Ringo Starr - "Ringo Rama"

Produced by Mark Hudson, "Ring Rama" includes a tribute song to George Harrison and guest appearances by Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Willie Nelson, Shawn Colvin, Timothy B. Schmidt, Van Dyke Parks and Charlie Haden.

Release Date: March 25th 2003
Label: Koch Records / Catalogue No: KOC-CD-8429
 

   Track Listing

   1. Eye To Eye
   2. Missouri Loves Company
   3. Instant Amnesia - (featuring David Gilmour)
   4. Memphis In Your Mind
   5. Never Without You - (featuring Eric Clapton)
   6. Imagine Me There - (featuring Charlie Haden)
   7. I Think, Therefore I Rock 'N' Roll - (featuring David Gilmore)
   8. Trippin On My Own Tears - (featuring Shawn Colvin)
   9. Write One For Me - (featuring Willie Nelson)
  10. What Love Wants To Be
  11. Love First
  12. Elizabeth Reigns (featuring Van Dyke Parks)
  13. English Garden
  Bonus Track: I Really Love Her

The radio single is "Never Without You" - the tribute song to George Harrison.

The initial pressing of "Ringo Rama" includes a bonus DVD: "Never Without You"- An exclusive sneak peak at the making of Ringorama.

"Ringo Rama" Promotion:ABCNEWS.com : "Want Ringo Starr To Sing To You and a Friend?" : "E-Mail GMA Your Friendship Story, and Ringo May Sing For You."

Update: Ringo TV Appearances:

• ABC's "Good Morning America" (2 parts) Thursday, March 20 (rescheduled) & Friday, March 21; 7:00 am ET (may be resheduled).
• "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Monday, March 24th; 09:00 am ET.
• MTV's "Total Request Live"on Tuesday, March 25 at 04:00 pm ET.
• NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on March 26th at 12:30 am ET.

NBC's "Last Call With Carson Daly" on April 3rd; 01:35 am ET.

Source: KOCH Entertainment

KOCH Entertainment Proudly Announces the March 25 Release Of Ringo Starr's Ringo Rama

Thursday January 30, 10:47 am ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The following release was written by David Wild for KOCH Entertainment:

Ultimately what's most impressive about Ringo Starr isn't what he's been, but rather who he is. And with his wonderfully infectious and intimate new album, Ringo Rama, Starr and his close-knit team of collaborators have created a characteristically charming reflection of who Ringo Starr is in the present tense. The man's great heart and soul, his wit and wisdom all come through loud and clear throughout Ringo Rama.
(Logo:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020312/KOCHLOGO )

"There is a lot of me in these songs," Starr says. "As time goes on, my personality is coming out more and more in the music. That's just what happens. On this album my drumming is more dynamic, I'm more to the front, I think I'm singing better and I believe we're writing better songs. All the touring helps because then you're keeping your chops up. I suppose I had a long time off and now I've had a long time on."

A grown-up thrill ride, Ringo Rama lovingly and at times movingly celebrates yesterday and today. This is a song cycle that appropriately acknowledges the former Beatle's illustrious past but at the same time powerfully insists on the paramount importance of living and loving here and now. Ringo Rama would be a fine album without any of its back story. Yet coming from Starr, it feels in a sense like the album of a lifetime. Ever since cleaning up his own act at the end of the Eighties, Starr started touring with his assorted All-Starr bands and recording a series of impressive albums that at long last made good on the tremendous promise of his early post-Beatles efforts. "I had a great cycle with Ringo [1973] and Goodnight Vienna [1974] and then it all went downhill," Starr admits. "And then from the time of Time Takes Time [1992], I started climbing back up the hill. And since then they're all just getting better."

The rock steady drummer is excited to find himself in such a healthy and extended musical groove. "I've said this over and over again, but I love being in a band," Starr explains. "And I love hanging out with a crowd of musicians. And that's what we are and that's what we do. We write them and we record them."

