Music review: Ringo Starr 鈥� 鈥榃hat鈥檚 My Name鈥�
Where has the time gone? It鈥檚 hard to believe that Ringo Starr has been a solo act for 49 years.
I clearly remember listening to Starr鈥檚 second solo offering on my older brother鈥檚 turntable when I was just six years old. Recorded in Nashville with country artists like Charlie Daniels and Jerry Reed, 1970鈥檚 鈥淏eaucoups of Blues鈥� remains my favorite of Starr鈥檚 solo projects.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 My Name鈥� is yet another new collection of charming arrangements with a common appeal of peace and love from the easygoing Beatle that we have come to know and admire ever since the Beatles invaded America in 1964.
The 20th album from the 79-year-old contains the reflective and sentimental mood of past offerings with a little help from friends like Joe Walsh, Steve Lukather, Dave Stewart, Edgar Winter and Benmont Tench.
Recorded at Starr鈥檚 home studio in California, the signature moment of the album comes when Paul McCartney joins his former bandmate for a cover of John Lennon鈥檚 鈥淕row Old with Me.鈥� Lennon鈥檚 touching lyrics and simplistic message are suited perfectly for Starr鈥檚 innocent and heartfelt vocals. As an added surprise, the accompanying string arrangement features a line from George Harrison鈥檚 鈥淗ere Comes the Sun,鈥� infusing a little something from each of the four lads from Liverpool.
鈥淔rom Paul to John/To playing in German bars/From mono to stereo/Hitting number one/And having all the fun,鈥� sings Starr on the title track penned by Colin Hay of Men at Work. The endearing number detailing Starr鈥檚 sentimental musical journey features Hay and Lukather on guitars.
鈥淕otta Get Up to Get Down鈥� is the funky album opener written by Starr and Walsh that showcases Walsh sharing the vocal duties. This infectious anthem also includes Winter on clavinet, synthesizer and vocals.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Not Love That You Want鈥� with Stewart, the rousing 鈥淏etter Days鈥� and an updated cover of 鈥淢oney鈥� serve as other notable set tracks.
In addition to creating new music, Starr remains busy with a new book release. 鈥淎nother Day in the Life鈥� shares photos and observations about his love of music, travel and nature.
It鈥檚 refreshing to see Starr still sending love and spreading peace after all these years as his fans continue to enjoy the adventure of growing old together.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.