Of all the ex-Beatles, it was drummer Ringo Starr who seemed to have the most fun with the period of artistic liberty inspired by the band's remarkable post-breakup afterglow. Initially covering an odd album of Tin Pan Alley standards (1970's Sentimental Journey), Starr next turned to his longtime love, country & western. Proving that those Buck Owens affectations on the Beatles' cover of "Act Naturally" were hardly tongue-in-cheek, Starr gathered a stellar group of Nashville musicians (including Jerry Reed, Pete Drake, and Charlie Daniels on guitar and Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana) to cut an album of straightforward country ballads. While earnest and a bit laid-back, Starr's modest vocal efforts here sometimes can't match his obvious affection for the genre and material. Noble and obviously heartfelt, it's an album that might have benefited from a duet (or three) with some of country's more accomplished vocal stylists. --Jerry McCulley
Beaucoups of Blues,Ringo Starr,Capitol,Pop,Pop/Rock,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop
Average customer rating:
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Beaucoups of Blues
Ringo Starr Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000006N4I Release Date: 1995-08-01 |
Tracks:
- Beaucoups Of Blues
- Love Don't Last Long
- Fastest Growing Heartache In The West
- Without Her
- Woman Of The Night
- I'd Be Talking All The Time
- $15 Draw
- Wine, Women And Loud Happy Songs
- I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way
- Loser's Lounge
- Waiting
- Silent Homecoming
- Coochy Coochy
- Nashville Jam
Amazon.com
Of all the ex-Beatles, it was drummer Ringo Starr who seemed to have the most fun with the period of artistic liberty inspired by the band's remarkable post-breakup afterglow. Initially covering an odd album of Tin Pan Alley standards (1970's Sentimental Journey), Starr next turned to his longtime love, country & western. Proving that those Buck Owens affectations on the Beatles' cover of "Act Naturally" were hardly tongue-in-cheek, Starr gathered a stellar group of Nashville musicians (including Jerry Reed, Pete Drake, and Charlie Daniels on guitar and Elvis Presley drummer D.J. Fontana) to cut an album of straightforward country ballads. While earnest and a bit laid-back, Starr's modest vocal efforts here sometimes can't match his obvious affection for the genre and material. Noble and obviously heartfelt, it's an album that might have benefited from a duet (or three) with some of country's more accomplished vocal stylists. --Jerry McCulleyCustomer Reviews:
Give it a chance.......2006-05-05
My favorite Ringo.......2005-09-29
Ringo's 2nd solo outing........2005-03-06
The problem with this project is that it's a fish out of water no matter which way you look at it. The rock fans who witnessed the breakup of The Beatles expected something of the same from Ringo, so there's no way they would accept a country disc, no matter how good it is, from our hero. The country fans meanwhile, wouldn't accept it as a "true" country record since it was done by a pop star as a one-off project. Therefore, time had to be the true judge for a project such as this. Ultimately the verdict comes down on the postive side for "Beaucoups of Blues." Ringo effortly handles such country songs as "I'd Be Talking All Time" with fun and ease. His voice really cradles "Waiting" and his somber reading of "Silent Homecoming" make it one of the strongest anti-war songs of it's time. Also the production is top notch with much kudos going to Pete Drake who produced this disc (he also handled all steel guitar chores as well). The vocal group, The Four Jordanires, who backed Elvis show up to do the same for Ringo. The legendary drummer, DJ Fontana who also worked with Elvis takes turns on the stool with Ringo. Jerry Reed and Charlie Daniels also appear as session players. There are things that don't work however, and one is Ringo's duet with Jeanne Kendall on a song called "I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way." The voices just don't blend. Also, the paint by numbers approach with the songs hurts the disc. As the songs were specifically written for Ringo by a crop of Nashville writers, they seem to have said, "Okay, now we gotta have a broken heart song. Now we gotta have a hooker with a heart of gold song. Etc, etc, etc"
If you're expecting a good solid country disc, you won't be dissappointed. If you're expecting pop music......
