Beaucoups Of Blues [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

It is not Pavarottiesque singing. We know that. That never stopped Dylan. It is not prolific songwriting. His best songs were probably more than a little helped by George Harrison (Photograph, Octupus's Garden, It Don't Come Easy'). But people like me don't enjoy Ringo's music because they are expecting 'Hey Jude' level songwriting. We enyoy it for the spirit which is in most of Ringo's music. It's normally upbeat, optimistic and strangely uplifting. Even when Ringo sings of a triple murder as he does on 'Love Don't Last Long' on this album, his delivery is touching and charming to the point where we end up singing along with those morbid lyrics. Whereas if Leonard Cohen had sung it we'd be half way out of the window within seconds probably. Let me put it in as simple language as I can. When a Beatles fan is depressed he does NOT reach for Lennon's first solo album 'Plastic Ono Band', least of all the track 'Working Class Hero', he does NOT reach for George's Material World with its preachy religious lyrics (music is brilliant of course but that's another review!). The toss up is probably between Paul and Ringo and I would say Ringo would win in my home on about 50% of occasions. If not more. Because as I said earlier Ringo's records generally generate warmth, good humour and a wonderful sort of confidence of someone who knows he's not the world's greatest singer but has this unique ability to bring a smile to your face! All the other Beatles recognised this quality in Ringo and it is no coincidence in my opinion that it was Ringo who stayed on the best terms with the other three during the tumultous post split years of the 1970s. And this is not to mention of course his amazing and again unique drumming on those Beatle records.

But this album, at least, is not about Ringo's drumming. He doesn't even play drums on this album I don't think, he was just invited by Pete Drake, the famous country slide guitarist to Nashville for a few days. All Ringo had to do was turn up and sing. The record took two days. And, it must be said, the subject matter here on these country songs given to Ringo for this album is rarely uplifting. There are songs about murder, war, prostitutes, drinking, lost love and lost money. Almost a parody of The Definition Of Depression, the lyrics here. But in Ringo's hands these songs become uplifting somehow, in part helped by the great tunes in many cases, but I think more helped by Ringo's soulful (Yes, Soulful) country singing. His delivery is entirely natural, free of any ego or pretense and it is without doubt that these simple yet brilliant country tunes fit Ringo's voice like a glove. Or should that be the other way round?

You are unlikely to find more than one track (the title track) on any Ringo compilation. But that is because, as with many solo albums from the early 1970s, the songs on any one album belong with eachother. For example Lennon's first and Paul's first three. And that is precisely because the Ex Beatles were searching for a new identity and at the same time dealing with the traumatic loss of their day job. Had they stayed together it is unlikely they would have been as experimental or willing to try new things. Unlikely I say, though not impossible. Who knows?

So here, we have an album which is 100% Ringo and although this may offend the purists out there, this was a natural progression and one that benefited the Beatles fan as they suddenly had four times more music to absorb. Four times! Even if some of their '70s solo albums are a little rough around the edges, this was a serious plus which all those tedious critics should not treat too lightly. If I was invited to appear on that great UK quiz show 'Mastermind' I would most likely choose The Solo Career Of Ringo Starr as my specialist subject. And be totally proud of my choice. And score 17 points. This album is among Ringo's finest...and ranks alongside those other great Beatles solo albums of the early 1970s. I can't say fairer than that.