Like a lot of people my age(26), I was a Beatles fan long before I knew who they really were. Their songs have been used in a lot of different medias since I was born and their influence has run bone deep. I can remember when I was taking drum lessons in middle school, I got done wailing on the drums and my teacher smiled happily and patted me on the back. “Well done Ringo!,” he beamed at me. I was confused, but, hey, a compliment was a compliment at 11! Now, I’d probably be over the moon in somebody said that to me!
For anyone who doesn’t know, Richard “Ringo Starr” Starkey was the drummer for The Beatles from 1962-1970. When the band broke up in 1970, Ringo released his first two solo albums by the end of the year. Now, almost 42 years later, the 71 year old drummer has released his 17th solo studio album and his second with HIP-O/Ume Records.
Ringo 2012 is a 9 track album featuring two covers; Buddy Holly’s, Think It Over and Lonnie Donegan’s Rock Island Line. As well as two re-recordings of original Ringo works, Step Lightly and Wings. Without harming or changing the integrity of the covers, whether the songs were his to begin with or not, Ringo keeps faithful to each song but adds his own charm and flair to make them (or remake them) into his own style.
The remaining five tracks are original pieces that reflect Ringo as a person, an artist, and as a drummer.
The album is opened with Anthem, an upbeat crooner about “peace and love” and I found it to be real reminiscent of early Beatles works. It’s just a happy song that will get stuck in your head all day long, making you tap your toes and whistle along to the beat.
I really enjoyed Wonderful the most. Like the rest of the album, the song is very peppy, but it’s a very fun love song he wrote to his wife, Barbara. The line, “The worst it ever was, was wonderful,” was overheard and inspired Ringo and writer Gary Nicholson to write the song. I don’t write songs and I find that line to be inspiring myself! It’s a great diddy to enjoy with your significant other.
The remaining songs follow the same upbeat flow the beginning of the record sets, although the material varies from one song to the next. A lot of fellow musicians helped Ringo on the album: Michael Bradford, Ann Marie Calhoun, Matt Cartsonis, Steve Dudas, Charlie Haden, Amy Keys, Kelly Moneymaker, Richard Page, Van Dyke Parks, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dave Stewart, Bruce Sugar, Benmont Tench, Joe Walsh , Don Was, and Edgar Winter.You can feel their influence, but, at the same time, Ringo kept true to himself and his own style.
The whole record, which is available online, as a c.d., and on vinyl, clocks in under 30 minutes. I think that makes it the perfect length to listen to on the way to and from work, whenever you need some extra pep in your step or any time you want to quickly deflate a bad mood.
Connect
You can connect with Ringo Starr on his Official Website and his Facebook page
Buy It
You can purchase Ringo 2012 from iTunes for $7.99
