Customer Reviews

Ringo (W/3 Bonus Tracks)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great album. With songwriting and playing contributions from all four ex-Beatles, this is the closest thing to a Beatles reunion we ever got. The quality of it shows. The production quality is excellent; no, it is not George Martin, it is different but still excellent. I don't understand all the reviewers who diss it as being too lightweight. It is not lyrically poignant like Dylan, nor as intense as Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band", nor does it employ a concept like McCartney's "Band on the Run", but that is not the point. It is an enjoyable album with catchy tunes. And there is not a dud in the bunch. I don't think it has to be lyrically deep or musically complex to be good. This is a fun album. If anyone thinks that makes it insignificant, I won't argue that. But I really enjoy it.

I realize nearly everyone else would say "Plastic Ono Band," "Imagine," "All Things Must Pass" or "Band on the Run" are the greatest solo Beatles albums. I disagree and nominate this incredible Ringo record for top honors. How many albums have you bought that had *no* lousy songs on them? This album pulls off that feat.

You want some great songs with incredible arrangements? You want songs you can listen to 500 times a week and never get sick of them? How about the rousing rocker "Have You Seen My Baby?" How about the Starr-Harrison ballad, "Photograph," an enormously under-rated song. Why not listen to Ringo's version of "You're Sixteen" (with Paul on the kazoo!) Or "Oh My My" which was a mega-hit back in '73. Sample "Devil Woman" which contains one of Ringo's best drum solos ever, nearly as good as the one he pulled off on the classic "Abbey Road."

This CD version contains "It Don't Come Easy" which was not on the original LP. This song is the second-best Beatles solo recording, after "Imagine." Admittedly many will laugh at that pick, but the song is brilliant, with an exciting and original arrangement. Ringo never sounded better. This is a *great* album, with wonderful and exuberant singing, an awesome backup band and the closest thing you'll ever get to hearing the Beatles again. On two songs John, George and Ringo perform together - not bad.

I have had this record since I was nine years old and I still listen to it regularly and it always brings a smile to my face. A brilliant album. Buy it and it will be a staple in your collection.

Ringo (1973.) Ringo Starr's third solo album.

When The Beatles split up in early 1970, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon had no trouble reinventing themselves as solo artists. Unfortunately, Ringo Starr didn't have the same kind of luck that his ex-band comrades had. His first album, Sentimental Journey, was a collection of covers of songs from the mid-twentieth century. Fans didn't care much for this album. His second album, Beaucoups Of Blues, was nothing but country songs! It was a step in the right direction, but he still wasn't quite there. They say the third time is the charm, but with Ringo Starr, is that quote accurate? Read on for my review of Ringo.

Finally, Ringo goes back to the genre that made him a living legend - pop rock. And he brings all of his former Beatles comrades along for the ride, as well as Mark Bolan (T. Rex!) The album doesn't waste any time getting off to a good start. John Lennon's composition, I'm The Greatest, kicks things off. Lennon does backing vocals and guitar here, and he does a damn good job of it. Combine this with Ringo's (surprisingly good) singing voice, and you've got a version of this song considerably better than Lennon could ever have accomplished on his own. George Harrison, probably the former Beatle that Ringo got along with best following the band's break-up, wrote a number of songs on here. He and Ringo worked together on Photograph, which became one of Ringo's biggest solo hits. This is melodic pop rock at its very best. Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) is another Harrison composition, which implements elements of eastern-world music (something Harrison became infamous for.) Surprisingly, this works well! And, of course, Paul McCartney couldn't be left out of this project! He wrote Six O'Clock, an excellent melodic pop rocker featuring him and his wife Linda on backing vocals. Because they feature his former Beatles comrades, these tracks are the album's main highlights. But, they are far from being the only good songs on the album! Have You Seen My Baby?, a tune written by Randy Newman, is performed exceptionally well by Ringo. Oh My My is a pop-rocker that fuses pop-rock with country, unlike the songs on Beaucoups Of Blues which were PURE country. This song puts all of the songs on that album to shame! Another classic is the highly underrated Devil Woman. Chances are you've never heard of this song, but take my advice - DO NOT skip it! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Capitol's reissue of the album didn't just remaster and reissue the album - it also added three bonus tracks. One of them is It Don't Come Easy, Ringo Starr's biggest solo hit. It was ONLY released as a single back in the day, and now, at long last, you can get it on one of his albums! You also get the It Don't Come Easy single's B-Side, Early 1970. Both of these tracks are also available on Ringo's first solo hits compilation, Blast From Your Past, but greatest hits albums are for housewives, so it's great that these are finally included on an album! There's one more bonus track to mention - Down And Out. This particular song was the B-Side to the Photograph single, and up until the reissue of this album, was unavailable on compact disc! The album alone without bonus tracks is worthy of five stars, but still, these bonus tracks are an excellent touch!

