Ringo Rama

Ringo Starr's post-Beatles music has relied on allusions to his legendary past. Indeed, the very first line of "Eye to Eye," the melodic hard rocker that opens Ringorama, asks, "Remember when I said 'it don't come easy'?" On the country-tinged "Write One for Me," guest vocalist Willie Nelson name checks the Fabs' "Yesterday." And, strangely, "English Garden," the final track, very obviously borrows from "Let €˜Em In," the 1976 Paul McCartney & Wings hit. But the Beatles reference that will undoubtedly touch the most fans is "Never Without You," a tribute to George Harrison that features some nice '60s pop flourishes and a familiar-sounding Eric Clapton guitar solo. In its own way, it's as fine a tribute to George as the latter€s "All Those Years Ago" was to John Lennon. Most of Starr€s songwriting today is done with producer Mark Hudson, who also cowrote his last solo effort, 1998's Vertical Man, and who€s always acknowledged a strong Beatles influence in his own material. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour manages to get the great rock drummer mighty revved up on "I Think, Therefore I Rock & Roll," while the catchy "Missouri Loves Company" and "Memphis in Your Mind" should remind all doubtful listeners that Ringo€s had some classic pop moments of his own over the years. --Bill Holdship