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Ringo Starr (Rob Shanahan)
Ringo Starr's new "Y Not" album will be released Jan. 12 on Hip-O Records, it was officially announced Thursday.
He''ll have help from some friends, but "Y Not" will also have Ringo in a new hands-on role besides wielding drumsticks. It will mark a first for the 69-year-old former Beatle -- he'll produce it.
Why now?
“I didn’t do it at the start,” he said in a press release announcing the album. “I was the least involved in the production of the Beatle records. And then with my solo records, I worked with some other great producers like Richard Perry, Arif Mardin, and Don Was. So it just seemed like that’s the way that it goes. Then suddenly, it’s another point in your life, and you say, `I’m going do this now.’ So I’ll be producing anything I make from now on. That’s the good news. It’s a confidence thing, I suppose. And 'Y Not' is really another way of me saying, “Yes, I can,” he said in a statement.
In typical Ringo fashion, he said the decision on who to choose for producer was an easy one. “Well, I looked in the mirror. And I was looking real groovy that day.”
In addition to taking the producing reins, many old friends will be on board lending a hand. And it's a no brainer to figure out who'll get the most attention -- Paul McCartney, who plays bass on "Peace Dream," the latest effort by the former Beatle to spread "peace and love." He also sings with Ringo on the album's first single, "Walk With You," written by Starr and Van Dyke Parks, and described as a song about friendship.
And that they are. Starr speaks fondly about how the collaboration came about. “Paul was doing the Grammys, so he came over to the house and was playing bass on `Peace Dream.” So I played him this other track and Paul said, `Give me the headphones. Give me a pair of cans.’ And he went to the mike and he just invented that part where he follows on my vocal. That was all Paul McCartney, and there could be nothing better. He makes it bigger and he makes it fuller. It makes the song like a conversation between us, and that was Paul’s idea to do his part one beat behind me. That’s why he’s a gen-i-us and an incredible bass player.”
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There are a lot of other friends onboard, as well. The list includes his recent brother-in-law Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart and longtime Roundheads member Steve Dudas on guitar, Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on keyboards, Don Was and Mike Bradford on bass and Bruce Sugar, Starr’s engineer and co-producer, on keyboards. Other guests include Joss Stone, Ben Harper and Richard Marx on vocals, Ann Marie Calhoun on violin and Tina Sugandh -- aka Tina The Tabla Girl in a charming video with Ringo – on tabla and chanting.
In addition, Starr’s composing collaborators for the songs on "Y Not" include more familiar names: In addition to Walsh, Parks, Stewart. and Stone, there's also Glen Ballard, Richard Marx, Gary Nicholson, Gary Wright and former Roundhead band member, Gary Burr.
The songs on the album cover a wide range of styles. There's Starr and Walsh on “Fill In The Blanks,” the rocking opener, which they wrote. There's also “The Other Side Of Liverpool,” an autobiographical song touching on Ringo's early life. “People believe I was born, was a Beatle and lived in a big house,” Starr said. “And where I come from was a very dark, damp, violent neighborhood. I wanted to write another little snapshot of my life, and I’m going to do this every album. It’s better for me than doing it in a book. In two lines I can say what would take five pages. Like the song says, “The other side of Liverpool is cold and damp/Only way out of there/drums, guitar and amp.”
Starr says he received a big vote of confidence on the album from his son Zak. “I just played it for my son Zak. And Zak was so great. He said, 'Dad, it’s great. This rocks! You should have been doing this forever.' It’s nice coming from your boy, especially since he’s a really good drummer.”
Another side of Ringo. Good to see it. Can't wait to hear it.
More Ringo reading:
- Ringo Starr new album cover art revealed
- Beatle Ringo Starr 'Caveman' costume highlights December entertainment auction
- Exclusive: New Ringo Starr album coming in 2010
Comments
Can't wait for this one, especially the Ringo & Paul voice & rhythm duet on the track 'Peace Drums'. Love that title! Like an imaginary Plastic Ringo Band track from 1969! Sounds like Y NOT will be the perfect cure for some dreary early 2010 days.
Of course it'll also give that (alleged) Beatle fanzine another chance to ignore Ringo for the cover, in favor of it's eight billionth live Paul pic cover, and use up some inside pages to pan Ringo in general and Y NOT in particular. Now ain't that special?
This album is going to be great. Especially with Paul McCartney.
The song is called "Peace Dream", not Peace Drums. It will be a fine album, I think. I'll buy it!
can't wait to hear it!
And Zak isn't spelt Zack. How hard can rewriting a press release be?
Charming isn't the word I'd use to describe Tina Sugandh's video - try embarassing. Ringo's behavior was boorish, playing her tabla as if they were bongos. While she tries very hard to be gracious, poor Tina has this look on her face like any second now he's going to break one of them.
How would he have felt if some amateur had treated his drum kit in a such a disrespectful manner?
Guys, let's cut Richie some slack. Sure, he's made some duff PR decisions over the last 18 months or so, but at least he's still making music which is why we all love him in the first place. And isn't it great that he and Paul still have a cherished, unbreakable bond after all these years. And Y not...
thefool says:
"The song is called "Peace Dream", not Peace Drums".
So I was wearing old glasses, so sue me. First: Every song on which Ringo drums features Peace Drums; ask him. Second: 'Peace Dream' sounds even more like a '60s John & Yoko song title - which is about the highest praise I can give!
Sounds very exciting, Paul and Ringo dueting and playing together on two songs.
George was wonderful on King of Broken hearts, together he and Ringo made it a very Beatlish song.
I'm sure Paul and Ringo will accomplish that here as well.
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