Customer Reviews

Live at the Greek Theatre 2008

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You have to take these All-Starr Band CDs in the right spirit. They're only meant to be a bit of light fun, not high art. This is the eighth one (if you count "The Anthology ... So Far", which includes enough unreleased material to fill a separate album). Across the eight, there has been plenty of repetition of songs and a moderate amount of repetition of performers, but they've all had their moments. This one is as good as any. The band is good, it's a good performance (apart from Ringo's singing in the brief introductory version of With A Little Help From My Friends), it's well recorded and it has a good selection of Ringo and Beatles songs. It includes two Ringo songs that haven't been on any previous All-Starr Band album: Oh My My and Never Without You (although the latter did appear on Live at Soundstage with The Roundheads). It ends with Give Peace a Chance, making Ringo the third ex-Beatle to release a live version of that song (and now George never will!). Other good things about this one are that the All-Starrs get only one song each, so there is plenty of Ringo, and that Sheila E is not included!

Well, this is another in the series of "Live" recordings that are just fun. No one takes away from Ringo's approach to this concept because so many of these albums have been released. Well, my thoughts are, it's a OK album like the previous ones. The idea of using different artists showcasing their talent is is really quite clever. So if you don't have any of his "Live" albums, check this one out. It's all about FUN and Ringo brings it out with his fans and the artists he has on his tours. Check out my website sometime at "Judemac Forever", google it Peace.

Ringo's 2008 All-Starr line-up, I think, marks the beginning of the end of the line for Ringo's successful touring days. Most of the members in this band have been seen before in previous line-ups, and thus we get not only the same songs performed time after time by Ringo (his setlist never changes much year to year), but also the All Starrs play the same songs each time they come back. Colin Hay sang "Who Can it Be Now" and "Land Down Under" with Ringo back in 2003, and those are both here again from the 2008 tour. Billy Squire and Edgar Winter were in Ringo's band in 2006, and are here again. The music is still good and very well played, but I'm tired of the repetition. Sadly, this will probably have to be the last live Ringo CD I buy (and I only bought this one because I attended the show in Reno on this tour).

Ringo is currently on tour again. Unfortunately, Edgar Winter is back again, and a bunch of other musicians who, though they are new to the band, I would hardly consider them "All-Starrs." I think if Ringo wants to tour, he should do so with the Roundheads from now on. His All-Starr line-ups are getting pathetic and repetitious, even slightly boring by this point. For me Ringo's best All-Starr tours were 2001 and 2006. Get those CDs instead of this one.

Two tracks I'd never heard him perform `live' before: `What Goes On', for which he gives an amusing introduction, and `Oh My My', a hit single from his `Ringo' album.

This concert was recorded shortly after I saw Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band in Chicago in 2008, right after Ringo's birthday. The whole feeling conveyed by Mr. Starkey is one of peace and love and togetherness, with a whole lotta rock and roll shakin' goin' on at the same time. I also have this CD and it's a great representation of a Ringo Starr concert "experience". No big surprises except how good you can feel inside for days after the show is over. He surrounds himself with great musicians and hit-makers in their own right, who are also willing to play a supporting role to one of the truly nice guys in the business of rock and roll. A real breath of fresh air, this!