Search - Ringo Starr :: Starrstruck

Ringo's Rhinogravure

J. L LaRegina | New Jersey | 06/04/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"STARR STRUCK: BEST OF RINGO STARR VOLUME TWO, serves sixteen songs from Ringo Starr's 1976-83 recording career. Rating them from strongest to weakest, the Starr albums from which these songs were taken are OLD WAVE; STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES; RINGO'S ROTOGRAVURE; RINGO THE 4TH; and BAD BOY.It's not likely you will know many of STARR STRUCK's songs. "Wrack My Brain," "Hey Baby" and "A Dose of Rock N' Roll" were minor hits. The Joe Walsh version of "In My Car" got some airplay on rock stations but Ringo Starr's didn't. Starr performed "Heart On My Sleeve" and "Hard Times" live on his 1978 television special, not that you're going to remember that as well as you do his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.Usually a Rhino Records album includes an interesting essay about the recording artist. But STARR STRUCK, a Rhino release, simply lists the tracks with a few photos and no commentary. The back cover of the CD, a photo of Ringo Starr shrugging his shoulders, seems to make the point that there's nothing to say.But I still rate STARR STRUCK three stars. As a collection of tunes, it has some pretty good ones. If the bad reputations of the five Ringo Starr albums from which these songs came discouraged you from buying them, test the waters with STARR STRUCK."

Ringo's Hu Hum Years

J. GENIO | Earth | 07/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These tracks cover Ringo's "Post-Apple" years when he recorded delightful little ditties. During that time of disco, glitter rock, funk, and punk, Ringo's charisma as an ex-Beatle dimmed. Ringo had to contend with a younger generation of music listeners who looked back to the 1960's with only a nostalgic interest. During this time, Apple Records became a mere accounting entry on the ledger. Geoge Harrison now recorded for his own company, Dark Horse Records. During the end of the 70's, John Lennon went into his "House Husband" mode. Paul McCartney was doing everything he can to distance himself from his Beatles roots -- that is, until John's assassination outside the Dakotas on December 8, 1980 (A Day That Will Live in Infamy). Consequently, that old Beatles magic and charm had run its course. Ringo had to find of his niche in the music business, and he succeeded in doing so. Some of the tracks on this CD are quite good. "A Dose of Rock and Roll" is a good, old fashioned Beatle-like Rocker. "In My Car" is another good example of Ringo's ability to rock with the best of them. I agree with another reviewer. This is a good supplement to "Blast From Your Past." Unfortunately, as was pointed out, Ringo's projects from the mid-70's through the early 80's were commercial flops -- starting with Sir Richard's Disco Influenced "Ringo the Fourth" LP. Therefore, it is really hard to develop a greatest hits package #2 from material that was less than successful."

A Nice Overview of Ringo's Less Successful Years

Dan Hogg | Boise, ID | 04/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By 1976, Ringo was no longer as big a solo artist as he was a few years back. Most of his albums during the 1976-83 period were commercial failures. But that doesn't make this album bad. It's a good supplement to "Blast From Your Past," even though it has less 'hits' than the latter. It shows his pop side, country side, and his knack for oldies. So don't pass up this album just because there aren't big chart hits on it, give it a chance"