OK, so Ringo’s got a new EP out. When I called around to some record stores in the Cedar Valley, including the mega-merchandising big box stores, NO ONE had a copy on the day it was released. He’s a BEATLE for cryin’ out loud! I had to explain to the music clerk on the phone at one of the bog box stores as to what/who “Ringo” was! Ringo Starr. He was in this band called The Beatles. He was the drummer. Not only is it a sign of the times, but probably an indication of my own irrelevancy!
As of last week, pandemic concerns have rescheduled his All-Starr Band live tour to NEXT year (June 2022). The man will be 81 years old on July 7th.But, I digress. His new record, title "Zoom In," which I found in Dubuque (Moondog Music), is a 12” vinyl, 5 songs, being sold for $20. I have still not seen a CD copy (about half the price in catalogs).
I was not a big fan of Ringo’s early/middle solo career, but have REALLY liked his last three albums, particularly 2015’s "Postcards From Paradise," where he was the co-writer of all the songs (mostly biographical) and the apparently aptly titled "What’s My Name" in 2019. All of the recent releases have maintained the Ringo, Peace and Love brand.
Normally if someone says they really like three songs on an album you think “that must be a stinker” but three out of five ain’t bad! He’s got some big name friends/people making appearances including Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, and Dave Grohl, all in the vocal background group on "Here’s To The Nights" (my least favorite of the five songs).
There’s a cool, timely groove/message on the title song "Zoom In Zoom Out," which has kind of a Doors feel, maybe because Doors guitar player Robbie Krieger plays guitar on that one. That’s also one of the two songs that Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) plays keys. Ringo is the drummer on all the tunes, as always, he is deep in the pocket, including the reggae tinged "Waiting For The Tide To Turn."
So, you might like to Zoom In on Ringo. That’s Ringo Starr. He was in The Beatles. Ask your Granddad about him, or better yet, tune in every Sunday evening to IPR's Studio One from 6:30-7 p.m. and get a whole Beatles education!