For Ringo Rama, the "we" of which Starr speaks of is a fine group of fellow travelers that includes producer Mark Hudson, and writer/players like Gary Burr, Dean Grakal, Steve Dudas, Jim Cox and Gary Nicholson. There are also some notable guest appearances from old friends like Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Willie Nelson, Shawn Colvin, Timothy B. Schmidt, Van Dyke Parks and Charlie Haden.

The album was recorded largely at Starr's English studio, with a few tracks cut at producer Hudson's tiny studio in Los Angeles. "I refuse to go into a so-called 'real,' stuffy studio anymore," Starr says. "I like to see us all sweat together and feel the music together." Starr credits producer Hudson with helping to create an ideal atmosphere to work and play. "Mainly we have a lot of laughs," he explains. "It's a lot of fun working together. And we can shout at each other without us getting really hurt and leaving the room. Sometimes it gets a bit tense in the studio, but Mark brings a lot of love, a lot of musical talent and a lot of diplomacy within the group in terms of holding us together. We have a team and we hang out. And it just matters how many of us are in the room how many write the song. It's whatever comes up at that minute. It's not all so pre-planned."

The spontaneous, positive spirit at the heart of Starr's work since his days with the Beatles is very much in evidence on Ringo Rama, right from the aggressively peaceful first track "Eye To Eye" with its opening allusions to Starr's own first solo smash, 1971's "It Don't Come Easy." Like several other tracks on the album, "Eye To Eye" represents an impassioned cry for peace and love in tense, even traumatic times. "To me 'Eye To Eye' sounds like there's a war going on and we're trying to make it a war of love," Starr offers. "I know it's easy to say, but we're trying our best to see eye to eye because then the world would be a better place. With me, the mission all the time is the same - peace and love and four guys sitting around a room writing songs of love."

Another standout on Ringo Rama is a love song of a different sort, "Never Without You" - a luminous, deeply felt tribute to Starr's friend and former bandmate George Harrison. "It was my way - with the help of Gary and Mark - to say how much George meant to me and how much he will be remembered," he says softly. "Gary Nicholson started that song, and Mark brought it over and we realized we could tailor it. George was really on my mind then. I actually tried to get George, John Lennon and Harry Nilsson all into that song. But it got too busy, so I thought I'm just going to do it for George." To play the moving guitar
solo for "Never Without You," Starr reached out to another guitar great and close friend of Harrison. "I called Eric Clapton up and it was great to have him," Starr says. "Eric's on two tracks on the album, but I really wanted him on this song because George loved Eric and Eric loved George. I wanted Eric to come and play that solo because I only wanted people on the track who George knew and loved."

Another major guitar player, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame, appears on the wryly philosophical tune "I Think Therefore I Rock & Roll" and "Missouri Loves Company." For the record, Starr points out that both of these legendary players were not only inspired but also convenient. "We had a funny joke over here," Starr recalls from his home in England, "People would ask, 'So who's on the record?' And we'd say, 'Just a couple of
local guys. You know, like Eric Clapton and Dave Gilmour.' Because they do both live just around the corner."

Certain Ringo Rama songs - like "English Garden" and "Elizabeth Reigns" - reflect the album's British origins. "Elizabeth Reigns" was because when we were recording here the
Queen's Jubilee was going on, and there was this big party where Paul played and lots of other bands too. And it was so in your face. And our American 'cousins' who were staying with me at the time - namely everyone in the band on the record - were so excited about it all. Dean Grakal started the song. And because I thought they've had their day in all honesty myself, I had to put in that verse, 'Six hundred servants/Use her detergent/Scrubbing the Palace floor.' Elizabeth was the last of the great ones, and like the song says, 'we don't really need a king.'" Even closer to home is "English Garden," which
references Ringo's beloved wife Barbara and even the family dog Buster.