Many reviewers will call this Ringo Starr's best solo album, and I'm afraid I have no choice but to agree with that. This album is the one that truly established Ringo as a solo artist, and it's worthy in every way of the high reputation fans give it. If you're a Ringo Starr fan, die-hard or casual, this is a MUST OWN. I actually recommend buying this album more than I do his hits compilation, Blast From Your Past, because seven of the ten songs from it are on here. Whoever you are, don't be caught without this album!

This is without question Ringo's greatest album. Ringo (Richard Starkey) always labored in relative obscurity behind his drum kit as a Beatle, but really it took the breakup of rock's biggest band to let Ringo shine. Shine he does on this album, first released in November, 1973. After the acrimonious breakup of the Beatles, this album was a bit cathartic for all of the post-Fab Four. Many, if not most, Beatle historians point to Ringo's moderating influence in keeping the group together as long as it was (post 1968 or so), and that is really borne out if you watch "Let It Be" with a critical eye. The point here isn't to lionize Ringo, but to simply point out that given the bitterness present in the breakup of the Beatles, only Ringo could get all four Beatles onto one piece of vinyl, if at different times, of course. That's the simple reason I consider this album to be the closest thing to a real Beatles reunion since 1970.

The album, Ringo's third solo effort, was a huge hit, and the single "Photograph" was the biggest solo Beatle hit (Number one in the US and Europe) up to that time (recall that George was fairly quiet at the time and John and Paul were still bickering, sometimes musically, i.e. "How Do You Sleep?" from John and "Too Many People" from Paul). All three of the other Beatles perform here, and the album is replete with Beatles musicianship, vocals, writing and aura, most notably George's sublime 12 string guitar work on "Photograph" (George also provides some of the writing and backup vocals for the track.) While "Photograph" is the best song Ringo has ever recorded (or will ever record), there are many other standout tracks on the album including "Have You Seen My Baby", "You're Sixteen", "Devil Woman" and "You and Me (Babe)", which was the original closing track for the album in which Ringo thanks a bevy of people, including John, Paul, and George. Also appearing on the album is a cavalcade of 1970s stars, including Harry Nilsson, The Band, Marc Bolan, and Klaus Voorman.

For the CD three bonus tracks were added after "You and Me (Babe)," the hit single "It Don't Come Easy," "Early 1970," and "Down and Out." The CD has excellent sound quality (particularly noticeable during "Photograph") and excellent liner notes. This is one of the most important albums of the era, and any Beatles fan should own it, as well as anyone else who loves truly great music from the 1970s. No question: Five Stars!

Since I was online I thought I'd give a review of this remake.

I have the original LP and that was just great. A remastered version of it with 3 bonus tracks just adds the icing on a well-made cake.

My fav Beatles singer has always been Ringo, so I rushed to buy this one. I have to chip him on one account. Why, Ringo, don't you write your own songs? My favourite song on here is Step Lightly [my favourite song on Abbey Road is Octopus's Garden]. I also loved Six O'clock, a great piece of folk meets psychedelia, Photograph which is George Harrison and Ringo mourning the break-up of the Beatles, his cover of Your sixteen is also a stand-out. But why is he writing so many songs with Vini Poncia? Devil Woman which really showcases some good blues riffs and some good drumming, which is what we want to hear from Ringo! [Well it's what I want to hear. And Oh my my is great, catchy pop but no matter how good those two songs are they are my vote for the worst two songs on the album. You and me is a toungue in cheek look at having to play 2nd fiddle in the Beatles later years 'but the pleasure was really mine, singing and drinking wine' co-written by George Harrison and M.Evans. Harrison also contributes Sunshine Life for me which is alright and I'm the greatest, a Lennon song, is also great. His cover of the Randy Newman song is a lot of fun.

Top production job by Richard Perry makes this Ringo's most cohesive solo effort. Having contemporary rock legends on hand like bandmate George Harrisong, Harry Nilsson, Billy Preston, Badfinger and so many many more support Ringo. He in turn, finds so many ways to shine on this very very likeable outing.

