Customer Reviews

Ringo Starr VH1 Storytellers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ringo and friends (including Joe Walsh) provide a well-playedset that's a mix of classics and material from Ringo's new (and underrated) album "Vertical Man." This recording is from his recent appearance on VH1. He sounds great!

If you're a fan, this is a great record of Ringo live. If you're new to Ringo (and the Beatles) this is a good place to start. Recommended.

Before saying anything else, I must confess I'm a Beatles fan and a Ringo fan, and I keep on listening to this Storytellers album again and again. To me, this album deserves 5 stars but I've put only four, trying to give an "average listener" view. And here's why this CD is so good . First of all, the band that backs Ringo, called the Roundheads and featuring Mark Hudson and Joe Walsh, is absolutely fantastic. They play tight, their backing vocals are among the best I've ever heard. Some of the songs have new arrangements, not big changes but little things that are nice surprises for the listener who is used to the original versions (the harmonica in Don't Pass Me By, the Beach Boys-like backing vocals on Photograph...) This band is very good, has good ideas and good taste. Now, about Ringo himself : he really sings very well. REALLY. Forget the All-Starr Band CDs. Just listen to With a little help from my friends and you'll see what I mean. To sum up the whole thing : if you're already a Beatles fan, even a "lukewarm one", you can be sure you'll love this album. It's also a good way to discover Ringo's solo work. And if you simply love rock and pop music, you'll like it too.

A combination of Beatles' songs and Ringo's music over the last 30 years. Good selection of music from a great band. They have a good groove throughout the CD and a good balance of vocals & instruments. Ringo gives narratives on the origins and background of some of the songs. If you get the chance, find a copy of the VH1 videotape. It's great to see Ringo react with the band & a live audience.A great CD to listen and sing along! If you are a Ringo fan, don't miss this one!

The VH1 Storytellers album offers listeners a chance to catch Ringo Starr playing his hits and his latest batch of hopefuls while being backed by an "All Starr" band. The offer is one that you should definately not refuse. Simply put, the VH1 album is a damn good time! Ringo's warm humor and love for performing comes across vividly on the album, which gives listeners the feeling that they're sitting only a few rows away from the action. The Beatles era songs are represented well, with an absolutely rocking version of "Love Me Do" coming near the album's close. The solo hits also sound great - the harmonies on "Photograph" are beautiful, and the song sounds as powerful as ever (Powerful? Ringo? Laugh now, listen later). Even the "Vertical Man" songs are enjoyable; the infectous would-be children's anthem, "La De Da", has you singing along after a minute or two, and "What In the World" features a chorus that sounds like something Paul would have written. If you're looking for familiar songs and funny stories laced with Beatles nostalgia, pick up the Storytellers album. It won't change your world, but it may make your day seem a little more pleasant.

First, a disclaimer: I am a Beatles fan, and have always been particularly fond of Ringo for his good humor, his ability to smooth out conflict (especially in the tumultuous 1968-1969 time frame), and his funny 'backward' drum fills. Having said that, it's obvious to virtually everyone (including Ringo himself) that he is not as noteworthy a songwriter or as good a singer as his more famous cohorts. That's one counterintuitive reason that I give this CD five stars: given his relatively limited vocal range, this is an amazingly well done CD, with very strong vocals from Ringo, in many cases better than the studio originals.

Ringo is in great form and great humor here and has, honestly, never sounded better. The band is great, and appears to be having a great time, and the audience is obviously delighted. The other main reason I went with five stars was for the funny and enlightening commentary by Ringo between tracks in keeping with the 'storyteller' motif VH1 established for the series. Ringo is always cheery and his self deprecating sense of humor, especially in explaining the origins of "Don't Pass Me By", is a refreshing change from the norms of contemporary self indulgent rock stardom.

Standouts were "Don't Pass Me By", which sounds better than ever (and on which Ringo plays the piano!), "Love Me Do" (which has another great introduction), and "It Don't Come Easy". Do not miss the entertaining story about the Marc Bolan inspiration of "Back Off Boogaloo", in which Ringo is a veritable stand up comedian. My only niggling complaint would be about the 'updated' back up vocals on the greatest of all Ringo songs, "Photograph", which have been converted into more of a doo-wop sound, which is not in keeping with the original as written and recorded by Ringo and George. Despite this minor point, this is a great CD, and I endorse it heartily.

I was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the music of this live recording. Ringo's vocals are good (for Ringo) and his "Roundheads" band provides excellent backup. There are a couples of songs that kind of drag but I recommend this album highly.

I got my copy quite a while back, and I'm still istening to it often! The mix of songs, and the storys is really great! Almost ever song has a groovy story behind it, and Ringo tells it great! I have been asked what the best track on it is... And to tell the truth, I can't pick! Back Off Boogaloo is great, because I'd never heard it before, but I Was Walkin' is nice, and the Beatle songs... It's worth every cent!

I give the album a very high rating of exellecent. I love Ringo singing, drumming and his senses of humor.

Ringo's live "Storytellers" album should be ranked with the best television sessions put on CD. It has all the fun of Eric Claption's "Unplugged" and all the retro style we would expect from the Beatle beat keeper. A good buy for anyone who liked Abbey road, the album in which both George Harrison and Ringo stepped up and became an equal members. The live jam session feel makes multiple hearings very enjoyable.

Long live Beatlemania

It is a shame that Ringo didn't do this years ago while he was still recording for Apple Records because he would have literally cleaned up. Ringo still remains the most accessible Beatle; and, truly, the most fun loving. A quick listen to this live recording clearly tells the listener that Ringo is enjoying himself on stage with his Roundheads. This recording is a real treat for Beatles and Ringo fans alike.

Ringo treats us to his Beatle classics like "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Octopus's Garden," and "Don't Pass Me By." He also entertains us by presenting marvelous renditions of his Apple years. These include songs like "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph," and "Back Off Boogaloo." Ringo's band -- consisting of Rock legends the likes of Joe Walsh and Mark Hudson -- play to absolute perfection. The music is very tight; it certainly supports Ringo's limited -- but highly effective -- vocals. As a matter of fact, Ringo's voice never sounded better. This is probably because he is actually enjoying himself on stage with his "Roundheads."

The songs are a treat in themselves. But, Ringo goes one better, he entertains the crowd with short stories in between each tune. For example, he tells the audience how the original words to "With a little help. . . . " were as follows: "What would you do if I sang out of tune/Would you stand up and throw a tomatoe at me." Then, Ringo states in his hard, Liverpoolian accent: "Well, I'm certainly not going to sing that." Whether these tales are true or not, they are very endearing and serve well to draw the listener even closer to Sir Richard Starkey, MBE.

This is a great CD from one of the nicest, kindest individuals that ever walked this earth. Going back to that tragic night of 8 December 1980, Ringo was the first Beatle to arrive in New York to "pay his respects." Indeed, Thank God for Ringo.

This is a great CD that features terrific music, great vocals, and lots of fun. This CD is well worth owning. Buy it now! You won't be disappointed!