As befits an album created by a bunch of Brits and Americans, Ringo Rama also features songs with a decidedly American feel. A lifelong country music lover - witness his classic cover with the Beatles of Buck Owns "Act Naturally" and his 1970 Beaucoup of Blues album - Starr shines on the country-tinged "Write One For Me" which features a strong vocal assist from the one and only Willie Nelson. "That one was done long-distance because I was in England and Willie was touring in America," Starr explains. "But I've met Willie time and time again, and he's a beautiful human being. He's a gentleman who's open to everything - an incredible man."

The hilarious and lovely "Missouri Loves Company" is an excellent, pun-filled road trip of a pop song. "We love the double entendre of the thing," Starr says with a warm laugh.
"For me I wanted it to be a kind of travelogue around America. America is still very romantic to me. Route 66 is very romantic to me too. That's sort of where I came into this thing with Chuck Berry." And the King of Rock & Roll himself is name checked in "Memphis in Your Mind."

"I Think Therefore I Rock & Roll" is another stirring testament to the importance of music in Starr's life. "It's about rock & roll, the blues, just music really," Starr explains. "I love music. I still listen to it. I don't actually listen to that much of what's going on, though you can't doubt Coldplay. I love bands, but I'm not into all these bands from reality shows put together on TV. They haven't put in the time and the energy for it. That stuff is all a bit instant and it sounds a bit instant. In fact, you blink and you've missed them. I do love Eminem. I love that groove he always has and his writing has so much humor"

Finally, just between friends, there's a bonus track at the end of Ringo Rama. "We used to have quite a bit of those little tags on the Beatles albums," Starr remembers. "We'd throw a little something in. So I suppose it's part of that." This time around, Starr's parting shot of love and peace is the short but sweet "I Really Love Her," which he recorded all on his own. "Just one time in my career, I wanted to do it all," he says, laughing. "I'm tired of all my other mates doing everything. So I thought, 'Okay, I'm going to do it all.' So that was a lot of fun for me."

The inspired fun of Ringo Rama is likely to spread this summer when Starr takes the latest set of All-Starrs out on the road. "We're going live again this year," Starr says. "And I promised our promoter David Fishof that I'll play three new songs. So get
ready."

Source: KOCH Entertainment

When Paul McCartney embarked on his “Driving USA” tour in 2003, some critics unkindly - and unfairly - labelled McCartney as the only significant living Beatle. The media spin at the time seemed to relegate Ringo Starr’s contribution to the Beatles in a similar vein to another former Beatles drummer, Pete Best.

To others who have followed Ringo’s career, he is an enigma. Unlike the other Beatles, Ringo doesn’t rise to social or spiritual aspirations, nor does he obsess with his status among the musical greats of the 20th century. For Ringo, this may be an advantage. A sense of lighthearted fun seems to permeate his recent solo albums. His partnership with Mark Hudson (with whom he recently formed a record label ) seems to really work for him. Ringo’s intent is to have a good time with his friends. In fact, I suspect if Ringo didn’t have so much fun in the studio, he probably wouldn’t be doing it.

Although Ringo doesn’t aspire to greatness, he certainly bring an indefinable “something” to his career that is greater than the sum of his personality or talents as a drummer / singer / entertainer.  For this, Ringo deserves much more credit - and respect - than what is often attributed.

This brings us to Ringo Rama, his first studio album for Koch Records. I’ll admit, I had to listen to this album a few time before I started to “get” it. At first I found it a puzzling affair with awkward lyrics. But it’s an album that can - and probably will - grow on you. Right now, it’s my favourite of all of the Mark Hudson produced Ringo albums.

Recorded shortly after George Harrison’s death (and including a tribute song), one may be forgiven for wondering how Harrison’s death affected this project. Instead of being serious and sombre, Ringo accentuates the positive, recalling his bandmate and friend with affection and nostalgia. “Never Without You” is neither deep, nor profound - instead, it offers a fond glance at a friendship that obviously means the world to Ringo.

