Ringo Starr - Beaucoups Of Blues

As everyone knows, when the sixties drew to a close, The Beatles were no longer a functional unit and they soon disbanded. However, like many other members of the group, drummer Ringo Starr wanted to create as solo album. He wanted to do so even before the band broke up, and now that they had done so, there would be no better time than the present to release one. In 1970, Ringo Starr released his first studio album as a solo artist - Sentimental Journey. It was an odd album, in that it wasn't rock or pop, but rather covers of old tunes from the thirties and forties. Later in that year, he released another strange album - Beaucoups Of Blues. This one consisted of nothing but country/western songs! Was this a good move? Read on for my review of this album.

The first thing I need to tell you about this album is that it is NOT the Ringo Starr you know and love. If you're looking for tunes like Octopus's Garden and It Don't Come Easy, this album is going to disappoint you. However, if you've got an open mind, you may find it to be pretty interesting. Ringo was the oldest member of The Beatles, and accordingly he had a pretty diverse musical interest. He really enjoyed country/western, and for quite some time, he wanted to do an album of nothing but songs of that styling. For this album, he teamed up with an all-star line-up of musicians, including the legendary Charlie Daniels, and even The Four Jordanaires, a group famous for backing Elvis Presley. The album serves up twelve country/western tunes, all of which are very similar, but each one manages to be unique enough to maintain its appeal. This CD reissue of the album is VERY nice for one major reason - You get two ultra-rare bonus cuts! They are Coochy Coochy, which was the B-Side to one of the album's singles, and Nashville Jam, a track which was previously unreleased in any shape or form. However, this is NOT an album to start with if you're new to Ringo's solo material. To fully enjoy this release, you need an OPEN MIND.

Overall, Beaucoups Of Blues is a good second solo effort by Ringo Starr the solo artist. However, it wouldn't be until 1973's Ringo (that's the name of the album) that he would truly find his voice as a solo artist. Final verdict? Only get Sentimental Journey and/or Beaucoups Of Blues if you're a Ringo Starr completist, or if you're a die-hard fan that just can't get enough Ringo. Though these albums were certainly an interesting progression attempt, they aren't going to impress fans who are seeking a Beatles-esque album.