Photograph: Very Best of Ringo Starr 
Artist: Ringo Starr
Label: Capitol 
ASIN: B000TZUSQW 
Length: 2 disc/17 tracks

So Ringo is the fourth Beatle and even recognized it in an album title of a record that wasn’t his fourth! In the post-Beatle middle-years, he lost the plot to drink and became the voice of trains for children and though the later years might not be as strongly represented here as much as the early years,  you reject Ringo Starr at your peril. No, he is no great songwriter and, no again, he aint the best vocalist in the world but remember that "Yellow Submarine" and "With A Little Help From My Friends" are not exactly obscure Beatles songs. 

This is a timely compilation that first of all should remind people that in the early seventies, he was as likely to top the charts, certainly in America, as his mates John and Paul; in '70 and '71, George blew all their sales figures away! As John headed towards the political and deep introspection, George evangelized his eastern mysticism and Paul just continued the Beatle furrow, Ringo exploited his humorous cuddly Beatle identity. His songs were full of fun but never slipped into novelty and they didn’t get to the top of the charts without a great deal of melody. A look at the players on this compilation and you will go through the history of rock, as well his fab three mates. There is Billy Preston, Elton John, Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Benmont Tench as well as a duet with country legend Buck Owens. Songs like "It Don’t Come Easy" and "Photograph" are beauties, the latter taking on more poignancy in that it was co-written with George Harrison and Ringo sang it for his old mate at the George Tribute Concert. Elsewhere "Your Sixteen," "Only You," and "Hey Babe" showcase Starr’s ability to recognize cover songs that suit him and then that aforementioned endearing quality in their performance.
  

Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman is the Presbyterian Chaplain at Queens University, Belfast, Ireland, where he lives in community with 88 students. He has written two books Walk On; The Spiritual Journey of U2 which he is currently updating and The Rock Cries Out; Discovering Eternal Truth in Unlikely Music. He dabbles in poetry and songwriting and he has a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Ulster (listen anytime of day or night @ www.bbc.co.uk/ni/religion/rhythmandsoul). He has his own web page--Rhythms of Redemption at http://stocki.ni.org . He also tries to spend some time with his wife Janice and daughters Caitlin and Jasmine.