lyrics but lots of fun.

Anyone that had read any of my other reviews will know that I'm not a great fan of extra tracks tacked onto the end of original album track listings. However when a bonus item is as good as "It Don't Come Easy" its hard not to approve. One gripe though,the final track on the LP was "You And Me Babe" which has a little spoken "credits" section at the end which a rendered pointless when they are followed by another 3 songs.

All in all this is a very decent album.Not a great album but a good one. It's not one of the best Beatles solo albums so lets not get all gooey about it.How could it be? Look what it's up against !Does it compare with All Things Must Pass,Imagine,Plastic Ono Band,etc,no of course not.

Its a decent record and certainly the best Ringo Starr solo album. This album would not appeal to anyone outside of the Beatles fraternity but for fans looking to discover Ringo's solo work this is the one to go for.


Vintage Ringo!   March 23, 2005
John Heaton (Budapest, Hungary)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

What can I say about this album? It very nearly produced a reunion of all four Beatles. With just McCartney's visa problems on account of his drug busts preventing this historic event from taking place. Only Ringo could have achieved this incredible feat. But the fact that he didn't quite manage to pull it off is not to detract from this wonderful album. Of all the Beatles' solo albums this one remains a Tour De Force. It succeeds on every level.
From the opener the Lennon penned 'I'm The Greatest' it has that stamp of Quality that few albums can ever hope to have. But on this album, not only do we have that uplifting quality which pervades most of 1970s Ringo. Here we have a collection of Great Songs. I was too young at the time but it must have been superb to see a Harrison-Starkey composition ('Photograph') at the top of the US charts in 1973. After so many years under the shadow of Lennon-McCartney this is an undoubtedly highlight of both Ringo and George's career. Deservedly so. The song is brilliant. And the other songs are almost all of a similar quality: 'You're Sixteen' is an inspired choice for Ringo to cover depsite the un PCness of the lyrics. How ridiculous this whole PC business has become. Mary Whitehouse should be forced to listen to this song ad infinitem...until she screams. Randy Newman's song 'Have You Seen My Baby' is so joyous that it leaves one tempted to each for The New Oxford English Dictionary to see if this track is indeed mentioned under that word. It is not for some reason. And Ringo pens some fine numbers himself here too. 'Oh My My' sounds like an oldie but it is actually written by Ringo no less, with a little help from his friend Vini Poncia. 'Step Lightly' is another charming Ringo original which would have sat comfortably on the White Album. That's how good this album is. 'Six O' Clock' is a typically melodic McCartney tune, displaying that effortless melodic genius that was so evident on both of Paul's albums from this year 'Red Rose Speedway' and 'Band On The Run'. 'Devil Woman' is a decent rocker if not that memorable. Here it fits perfectly however. 'Sunshine Life For Me' is quite interesting, mainly for George's superb backing vocals. And the extra track the previous B side of 'Photograph' 'Down And Out' is catchy but memorable chiefly for the inspired Harrison guitar solo. The closing number 'You And Me (Babe)'is quite brilliant, not just because George co-wrote it (with Mal Evans). But because it sums up the spirit of this Fine Album. When we hear this great melodic song recede into a big Thank You to every one invloved in 'this piece of plastic we're making' one is truly moved. Especially so as Ringo mentions all three of his Beatle brothers by name.
After the infighting and resentment of the early 1970s among the four protagonists involved, it must have been truly heart warming when this album came out. I was too young at the time but I can see it now. Amongst this traumatic quadrangle of friendship and emotion Ringo's middle name should have been Cement. And the music here is also inspired. Among the Top 5 Beatles solo albums this one in my opinion.
And that is saying something.