Choose Love, the third studio collaboration between Ringo Starr and Mark Hudson, continues in the grand tradition set by 1998's Vertical Man and 2003's Ringorama. |
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Ringo Starr
Choose Love
Koch (2005)
It's hard to believe, especially for those of us old enough to have experienced Beatlemania firsthand, but the fact of the matter is that this coming July 7th, drummer extraordinaire Ringo Starr will be 65 years young. Think back to those early Beatles interviews, when RIngo was looking toward the day the bubble might burst and he could open up a hair salon. Now, those were the days.
Richard Starkey, MBE may well have turned out to be a starr hair stylist, but as a drum stylist he really found his calling. He remains the best drummer in rock (and, no, I will not entertain opinions to the contrary); he's a sticksman enjoying a career renaissance that began when he entered into his first mind meld with Mark Hudson.
Hudson, who knows a thing or three about making pop records, knows plenty about making Ringo Starr records. He knew right from the start that the key to waxing gold with the drummer is embracing what he does best; Hudson's instincts told him that Ringo should embrace his Beatles past, and thus was born a partnership that so far has resulted in three top notch, proper studio albums, the soundtrack to a VH1 Storytellers session, and a great Christmas album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus. Choose Love, the third studio release, continues in the grand tradition set by 1998's Vertical Man and 2003's Ringorama.
Which means that Choose Love is another ace collection. If there is another heritage rock artist having more fun making records, I'd like to know who. Ringo, Hudson and the Roundheads, one of the best studio bands working today, have written and produced a dozen songs about the drummer's trademark twin cause, peace and love. You can't beat this album for a splendid time. It's the perfect soundtrack for Beatles fans, Ringo fans, and fans of just plain good music.
This time around, the special guest star crutch is barely leaned on, with only the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde and old pal Billy Preston putting in appearances; Hynde trades vocal lines with Ringo on the album's best track, the clever rocker "Don't Hang Up," and Preston provides piano and B3 organ on the stirring, spiritual "Oh My Lord." Otherwise, it's the Roundheads backing up the starr of the show, whose drumming is as good as ever.
The jangly, Tom Petty/Byrds-ish "Some People" is a great, catchy, single-worthy track, with typically McCartneyesque bass playing by Hudson and Beatlesque background vocals by Hudson and guitarist Gary Burr (Steve Dudas plays the electric here). The stadium-ready, rockabilly workout "Give Me Back the Beat" is another of those tailor-made Ringo songs guaranteed to get a crowd moving; the next time he takes his All-Starr gang on tour, he should think about including this little ditty. The rocking title track lays Ringo's everlasting philosophy on the line, and who wouldn't want to choose love during these demanding days?
Peace and love, indeed. Choose Love is the perfect tonic for you and yours on any old day. It'll play just as well in the hair salons as it will in your home. The moral of the story? Choose love, and choose Ringo.
Alan Haber
June 14, 2005