Album Of The Week (for the week of November 24, 2024)
Ringo Starr Crooked Boy
Even with all their past glories burning brightly as ever, there has been an unprecedented whirlwind of Beatles releases over the past 12 months, not the least of which is perhaps the most important one: the very final recording by The Beatles ever.
Released just over a year ago on November 2, 2023, the much heralded Now And Then quickly shot to #1 on the UK Singles chart, The Beatles first #1 in 54 years, setting a record for the longest gap between number one singles by any musical act. It also became the first song co-written by Ringo Starr to top the UK chart, but more on him later.
Now And Then set the ball rolling for an abundance of riches from The Beatles that included the first new composition by the songwriting duo of Lennon & McCartney in over half a century.
As a predecessor to Beautiful Nothing, his first album in 8 years, James McCartney teamed up with Sean Ono Lennon to write and record the achingly poignant ballad Primrose Hill released earlier this year.
In addition to overseeing the massive undertaking of the archival multi disc box set for his father’s 1973 solo album Mind Games, the younger Lennon also got round this year to releasing Asterisms, his own first ever album of instrumental material on the highly regarded avant garde, experimental music label Tzadik Records.
Asterisms LP by Sean Ono Lennon
Not to be outdone by Lennon and McCartney, (Dhani) Harrison released his own second solo album Innerstanding to critical acclaim just a little over a year ago.
This past year Harrison has also overseen the remastering and remixing of his father’s follow up to the legendary All Things Must Pass album, Living In The Material World from 1974. Harrison’s thrilling 2024 reissue received a 10/10 review in Uncut Magazine:
“This new 2024 remix by Paul Hicks and Dhani Harrison brings the album into greater relief…the orchestral arrangements are brought out of the murk, Harrison’s vocals are clearer and sharper, and the album’s peculiar air of dry, ascetic starkness is increased.” – UNCUT 10/10
The elder McCartney has been no slouch either, allowing One Hand Clapping, the famous Wings double live album recorded for the BBC in preparation for their first ever European Tour, to finally see the light of day after gathering dust on the shelf of infamy for 50 years.
The Beatles themselves have seen the remastered reissues of both the expanded versions of the Red (1962-1966) and Blue (1967-1970) compilation albums, now triple albums, officially sanctioned by all four Beatles upon their initial release back in 1973.
This reviewer cannot recommend highly enough the remastered expanded Blue (1967-1970) album on vinyl. Worth the 100 bucks alone for the new vinyl mix of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which sounds like a tank pulverizing your living room when played on the hi-fi.
And if this wasn’t enough, a brand new glittering shiny mix of remastered Beatles songs appears on their latest album, the 20 track soundtrack to the new Martin Scorsese documentary Beatles ‘64.
John. Paul. George. And Ringo! Ringo!
Ringo released his latest EP, his fifth in just three years, Crooked Boy, under the direction and penmanship of LA based hit songwriter, producer extraordinaire, member of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, the great Linda Perry.
Ringo Starr’s forthcoming 2025 Country & Western album Look Up
After a rather abrupt and to this day unexplained breaking of ties with longtime friend and producer Mark Hudson, Ringo built his own studio, Roccabella West, in his home in Beverly Hills, California, and proceeded to teach himself how to produce his own records.
With the brief exception of Liverpool 8 which was produced by the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, Ringo has been producing himself for the better part of 15 years now.
But there’s something special about the process in which tunesmith Linda Perry dreams up a song for Ringo Starr, from the very inception of the subject matter, lyrics, melody and music to the final arrangement and production. Perry gets it, what is at the heart of a great Ringo Starr track, sometimes even better than Starr himself.
In addition to Ringo’s new EP he has also released two fabulous singles from his forthcoming Country & Western album Look Up coming out the first week of January 2025.
Stay tuned…