How can anyone analyse any post Beatle album free of prejudice of the remarkable content of their group effort? Ringo Starr was an equal cornerstone of the beatles success;as important as John, Paul or George (all of which I love) but the constant reference I read in reviews to Ringo's reliance on others to make or break his albums is nonsense. Do think the Beatles did not rely on the input of others to create their magic? Of course they did.Ringo's music should be judged on it's own merit (as should any music). Ringo was a remarkable drummer and a integral part of the magic that was the Beatles. His post Beatle records are not all masterpieces but give the guy a break (have you heard Two Virgins by John Lennon?)The songs on 'Ringo' bring me the same joy and good feeling that any Beatle record ever brought me. That's the buzz for me. If that is not an indication of artistic success and viability then I guess my thirty years plus of following rock music have taught me nothing. Buy this CD. Play it for your kids and and give them some hint of how beautiful and innocent it really was.

Ringo (1973.) Ringo Starr's third solo album.

When The Beatles split up in early 1970, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon had no trouble reinventing themselves as solo artists. Unfortunately, Ringo Starr didn't have the same kind of luck that his ex-band comrades had. His first album, Sentimental Journey, was a collection of covers of songs from the mid-twentieth century. Fans didn't care much for this album. His second album, Beaucoups Of Blues, was nothing but country songs! It was a step in the right direction, but he still wasn't quite there. They say the third time is the charm, but with Ringo Starr, is that quote accurate? Read on for my review of Ringo.

Finally, Ringo goes back to the genre that made him a living legend - pop rock. And he brings all of his former Beatles comrades along for the ride, as well as Mark Bolan (T. Rex!) The album doesn't waste any time getting off to a good start. John Lennon's composition, I'm The Greatest, kicks things off. Lennon does backing vocals and guitar here, and he does a damn good job of it. Combine this with Ringo's (surprisingly good) singing voice, and you've got a version of this song considerably better than Lennon could ever have accomplished on his own. George Harrison, probably the former Beatle that Ringo got along with best following the band's break-up, wrote a number of songs on here. He and Ringo worked together on Photograph, which became one of Ringo's biggest solo hits. This is melodic pop rock at its very best. Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) is another Harrison composition, which implements elements of eastern-world music (something Harrison became infamous for.) Surprisingly, this works well! And, of course, Paul McCartney couldn't be left out of this project! He wrote Six O'Clock, an excellent melodic pop rocker featuring him and his wife Linda on backing vocals. Because they feature his former Beatles comrades, these tracks are the album's main highlights. But, they are far from being the only good songs on the album! Have You Seen My Baby?, a tune written by Randy Newman, is performed exceptionally well by Ringo. Oh My My is a pop-rocker that fuses pop-rock with country, unlike the songs on Beaucoups Of Blues which were PURE country. This song puts all of the songs on that album to shame! Another classic is the highly underrated Devil Woman. Chances are you've never heard of this song, but take my advice - DO NOT skip it! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Capitol's reissue of the album didn't just remaster and reissue the album - it also added three bonus tracks. One of them is It Don't Come Easy, Ringo Starr's biggest solo hit. It was ONLY released as a single back in the day, and now, at long last, you can get it on one of his albums! You also get the It Don't Come Easy single's B-Side, Early 1970. Both of these tracks are also available on Ringo's first solo hits compilation, Blast From Your Past, but greatest hits albums are for housewives, so it's great that these are finally included on an album! There's one more bonus track to mention - Down And Out. This particular song was the B-Side to the Photograph single, and up until the reissue of this album, was unavailable on compact disc! The album alone without bonus tracks is worthy of five stars, but still, these bonus tracks are an excellent touch!

Many reviewers will call this Ringo Starr's best solo album, and I'm afraid I have no choice but to agree with that. This album is the one that truly established Ringo as a solo artist, and it's worthy in every way of the high reputation fans give it. If you're a Ringo Starr fan, die-hard or casual, this is a MUST OWN. I actually recommend buying this album more than I do his hits compilation, Blast From Your Past, because seven of the ten songs from it are on here. Whoever you are, don't be caught without this album!

Ok, ok, maybe not THE most, but certainly up there. We've all heard criticisms of Ringo throughout the years. He's not a great singer, not a great songwriter, not a technically good drummer...blah, blah, blah. This album should have shut people up however. Ringo may not have had the high profile that "Band on the Run" or "Imagine" did, but the music here is ever bit as good as anything on those other two albums. Ringo is my least favorite Beatle and yet this album shines. All four fabs play on this record too. Granted, they dont actually all play on the same tracks but still. "Photograph", a track on loan from George remains one of rock great classics. I dont know if "Sunshine Life" or "Early 1970" ever received any radio play ( I doubt it), but both songs rank among the best work a Beatle ever produced post 1970. Lennon contributes a funny little number called "I'm the Greatest" which just stings of self-parody and Sir Paul's "Six O'Clock" is as melodic as "Every Night" or "Waterfalls" or any of his solo tunes. All in all, it remains a mystery to me how ANY Beatles fan could dismiss this album! Spend your $15 here. You wont regret it!