When you're hot, you're hot.......2004-07-08
Good, but not for the Ringo novice.......2003-12-14
As everyone knows, when the sixties drew to a close, The Beatles were no longer a functional unit and they soon disbanded. However, like many other members of the group, drummer Ringo Starr wanted to create as solo album. He wanted to do so even before the band broke up, and now that they had done so, there would be no better time than the present to release one. In 1970, Ringo Starr released his first studio album as a solo artist - Sentimental Journey. It was an odd album, in that it wasn't rock or pop, but rather covers of old tunes from the thirties and forties. Later in that year, he released another strange album - Beaucoups Of Blues. This one consisted of nothing but country/western songs! Was this a good move? Read on for my review of this album.
The first thing I need to tell you about this album is that it is NOT the Ringo Starr you know and love. If you're looking for tunes like Octopus's Garden and It Don't Come Easy, this album is going to disappoint you. However, if you've got an open mind, you may find it to be pretty interesting. Ringo was the oldest member of The Beatles, and accordingly he had a pretty diverse musical interest. He really enjoyed country/western, and for quite some time, he wanted to do an album of nothing but songs of that styling. For this album, he teamed up with an all-star line-up of musicians, including the legendary Charlie Daniels, and even The Four Jordanaires, a group famous for backing Elvis Presley. The album serves up twelve country/western tunes, all of which are very similar, but each one manages to be unique enough to maintain its appeal. This CD reissue of the album is VERY nice for one major reason - You get two ultra-rare bonus cuts! They are Coochy Coochy, which was the B-Side to one of the album's singles, and Nashville Jam, a track which was previously unreleased in any shape or form. However, this is NOT an album to start with if you're new to Ringo's solo material. To fully enjoy this release, you need an OPEN MIND.
Overall, Beaucoups Of Blues is a good second solo effort by Ringo Starr the solo artist. However, it wouldn't be until 1973's Ringo (that's the name of the album) that he would truly find his voice as a solo artist. Final verdict? Only get Sentimental Journey and/or Beaucoups Of Blues if you're a Ringo Starr completist, or if you're a die-hard fan that just can't get enough Ringo. Though these albums were certainly an interesting progression attempt, they aren't going to impress fans who are seeking a Beatles-esque album.
Average customer rating:
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Beaucoups of Blues
Ringo Starr ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004SB1N Release Date: 2000-02-22 |
Tracks:
- Beaucoups Of Blues
- Love Don't Last Long
- Fastest Growing Heartache In The West
- Without Her
- Woman Of The Night
- I'd Be Talking All The Time
- $15 Draw
- Wine, Women And Loud Happy Songs
- I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way
- Loser's Lounge
- Waiting
- Silent Homecoming
- Coochy Coochy
- Nashville Jam
Customer Reviews:
Ringo Plays Rockabilly.......2000-07-10
Ringo is till trying to find his post-Beatles niche. Unfortunately, "Rockabilly" isn't the answer. True, he has some "big names" in the business helping him on this CD, including Elvis's backup singers. But even with this help, Ringo is simply not convincing as a C&W / Rockabilly artist. The title track, "Beaucops of Blues," is the strongest offering on this CD. So much so that it was included in the "Blast From Your Past" collection.
If you really want to hear Ringo at his best, then I suggest you purchase "Ringo" and "Vertical Man." The LP "Ringo" produced such memorable tunes as "Photograph" (with George Harrison), "I am the Greatest" (with Sir Winston O'Boogie), "You're 16," and "Oh My My." The "Ringo" CD also offers Sir Richard's greatest number, "It Don't Come Easy," as a bonus track.
"Beaucoups of Blues" just doesn't cut it, not even at bargain prices.
Ringo.......2000-06-06
I'm sober and I still love this record.......2000-04-13
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