Liverpool 8

Ringo Starr | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 15, 2008
• Release Date: January 15, 2008
• Label: Capitol
• Copyright: (C) 2008 Capitol Records, Inc.
• Total Length: 45:19
• Genres:
• ASIN: B00129OJNW
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,678 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Standard-issue Ringo for the most part, January 23, 2008

By 

TheBandit (SEA-TAC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Liverpool 8 (Audio CD)

Don't get me wrong - I love Ringo and have all his albums. It has been great having a new album from him every few years, and they are consistently enjoyable.

But the Mark Hudson formula has really run it's course with this one. Judging by the production credits, this was essentially a Mark Hudson production like each of Ringo's previous album going back to "Vertical Man" a decade ago. Dave Stewart was brought in at a late enough stage that he is credited as "re-producing" the album, while Mark Hudson is still credited as producer of all but one track. Interestingly, I'd say that one specific track - the title song - is easily the best on the album. A Starkey/Stewart collaboration, the song "Liverpool 8" is noticably fresher sounding - lacking the rather tired cliches of Hudson's arrangements.

The thing about Mark Hudson, it seems he ran out of production/arranging/writing ideas for Ringo after "Ringo Rama." I consider him sort of a poor man's Jeff Lynne. In a way, he has served the same function for Ringo that Lynne served for George Harrison. Of course, it should go without saying that Harrison was in an entirely different artistic sphere than Ringo. Jeff Lynne helped shape a new, updated sound for George - who remained in control of his overall vision. Ringo, on the other hand, needs far more creative input from his producer - something Mark Hudson provided, and then some. Hudson is kind of a hack, really, despite numerous highlights throughout "Vertical Man," "Ringo Rama," "Choose Love," and now "Liverpool 8," the songs are generally formulaic variations on one another. There is a sameness to the arrangements - the often too-forced 'Beatlesque' backing vocals in particular - as well as the lyrical themes. I don't think any of the Hudson-produced albums match Ringo's "Time Takes Time," the 1992 album that provided the template for Hudson to base his work upon. Speaking of Jeff Lynne, he was one of several producers that worked on that earlier album.

I was intriqued by the promise posed by a new chief collaborator for Ringo. But as I mentioned earlier, I think most listeners will be hard-pressed to detect any significant differences from the earlier albums. An obvious difference is the absence of the big-name cameo appearances peppered throughout the last few albums. The title track is classic Ringo - the hook is strong, and the lyrics actually sound like Ringo wrote them. They are simple but effective. The Starkey credit is usually listed first throughout the Hudson-era albums, but generally followed by 2-4 additional names. I find it hard to believe anything in Ringo's career suggests he is capable of churning out dozens of clever (though ultimately vapid) songs. He just doesn't have the tools - which is fine. On the song "Liverpool 8," Ringo makes the most of simple four-note phrases as he looks back fondly on his storied past. It's unsophisticated and unpretentious - and it's the one track from this album that would've been great on his recent 'Best Of' release.

As usual, most of the rest here is mid-tempo pop/rock - but the energy and surprises are farther and fewer between. There are a couple of mildly interesting genre exercises; I enjoy the Harry Nilsson tribute ("Harry's Song") and the Latin lounge ballad "Pasodobles" (as overlong as it is). "Gone Are the Days" is an odd, dated-sounding attempt at a modern rocker. "R U Ready," the album closer, would've been better without the strange vocal effects that make Ringo's voice sound like it's coming through a telephone receiver. Actually, something tells me Hudson wouldn't have done it this way - and in this instance I wish he HAD been around to prevent that unfortunate production choice. The song is an otherwise nice country-stomper that contemplates death - one of the only tracks on the album that goes a bit beyond skin-deep lyrics. No song on the album is particularly embarrassing - most of it chugs along at a nice, relaxed rocking pace. But I feel like I've heard it all (or at least most) before.

I'm always glad to have a new Ringo Starr album and I hope that he has more to come. I will have to reserve judgement on Dave Stewart's contribution until he has a chance to work with Ringo from the ground up (should they continue working together).

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Old Ringo, Rock Steady...., January 21, 2008

By 

Mitchell Cassman (BUFFALO GROVE, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liverpool 8 (Audio CD)

Ringo Starr may not have created the peace-and-love aesthetic the Beatles put forth late in their run, but over the years, he's embodied it as none of his band mates could.

Despite his talent behind the drums, Starr was always the regular guy in a group of icons -- an affable foil to John Lennon's confrontational genius, Paul McCartney's pop ambition and George Harrison's mystical leanings. On "Liverpool 8," Starr again plays the good-natured everyman, making simple pleas for peace and understanding over the kinds of bouncy backing his old band invented.

Starr doesn't even pretend the Beatles weren't the best thing that ever happened to him, and on the title track -- named for his childhood neighborhood -- he retells the story of the Fab Four, insisting, "Liverpool, I left you/ but I never let you down."

Producer Dave Stewart heaps on the gloss, but his technique is similar to that of Jeff Lynne, who helped Harrison stage his '80s comeback and recorded the two "new" Beatles tunes the following decade. As a result, Starr's songs have an old-friend quality, and their familiarity overshadows their hokier moments.

On "R U Ready," the album's closer, Starr stages a hoedown while contemplating mortality. Looking toward the afterlife, he's as hopeful as ever: "It's good that you believe, but it's better if you know."

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ringo love notes, March 3, 2008

By 

Hollis Dana "Peace activist" (Kauai, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liverpool 8 (Audio CD)

Ringo's love message is so welcome! His easy listening style and good 'ol, heart felt lirics make this a real keeper. Some tunes on the CD are not my favorite but many are winners. "You've got to love every breath you breathe, look at the sky and believe, smile a little more as life goes by, with love in your eye, just give it a try." That's worth the whole CD right there! Many sing alongs that are easy to learn. Have fun with this one.