Customer Reviews

Ringorama

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This CD finds Ringo in fine form. The single "Never Without You", a tribute to George Harrison, is great. Take a strong song about a magical guy, add in inspired lead guitar work by Eric Clapton and you've got a really great track.
Overall, Ringo's vocals here are his best since "Ringo". The songwriting is solid (the songs are co-written by Ringo and his studio co-horts, The Roundheads - which includes his co-producer Mark Hudson), the production is current without being trendy.

"Missouri Loves Company" is another great one. Very hooky, and Dave Gilmour's guitar lines are outstanding! "Instant Amnesia" is way cool and rocks!

The DVD, which shows the "making of", is awesome! Especially for musicians and home recordists, since the majority of the album was recorded in Mark Hudson's and Ringo's home studios. There was no additional cost for the DVD -- a great value! (no wonder it's not on a major label)

Hopefully this album will get some exposure on rock radio!

So, you pop this disc into the player and you hear Ringo say "and here we go." Then it launches into a hard rock song that sounds like it could have been written by the Stone Temple Pilots. The song is distorted and catchty and awesome. Not what you would expect from an ex beatle. And from there the album doesn't quit.

Instant Amnesia is a great rollicking rocker.

Then the George Harrison tribute Never Without You, which is heartflelt, sentimental and very touching.

Write one for me is a great song with Willie Nelson.

Elizabeth Reigns is, in my opinion, the best beatlesish song to come on a solo cd. It has shades of Being For The Benefit Of Mister Kite and a Maxwell's Silver Hammer feel as well. A fantastic song that doesn't disappoint no matter how many times I hear it.

The cd wraps up with a short song, English Garden that is nothing but enjoyable fluff.

The whole cd is awesome, an unexpected find that you can listen to over and over again.

As is usual with Ringo's music, it really rocks. He's kept to his roots and continually puts out great music. While the disc jockeys may constantly play their usual crap by the non-talented, we still have great music coming from one of the proven greats whose been active for over 40 years. Let's see if the lip sync talents are still around in a couple of years!

Ringo's back with one of his best works ever. A few years ago he returned with "Vertical Man" and before that the super underrated "Time Takes Time". Add this record and "Ringo" his self titled 1973 release and you have the best of a truly great artist. The stuff inbetween is very lackluster. Somehow the older he gets the better he gets. Great contributions from other artists (David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton etc.) and songwriting better than ever. "Never Without You" is a lovely tribut to the late great George Harrison that I'm sure is making him smile wherever he has gone. "Elizabeth Reigns" is so Beatlesque it hurts.A really solid album with really solid songs. Check it out. Oh, the extras here....ah. Worth the extra few dollars anyway...

I just bought the limited edition of Ringo Rama and I really feel its one of his best albums. It's full of energy, joy and great rock music. Many people think Ringo is just a lucky drumer, but it seems that monsters like David Gilmour and Eric Clapton think he's a good artist (they're not Pavarotti... the would refuse to play with an untalent person).
The DVD and the interview disc are OK.
Some fans above wrote about a nasty habit issuing this limited edition just after a while the album was released, but think a bit: who on earth would issue a luxe edition not knowing if it the album will sell well? Me, as a fan, feel very happy just because the album was so demanded tha it was necessary to output a second (luxe) edition.

First, I love The Beatles. Pretty much base my life on their music. I love Ringo. I have not heard or even seen this CD but... I am getting a little sick of people ripping off their fans. OK, so Paul wants us all to be vegatarians, when I can't afford the outragous prices at health food stores (he can, he's a billionaire. George (I love him always) sold a book for over $400.00. I don't know if Ringo even knows about this CD but man... I just can't afford all this stuff coming out. I'd love to have the bonus songs and the interviews but it ain't gonna happen. 1... because my wallet won't allow it and 2 I'm at the end of my rope for the "remastered", "deluxe", "bonus tracks", "SACD" Reissued releases. Just give me the album. Half the time the reissues sound worse than the original anyway. (I.E. John Lennon's reissue, remixed CD's are aweful) As long as people keep buying this stuff they'll keep putting it out. I love The Beatles and will buy anything new including things like "Let it be... naked" (which I did think was a bit of a rip off, actually) but when they start releasing CD's of CD's that have been released already I have to stop. I just hope that Paul and Ringo haven't lost touch with the reality that people have to work for an hourly wage to buy their beautiful music.

Along with RINGO,VERTICAL MAN, and TIME TAKES TIME, this CD proves once again Ringo CAN rock with the best of them. NEVER WITHOUT YOU is the sweetest tribute song anyone could have done for George, and the rest of the songs are fantastic. MISSOURI LOVES COMPANY, ELIZABETH REIGNS, IMAGINE ME THERE, EYE TO EYE, etc., are tremendous. Plus, the accompanying DVD is a funny and interesting look into the making of this CD. If you want to complete your Ringo collection, GET THIS CD! You won't regret it.

Ringo Rama Deluxe Edition is an astonishing CD...but its first version, Ringo Rama, was only released a few months before this, minus two discs. I suspect once they discovered they had a highly marketable CD, they gathered up three more songs, an informative radio interview CD (discussing and playing cuts from the CD) and the DVD of the "Making of Ringo Rama" (also a special short version of "Never Without You", and it's filming).
All this is well and good, but those of us who bought the original Ringo Rama feel a bit suckered by this rather tactless marketing move. That being said, this deluxe version is a landmark album for Ringo! What a joy to listen to. Surprisingly reminiscent of past Beatle albums material. Even some background vocals sound nearly identical to Beatles era harmonies. Great stuff! Beatle fans will love this album. Nostalgic? Of course, and with this quality....who can complain about that!
Co-producer Mark Hudson outdoes himself on this project! Ringo's vocals and drumming are top form, as well. Guest appearances by Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Willy Nelson and others only add to the specialness of this CD. This is, frankly, about as close as we're likely to ever get to Beatle's quality music. They weren't one of music histories top acts for nothing.
Don't pass up this CD! You're bound to fall under its spell. Tongue-in-cheek humor abounds, as well. No heavy, down-in-the-dumps lyrics or melodies here. Peace and Love, as Ringo sez. The DVD is a hilarious romp showing the making of the CD, featuring Ringo and his band (the Roundheads) and special guests.
If Ringo could make more CD's of this quality...any future money woes would be highly unlikely on his part. Quality sells! Ringo and Mark...if you're reading this...no more sucker games on your fans, please! We love you, but next time, don't make your fans pay for your "upgrades". We'll forgive ya just this once....

I don't particularly like Ringo's voice. His drumming, although fully competent, does not really impresse me that much. His songwriting has been laughable to mediocre in the past: the curiosities, usually providing hardly needed relief from excellent pop songs written by other Beatles.

However he is a great guy to hang out with, as is evidenced by his excellent All Starr Band compilation from a few years back. He helped the Beatles stay together, and he can get some famous friends to join him on stage and play classic rock songs.

No, this is not a masterpiece like Forever changes / Pet sounds / White album or, more recently, OK computer / Yankee Hotel Foxtrot / Sound of lies. It's however a very well crafted collection of songs, well played, a joy to hear.

He has assembled a good party band for the nostalgically-inclined, he has a co-writing credit in all the songs and does not sound exhausted in the least. From a songwriting standpoint this is better than Driving Rain, and as far as the number of different moods on one cd are concerned, it's more varied than Brainwashed.

Try this!

I just wanted to balance some so-so reviews. If you have followed Ringo's solo career and have enjoyed it, you will love this album. It's a damn good listen and the fun of it all comes through loud and clear. If you don't get the cheeky little guy, and are way too serious, then you are missing something.