My Sentimental Journey | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

^ Oh, and just to be the first to throw my own thread off topic, how do I italicise (or even mention) the word Blackbird without it throwing in a spurious reference to the Beatles song of that name?

meanmistermustard said
I find Sentimental Journey to be one of the better Ringo albums – not that that says much. Wispering Grass being my highlight. 

A nice shiny remaster would be nice but i doubt there is much chance in the near future with Ringo’s catalogue being as forgotten as George’s Extra Texture and Dark Horse .

Thanks mmm.  I have edited my post to reflect the fact that I was listening to a 1995 reissue which may have been a remaster, the sound was pretty decent.  I suspect the same was done to Beaucoup of Blues and those 2 George albums around the same time but I can’t be certain.  I’ll comment on the sound when I get to those two.

On Whispering Grass – it WAS kind of funky but a crazy set of lyrics – reminded me of the flowers and birds bit in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

meanmistermustard said
Interesting that you had never heard it before now trc. Agree about how its “somewhat insubstanial, tho pleasant enough” and yes i’ve heard MIA too many times now. There is a gorgeous version from One Hand Clapping (on the delux edition release) which for me is just as good as the commercial version, love Paul’s vocal and the piano/keyboard used.

Out of interest are you listening to the outakes that come with the archives and any external singles that aren’t on the albums as well (eg Instant Karma , Another Day , Oh Woman , Oh Why) or just the albums as they were released at the time?

Even though I was a big fan at the time (and saw Paul live in Brisbane in the early 1970s) I also didn’t get Speed of Sound because I didn’t like any of the singles off it – so that one will be new to me as well when I get to it – crazy kid

On the out-takes and singles: it partly depends on which version of the CD I have – a number of my McCartney CDs are from the ‘McCartney Collection’ reissue and come with bonus tracks, I also have the 2-CD version of Ram with Another Day and also a few compilations like Wingspan.  For Lennon I have a 4CD box which has most of his singles (Gimme Some Truth ) and his 4-CD Anthology.  Some of my Ringo and George CDs also have bonus tracks and I have a few compilations there as well.  That should cover most (but not all) of those types of tracks.  I’m currently planning to run through those based on release dates but will see how I go.

Without further ado we move along to September 1970 and the second Ringo Starr album I didn’t like back then:

Well, I’m not sure if becoming a Neil Young fan has anything to do with my liking country music a bit more, but I really like this album now.  I have the 1995 remastered CD, it has great sound and a couple of bonus tracks we will consider later.  A meeting with Pete Drake while he was working on All Things Must Pass led Ringo to the idea of recording this album; though he has of course long had an interest in country music (as examples – he has recorded Act Naturally twice and then there is Don’t Pass Me By off the White Album ).  As the liner notes to the CD suggest he also has “a natural voice for singing country music” and it comes through very nicely here – he also has a bit of that mournful thing that is so essential to the best of the genre.

There is also a link to Neil Young on the record, Neil’s long-time friend and frequent collaborator Ben Keith plays some great slide guitar, as does Pete Drake (Drake also produced the album).  The musicianship is excellent throughout, with the Jordanaires also contributing some nice backing vocals.  The songs themselves were all composed either not long before or specifically for the album and are a pretty good bunch.  The bonus tracks don’t quite match the standard of the rest, but are worth their inclusion.  Coochy Coochy is the most up-tempo track here and was the b-side when the title track was released as a single in the USA – it is the only track written by Ringo.  The second bonus track, Nashville Jam, meanders along pleasantly enough but I was expecting more from this fine band of musicians.  Apparently a lot more songs were recorded at the sessions, it would be nice to see them released some day if they are anywhere near the standards of the ones on the album.

[EDIT] And wonder of wonders, Ringo plays acoustic guitar on a number of the tracks!!

Overall, a really nice album, and one worth a listen if you have any interest in Ringo or in country music and the Beatles – he honestly does really well here.

Next up – ooh ahh – ooh ahh – All Things Must Pass .

Von Bontee said
Love that album cover! No Beatle ever had a more natural, non-posed-looking album cover than Ringo does on this one here.

(Funny how all 4 Beatles released solo (or Wings) albums in 1970-71 with covers depicting them sitting around or lying around “getting back to nature”)

I only played this record once (or twice) several years ago – found it pleasant and enjoyable for what it was, but didn’t feel any need to give it more attention than that. Low tolerance for country music. But maybe I’ll try it again someday, who knows?

Yes, I agree about the cover – even with the non-PC nowadays ciggie in hand

Okay, back on track

In another thread (which I unfortunately made overly complicated, so I won’t link it here) I tried to note that from this point late in 1970 the next solo album by each of the four ex-Beatles is my favourite album by each of the four (bearing in mind the fact that I have yet to listen to a number of albums by Paul and a few by Ringo and George).  For a time it was almost possible to forget how painful the breakup was.

So this next one is:

which used to look like this when I had it in on a triple-LP:

It is now on a double-CD, with a few bonus tracks.  Short story, I loved it then – I love it now.  The remaster it has had in the little box I now own is brilliant, bringing out a lot more detail from the Phil Spector wall of sound.  Eric Clapton now gets the credit he needed back then, his trademark sound is all over the album, he is joined by Ringo, Klaus, Billy and a host of friends both old and new.  George is in full creative mode, finally having an outlet for the songs he could never manage to get onto Beatles albums.  Unfortunately I think this was an outburst that was impossible to sustain, but we will get to that in due time.

There are so many songs I like on this album that I won’t bore you with them all; but the title track and Isn’t It A Pity (both, yes both, versions) are particular favourites.  The remaster has also helped bring out more distinction between the tracks; I seem to recall feeling that too many of the songs sounded similar, but didn’t have that feeling listening to this box.  I didn’t really like the (Apple) jams on the old 3rd LP back in the day, I will still frequently stop the 2nd CD after the vocal tracks – but the jams have some nice moments.

To the 5 bonus tracks tacked onto the 1st CD – they are interesting but I only really felt the first worthy of the rest of the album, a nicely completed song called I Live For You.  The next 3 are demos or backing tracks and the fifth is an odd remake of My Sweet Lord .  I don’t mind the song though it has never been one of my favourites off the album – the remake doesn’t really get going until half way through but has a nice final third.

So – who should listen to this?  Well, firstly – is there anyone out there who hasn’t?

Honestly, essential listening for anyone who considers themselves a Beatles fan, as is the next album I will be listening to and reporting on, Plastic Ono Band* (and I must admit I cheated and listened to it the day I bought the remaster last year – I did the same with Ram and Ringo ha ha) – but I will listen to it again shortly to get it back in sequence.  Watch this space …

PS  There is a nice little booklet in the box which has some great photos, including the one which used to come as a poster with the LPs, plus song lyrics and a few words from George.  He says he was tempted to remix the album, based on the new version of My Sweet Lord I’m glad he didn’t.

*  Umm – that will be the John Lennon one and not the Yoko Ono one!