Ringo the 4th [Us Import]

Ringo's albums of from least the 1970s have a special charm, especially in the late 70s when they were so profoundly untrendy. Not likely to ingratiate oneself with the In Crowd was the sentence: 'Have you heard the latest Ringo album, it's great.'

When most kids were listening to Stiff Little Fingers or The Buzzcocks, yours truly was discovering Ringo Starr albums. Don't Laugh. And I am happy to say that I return to this album quite often. For although it may not be Ringo's best album, it certainly has its moments. Even Ringo dismissed his work after 'Goodnight Vienna' as going downhill and the declining work of a disinterested alcoholic, but he is being pretty unfair. All three albums from this period: this one, the previous one 'Rotogravure' (1976) and the next one 'Bad Boy' (1978) all have several fine moments. Maybe not up there with the best two which are 'Beaucoups Of Blues' (1970) and 'Ringo' (1973), the sublime set of which very nearly, very nearly saw a Beatles reunion. No less.

This album has no other Ex Beatles contributing which is a little disappointing but there are references to his three brothers, most noteably on 'Out On The Streets' which has him meeting up with the Lennons at the Dakota. Or else out on the streets nearby. And one track is even called 'Wings'!

But enough of Beatles connections, to the songs. The opener 'Drowning In The Sea Of Love' is an OK disco number but better was to come. The second number 'Tango All Night' is quite poppy but basically unmemorable. The said track 'Wings' is pretty decent but the first great song is the very moving ballad 'Gave It All Up'. In which Ringo tells a moving story of giving up various things in his life as he moved through the rollercoaster life that it was. Most so when he talks of his now ex wife 'giving it all up....for Love'. The line 'one night she needed me and I wasn't there' is perhaps the best line Ringo ever wrote.

Who said only Lennon of the Beatles could be open hearted and emotional? And the tune is decent too.

It is true that a few tracks are rather ordinary. 'Sneaking With Sally Through The Alley' was a bad choice for Ringo to cover and 'Out On The Streets' is pretty forgettable as a song, despite the afore mentioned Lennon reference.

Side 2 (vinyl record) opens with 'Can She Do It Like She Dances' which is a perfect song for Ringo and he delivers the goods, however drunk he was at the time. The lyrics are highly amusing and Ringoish. Not a word you'll find in The New Oxford Dictionary.

The editor must have missed it.

There are some fine ballads too on Side 2, in particular 'Gypsies In Flight' and 'It's No Secret' which are both charming in the best Ringo style.

The album ends in fine style with 'Simple Love Song'. Which is just that but with that infectious Ringo melody and cheerfulness we all know and love.

No this isn't a bad album by any means. I even find myself listening to it as often as several albums from the others. And this is supposed to be about the low point of Ringo's career. Who, again supposedly, was just the dum drummer. As Paul McCartney said in 1971, 'Some People Never Know'.