Customer Reviews

Beaucoups of Blues

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I understand that some people may have certain predjudgements against Ringo Starr's solo carrer, and against this particular album. But this was my first Ringo CD purchase, and I wasn't dissapointed. I was waiting for the boring disaster some reviewers predicted, but instead, I found a country album (you can't review it like a pop album) extremely well-prepared, with some of the finest Ringo's vocal performances I've ever heard, and lyrics that can surprise you when you read them. Chuck Howard and Sorrells Pickard (two major country composers), wrote the majority of songs on this album, and their stories have always something to comment, or some phrases to rescue, hence the title of this review (from "Woman Of The Night").

You can never expect the genial lyrics of John Lennon, the perfectionist musical taste of Paul McCartney or even the solemnity and irony of George Harrison from a person like Ringo Starr, a man who always was in the shadows of the best band in the history of popular music. But you can enjoy, with tolerance and well-prepared ears, an effort like this. This not-pop-but-country experiment was prepared for Ringo by producer Pete Drake, recorded mainly in Nashville by other instrumentists, with Ringo only expected to go, pick up the songs he liked, and add the vocals and some drums and acoustic guitar parts. But the composers and musicians picked up by Drake make a wonderful job: the title track "Beacoups Of Blues" has lovely and sad lyrics, and there are some interesting stories behind "Love Don't Last Long", "Woman Of The Night" and "Loser's Lounge". Of course, there is some straight country music that can bore some people ("Fastest Growing Heartache In The West", "Wine, Women And Loud Happy Songs", "I'd Be Talking All The Time"), but there are also extraordinary love ballads ("Without Her" can easily make you cry, "Waiting" is lovely; and although the vocal duet "I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way" is a little dullish, it's also listenable) and some unusually good songs, with sparkling geniality and humour (enjoy the rhythm and story behind "$15 Draw"!) or social content (the haunting "Silent Homecoming", apart from fitting perfectly with Ringo's voice and featuring some lovely instrumental tricks and backing vocals by The Jordanaries, the well-known group of Elvis' vocalists, is a very emotional anti-war song, this time from the eyes of a mother who has lost her child). The bouns tracks are also worth noting: Ringo's first solo-released composition "Coochy Coochy" has an interesting rhythm built around one chord!, and "Nashville Jam" is a long instrumental with great quality. It shows Ringo really enjoyed this album. Some said "Nashville Jam" is well worth the price of the CD for itself.

Without defending Ringo too much, I don't think this album is a bad purchase. It can bring you minutes of joyful songs and others full of thoughtful memories or remorseful wine-driven love laments, but you can really enjoy the listening. Sure, The Beatles were more much of this, and even Ringo himself did better songs and albums, but "it's worth the rain to have a little sunshine" and this CD is not one to reject. You may like it or not, but you have to recognize that there are some quality songs and production inside it.

Buy it if you're a fan. If you're not, know and love The Beatles first. Then you'll love Ringo, just like everyone else does.

Ringo's second album was a country album. Unlike every other country album recorded by a rock star, this album doesn't feature any cover versions of classic country songs. Instead, a batch of original songs were written for Ringo by some top country songwriters. Ringo traveled to Nashville and recorded the album with top Nashville session musicians. The album ended up sounding pretty much like a typical country album from 1970. Except sung by Ringo Starr. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a decent enough album, if you are into this sort of thing. The CD features two bonus tracks. "Coochy Coochy" was the b-side of "Beaucoups of Blues". I guess it was left off the album because it's not really a country song. "Nashville Jam" is a jam session, obviously. This album isn't for everybody, but if you are a Beatles fan that also enjoys country music, you will probably like it.

I don't know what there is to complain about - this CD is great! I admit I didn't buy it with great expectations, but I really liked the tune "Beaucoups of Blues" on Ringo's "best of" CD, so I thought it might be worth a listen. I'm glad I gave it a chance! The songs are mostly wonderful, and it's all done with good humor and class - even if it does lean toward the campier end of country music. Which is OK, because that's definietly in the country tradition. It's obviously not a deep, meaningful, searching album like a lot of the early Beatle solo albums are (which, let's face it, it can't help but be compared to), but it IS an enjoyable listen. And there's nothing wrong with it being "just" a fun CD. Buy it!

_Sentimental Journey_ has the novelty value. _Ringo_ has the distinction of being Ringo's first true pop album. In between there's _Beaucoups of Blues_, probably the most forgotten Ringo Starr album and, strangely enough, the first one I ever owned. Most of the reviews I've read about this album are on the negative side. It's really not that bad if you listen to it with an open mind.

In this reviewer's opinion, this album is far superior to Dylan's overrated country album, _Nashville Skyline_, which has seen a considerable about of revisionist raving in the past few years.

True, if you don't like country, you probably won't like this. Lest we forget, though, Ringo was always the most country-oriented Beatle. "Act Naturally", "Honey Don't", "Don't Pass Me By" and "What Goes On" all showed that the Beatles were capable of infusing a country influence into their sound. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Ringo should follow up his first album with an album of straighforward country songs.

While not particularly memorable, these tracks are pleasant to listen to. The title track, "$15 Draw", and "Silent Homecoming" would not have been out of place on any mid-60's Beatles recording. Overall, this is a highly underrated album that deserves another chance.

This is my favorite Ringo album. I've always liked his country tinged Beatle songs such as Don't Pass Me By, Act Naturally, and What Goes On. His mellow voice and heart on his sleeve demeanor are well suited for sad country songs of heart-breaking women, and this album is well done with good songs and lyrics, and musicianship. In my opinion this album is a nice addition to the Beatle catalog and makes for a nice set with other Beatle efforts from 1970: McCartney, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and All Things Must Pass.

Did you ever look at the list of artists appearing on this album? I am not a fan of Country music. However, Ringo has assembled an impressive array of artists from that arena. This album is not a con job. This is the real thing. I highly recommend it. Ringo could have met with more success if he had followed this road.

When I first bought this record in 1971, I was really let down because I wanted something like "It Don't Come Easy". This record is not rock, but it is fantastic country! Ringo is backed by some first-rate musicians and songwriters who do a fine job. Worth it!

Two words: COOCHY-COOCHY!!!!

That rare Ringo gem is worth the (lowered) price of the album alone, what with it being a Ringo-written, Ringo-sung piece of music that rolls along extremely well! Especially if you're a die-hard Beatles fan who mixes and matches solo Beatle songs into pseudo-new Beatles albums like I do.

Other things going for this album are the fact that Ringo sounds a lot more comfortable on these songs than John or Paul did on their early solo albums; and the fact that all of these songs are fully-realized SONGS, and not just snippets or drawn out pieces of songs like those from Paul(on McCartney) and John(on Plastic Ono Band) make this a nice addition to your Beatles solo collection(notice I said "Addition"; this is most definitely something to pad out an already existing collection, and not a "must-have" piece of music history).

All in all, you won't be disappointed with this purchase.

Now the Beatles have been pregenators in just about every
genre of pop music in the past 30 years and here Ringo effects
carefully crafted country music-without parody or lampoon.Every
song is excellent-from the tital cut to the unforgettable
"Fastest Growing Heartache In The West" to the dynamic instrumental 'Nashville Jam" whitch brings Starr's hand-picked
Nashville musicians together at the end.Unbeatable!

This is a great country cd-better than nearly all of the current "artists"-and it's great if you're in a sing along mood--almost anyone can sing along with Ringo. I personally like "Coochy Coochy" best--but all the songs are listenable. This isn't a "masterpiece" but it's a darn good album. Even if you don't like C&W-you might like this one.