Ringo Starr Releases Liverpool 8
Ex-Beatles Drummer's New Rock CD on USB Wristband Delights Fans
Ringo Starr fans will be delighted with his 2008 release, Liverpool 8, a collection of nostalgic rock songs co-written by the ex-Beatle and produced by Dave Stewart.
Ringo Starr follows up his 2005 studio album Choose Love with an autobiographical rock and roll album called Liverpool 8. Starr co-wrote, sang and performed drums on each song, but the most intriguing thing about the album is not the music, it's the ex-Beatle himself.
The Music of Liverpool 8
In a recent interview on the CBS Early Show, Ringo Starr described this album as being about "a man's life" -- his life, to be specific. He started out as a sailor, as the title track documents: I was a sailor first...
Is the music life-changing? Phenomenal? Admittedly, no. The melodies and lyrics are simple, lacking symbolism and dramatic depth. The title track swoons in Beatles-esque nostalgia, however, it may have the potential to eventually unseat "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" as the Liverpudlian theme song.
But the production of the song, and indeed of the entire album, is smooth and unobtrusive, and the tunes simple and heartfelt -- the kind of anthemic swill pubsters howl together at closing time before stumbling out into the streets and on home. It seems like co-producers Mark Hudson and Dave Stewart simply put together a tight band (with veteran musicians Steve Dudas, Gary Burr and Sean Hurley, among others) and hit "record".
The album is rock and roll through and through, with tribute paid to classic rockers along the way. On "Now That She's Gone Away", for example, Starr's vocals channel Jim Morrison. While on "For Love", the backing vocals in the chorus emulate Jeff Lynne's dense vocal arrangements that made ELO famous.
Much of the songs' lyrical content deals with growing older and accepting what life has to offer now that the days of youth are gone. This theme runs through the album, as in "Gone Are the Days:" Gone are the days...Sometimes you lose yourself...
Ringo Starr, Post-Beatle Survivor
Ringo gets a lot of questions about his time with the Beatles -- understandably so, as the Beatles remain one of the most talked about bands in the history of rock and roll -- and the way he deals with such questions reveals his character. When interviewed on the CBS Early Show, Starr said that many people ask him if the Beatles will get back together again soon. With 2 members passed away, what can Starr say? He just good-naturedly responds, "Well it's kind of hard right now..."
People may find it easy to underestimate the Beatle who took the brunt of most Beatles jokes; who apparently had his drum parts overdubbed by others; and who was definitively not a virtuoso on drums (but to be fair, none of the Beatles were virtuosos on their instruments).
Still, Starr has maintained a successful musical career for over 40 years, and despite the incomprehensible amount of fame he experienced in earlier years, Starr seems to have his feet on the ground. Referring to his days as a Beatle and getting through life now, he says, "You have to sort of get into this day, you know what I mean? I'm trying to get into this day now."
While the songs on Liverpool 8 are not mind-blowing, die-hard Starr fans will find much to love, and new fans may also find their way into it eventually. The album is available everywhere via digital download, as a CD, and on USB wristband.
Classic rock music lovers may also enjoy reading Grammy Winner Train Alive at Last and Top Classic Rock Hit Love Songs.
Source
Ringo interviewed on the CBS Early Show January 11, 2008.
