Beaucoups of Blues
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'sSentimental Journey), Starr next turned to his longtime love, country & western. Proving that thoseBuck Owensaffectations on the Beatles' cover of "Act Naturally" were hardly tongue-in-cheek, Starr gathered a stellar group of Nashville musicians (includingJerry Reed,Pete Drake, andCharlie Danielson guitar andElvis Presleydrummer 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