Ringo Starr released his 17th solo album, Ringo 2012, on Jan. 31, 43 years after the Beatles performed their last live performance. It's impossible not to respect the surviving drummer of one of the 20th century's most influential and world-loved bands. Richard Starkey (dubbed Ringo Starr) played a smart move in 1962 when he left his former band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to replace Pete Best as the Beatles' drummer. Starr's solo music career is nothing new—this album is added to a long list of critically acclaimed studio collections. These include his most recent albums, Liverpool 8 (2008) and Y Not (2010). After singing lead vocals for The Beatles hits "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Yellow Submarine," it isn't surprising that Starr makes a talented solo artist. This album's title, Ringo 2012, references his most successful solo album Ringo (1973), which was certified platinum by the RIAA and reached number two on the Billboard 200. In this recent studio album, Starr performs drums, percussion, vocals, and keyboard. Fellow talented artists contribute to the album, including Joe Walsh (guitar), Van Dyke Parks, Don Was, and Dave Stewart. The album Ringo 2012, despite having an unexciting name, is a fresh and uplifting mix of rock songs. "Step Lightly" is actually a re-recording of a song on Ringo, and gives a different sound to his original lyrics, including, "You gotta find yourself a love that's gonna last." We can assume from Starr's 50-plus years of musical success that he took his own advice. Starr's most memorable song of the album, "In Liverpool," is about his 23 years spent in his hometown, Dingle, Liverpool. The lyrics "Me and the boys / Me and the gang / Living our fantasy / Breaking the rules / Actin' like fools / That's how it was for me" are beautifully nostalgic and give us insight into the drummer's life before The Beatles. Despite his extensive health complications as a child (including coma-inducing appendicitis), Richard Starkey was able to shine at school in art and drama. In 1957, amidst Liverpool's "skiffle" musical phase, Starkey joined the band Raving Texans, where he adopted the cowboy-esque stage name Ringo Starr after his stylish rings. It was in 1960, when he was performing in Hamburg, that Starr met The Beatles. These early years in Liverpool are obviously important in Starr's development as an artist. The album's two covers, "Think it Over" (a Buddy Holly original) and "Rock Island Line" have a refreshingly happy sound and are two of my album favorites. In his song "Anthem," the lyrics "This is an anthem / Of peace and love" remind us of the Beatles' legendary anti-violence messages, proving that the former Beatle hasn't strayed too far from his roots. The chorus of the song is a little repetitive but is redeemed by its melody and Beatles-reminiscent poppy sound. The second track of the album, "Wings," is a re-recording from a previous album and an improvement on "Anthem." This tune has a much better sound, and Joe Walsh jams great guitar chords throughout the entire song. Obviously, it's difficult to disassociate Starr's solo success from his incomparably unique Beatles career. Recently, in L.A., Ringo Starr was interviewed by Russell Brand and explained, "I've been asked to write an autobiography of myself, but they only really want those eight years. And I say, ‘But there are ten volumes before we get to that and twenty afterwards.'" Although most will only listen to this left-handed drummer when jamming out to their favorite Beatles tunes, Starr should be respected for his musical talent outside of the 1960s. Starr's continued enthusiasm in creating albums after the Beatles proves his genuine passion for music, sadly unlike a slew of popular musicians today. In Starr's song "In Liverpool," when he sings, "Music was my goal / In my heart and in my soul and in my mind," we actually believe him.
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