Liverpool 8 -
Released 2008 - 5
Some artists are so difficult to review and Ringo
is certainly one of those. I had a great deal of trouble with
Liverpool 8 because of my pre-conceptions that poor old Ringo just
cannot sing. On first play I hated this. Then I began to consider
the obvious love that had gone into producing the album and on
second and third play began to enjoy it. Strangely it probably
reflects on the back life of a Beatle more accurately than
anything released as a solo album by the other three members of
the Fab Four. Of course that doesn't mean that it's a good album
but Ringo has
had
a damn good try. There's a mix of up tempo numbers and ballads and
passing references to Harry Nilsson and the other Beatles and much
more. And of course at the heart of it all is Liverpool - which
somehow has been named the 2008 European City of Culture. It is
undeniably true that Liverpool has a greater heart than any other
English City. So where does Ringo fall into all of this? The title
track looks back at his past and its opening from a lyrical point
of view is excessively corny. Poor old Ringo seems to insist on
rhyming everything so we have his mate Rory rhyming with Factory.
I was a sailor first, I sailed the sea
Then I got a job, in a factory
Played Butlin’s Camp with my friend, Rory
It was good for him, it was great for me
Livepool I left you, said goodbye to Madryn Street
I always followed my heart, and I never missed a beat
Destiny was calling, I just couldn’t stick around
Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down
Interestingly the lyrics did make me google Madryn Street in
Toxteth where Ringo was born. There are plans afoot to pull the
street with its typical Coronation Street style houses down. Quite
rightly there is a strong lobby of heritage supporters attempting
to at least save Ringo's former home at number nine. I hope they
succeed. It is all too easy to rip up the past without giving a
thought to the affect it can have. Apart from the poetry Liverpool
8 is a strangely decent song even if at one point we do get the
words "We were number one and it was fun (yuck). The best
song on the album is "Love Is" which is actually a
beautiful piece. Elsewhere there's a touch of bluegrass, even some
hickory gospel. It really is a huge mixed bag, but still decent
enough to warrant consideration despite the usual embarrassing
moments. And as Ringo says in the title track "Liverpool I
left you, but I never let you down."