In many way, Ringo Rama is similar to Vertical Man but is more eclectic than it’s predecessor. It’s also a rockier album with Ringo’s drum fills taking prominence in a manner similar to when Ringo performed with his “other band”. [speaking of which - identifying all the Beatles (and solo Beatle) references on this album would make a great party game]

“Eye to Eye” kicks off the new album in an upbeat manner, similar to Vertical Man’s “One” - with “One” being the slightly stronger song. “Missouri Loves Company” is a much better tune than it’s title would suggest. It’s reminiscent of Vertical’s “King Of Broken Hearts”. “Instant Amnesia” is probably the most eclectic song on the CD. Imagine Ringo performing a pseudo heavy metal, improvisational jazz number, then play this track and hear what I mean. It’s time shifts and style changes are unlike anything Ringo’s ever done - and makes this track a strong entry on this album. “Memphis In Your Mind” is Ringo in Traveling Wilburys mode, complete with Roy Orbison style growls and rockabilly piano. Infectious, enjoyable stuff.

“Imagine Me There” and “What Loves Wants To Be” are typical Ringo mid range numbers.  “Write One For Me,” is an upbeat duet with Willie Nelson and “Trippin’ On My Own Tears” features Shawn Colvin. “Love First” has a new Ringoism - “Minutes pass. They don’t wait for the waiter” could either mean a restaurant employee and/or someone who hesitates. “Elizabeth Reigns” is a bit of psychedelia with rather trippy lyrics. It’s fun but it might not pull in that knighthood for ya, Ringo!

“I Think, Therefore, I Rock ‘N’ Roll” is from the thunder drums “Back Off Boogaloo” genre. Aside from being a good contender for the next All Starr tour, it may contains this album’s calling card: “To be or not to be. I don’t care. The question is ‘Are you alive out there?’ It don’t take brains. Just heart and soul. I think, therefore, I rock ‘n’ roll”. Having fun, and not getting overly serious, appears to be the “philosophy” of “Ringo Rama.”

“English Garden” is light fare with dog barks(!) and a direct lift of Paul McCartney’s “Let ‘Em In”. The bonus track banded with “English Garden”, “I Really Love Her,” is notable in that Ringo plays all the instruments for however brief the song lasts.

As I stated earlier, after several listens, Ringo Rama grew on me. Ringo’s in fine voice on this album, singing much more energetically than you’d expect at age 62 (!).

At first Ringo may seem a bit lost in Mark Hudson’s sometimes busy production style. Eventually, this album’s more subtle strengths begin to emerge, proving again, that Ringo is still Vertical.

Note: When I was writing this review, I often misspelled the album title as “Ram”.  That’s actually a good analogy. This album could very well be Ringo’s “Ram”.

• John Waite - Bass
• Paul Carrick - Keys
• Colin Hay - Guitar
• Sheila E. - Drums
• Mark Rivera - Sax

July 24th -  Casino Rama - Toronto, ON, Canada
July 25th -  Casino Rama - Toronto, ON, Canada
July 27th -  Fleet Boston Pavilion - Boston, MA
July 29th -  Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
July 31st -  Mohegan Sun Casino - Uncasville, CT

August 3rd -  PNC Bank Arts Ctr.- Holmdel, NJ
August 4th -  Westbury Music Fair -Westbury, NY
August 5th  - Westbury Music Fair -Westbury, NY
August 8th -   Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI
August 10th -  Soo Pass Ranch - Detroit Lakes, MN
August 12th -  Rosemont Theatre - Chicago, IL
August 13th -  Chastain Park, Atlanta, GA.
August 29th -  Harrah’s '- Lake Tahoe, NV
August 30th -  Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV

September 2nd -  Britt Festival  - Jacksonville, OR
September 4th -  Montalvo Ctr. For Arts - Saratoga, CA
September 6th -  Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA