Ringo Starr: Photograph - The Very Best of Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr: Photograph - The Very Best of Ringo Starr
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Monday, 27, Aug 2007 08:26
EMI, out now
In a nutshell.
A plodding, affectionate, autobiographical curiosity.
What's it all about?
The Beatles split was liberating for most of the Fab Four. John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison went on to produce excellent solo albums, but poor old Ringo was left a bit stuck. The drummer had come up with Octopus' Garden and droned on Yellow Submarine, but that was about it. What was he to do?
Starr occupied his time appearing in films such as The Magic Christian, engaging in dubious substances and pursuing a solo career. As a former Beatle he was guaranteed at least a modicum of success and initially outstripped his ex-bandmates with a string of unexpected hits, including two US number ones. But continuing efforts - while well-meaning - were generally ignored by the general public.
As an example.
I play guitar, A - D - E / I don't play bass 'cos that's too hard for me - Early 1970
I was in the greatest show on earth / For what it was worth / Now I'm only 32 / And all I wanna do / Is boogaloo - I'm The Greatest
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Most probably, not. Starr was always going to be unable to match his feats with the Beatles. His post-60s contributions to pop history are a mere postscript, but this album has drawn some attention to his role within the Beatles as peacemaker. His popularity meant they helped his solo career out enormously after the split.
What the others say
"By 1974 single (It's All Down To) Goodnight Vienna his Monte Carlo-via-Colombia lifestyle had brought him to a point where even zero star reviews were an act of kindness" - Uncut magazine
So is it any good?
The simple truth is that Starr without the rest of the Fab Four is absolutely no good at all. His musical compositions are painfully childish and his singing occasionally lapses into dull monochrome. Even the songs written for him by John Lennon and George Harrison are awkward and add very little to the ex-Beatle back-catalogue.
As if anticipating this problem, the producers of this CD have included a DVD featuring six music videos for Starr's biggest hits. This proves to be something of a master stroke, for they remind everyone why they're bothering. It's the same reason that Lennon, Harrison et al helped their old pal along: Ringo's a likeable lad. His deadpan, bored-looking moodiness, interspersed with flashes of a warm, friendly smile, somehow make the songs seem better than they are.
Starr knows all this, but presents this collection to the listener warts and all. In liner notes for one of his two US number ones, he openly admits: "George was trying to teach me other chords besides E. So George taught me C, which was so damn hard. That's how the song started." Clearly, we are not dealing with a musical genius here.
But that's not the point, is it? The collection's value is more autobiographical than musical, as his occasional post-Beatles forays into music punctuate chapters of his life. Early 1970 is Starr getting "stuff" about the Beatles split off his chest. Weight of the World, a 1993 track, signifies his return to normal life "out of the fog" after several years in the wilderness. And Never Without You is his expression of love for Harrison after the latter's death.
So following this story is the most appealing aspect to the listener, who would otherwise rightly sneer at the songs' unimpressive mediocrity. You couldn't possibly respond to Starr's work in this way, though. He's far too likeable for that.
5/10
Alex Stevenson