Ringo Starr: The Funny Beatle that Could

By Darren DeVivo

Can you believe the oldest Beatle will be turning 65? A Beatle is eligible for Social Security in the United States! Where have the years gone? On July 7, Richard Starkey will turn 65. Despite this, the last member of the Beatles to join the group is as active as ever. He’s just released a new album called Choose Love (his 14th solo studio album), published a book (Postcards From The Boys), and exhibited his computer art here in New York City. Plus he’s going to be made in to an animated superhero next year. With the “funny Beatle” so visible these days, a look at his musical accomplishments is in order.

Ringo’s new album, Choose Love, is a winner. It’s another collaboration with his band the Roundheads, featuring co-producer, guitarist and songwriter Mark Hudson. Choose Love continues on the path of catchy, Beatle-ish pop that Ringo has been on since his 1992 “comeback” album, Time Takes Time.  A jam-packed audience at Irving Plaza got to hear the new songs when Ringo and the Roundheads played a rare club gig in New York recently, which also featured many Beatles favorites.

We all know that Ringo was part of the band that changed the history of music forever. After the Beatles parted company, all four of them went on to enjoy successful solo careers with a great deal of commercial and critical acclaim. It might be easy to dismiss Ringo’s solo career, but from 1971 through 1976, he was at least as successful as any of his former bandmates. Starting with his second single, 1971’s “It Don’t Come Easy,” Ringo had little problem scoring hit songs. He had seven consecutive Top 10 singles, including two consecutive number ones, and nine consecutive Top 40 hits - a run that even surpassed the accomplishments of the other three during that time. His third solo album, 1973’s Ringo, is considered to be one of the best solo albums from any of the four.

One could say that Ringo Starr was the Beatle who had the most to prove. Who expected Ringo to succeed on his own? And instead of playing it safe and increasing his hit potential, Ringo’s first post-Beatle project in 1970 was a tribute to the music he grew up listening to: Sentimental Journey, a trip back to the songs of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. With a little help from arrangers like Quincy Jones, Beatles producer George Martin, Chico O’Farrill, Elmer Bernstein, Oliver Nelson, Paul McCartney and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees, Ringo delivered songs like “Night And Day”, “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Stardust”. People thought Ringo was out of his head, but look at the current trend of standards albums -- he was a trendsetter, beating Rod Stewart by 32 years!

When it came time to follow such an odd solo debut, Ringo played it safe, right? Nope. He defied his skeptics by releasing a full-fledged country album five months later, Beaucoups of Blues, recorded in Nashville. Finally, after this unorthodox beginning, Ringo set out toward the pop rock of “It Don’t Come Easy” and his stretch of commercial hits. You could say he beat the odds that were against him.

Since Ringo rejuvenated his solo career with the first of his many All Starr Band tours in 1989, he’s been on an artistic run of fine albums: 1992’s Time Takes Time; 1998’s Vertical Man and its live companion VH1 Storytellers; 1999’s I Wanna Be Santa Claus; 2003’s Ringo Rama; and his newest, Choose Love.

We haven’t even discussed Ringo the drummer, but you shouldn’t need me to convince you of Ringo’s percussive prowess. Just listen to the music: they weren’t called the Beatles for nothing.