ALBUM REVIEW: Ringo Starr - Sentimental Journey

    The Beatles' breakup wasn't known about until more than half a year later, but the fact is the group was finished in September of 1969, just after the recording of Abbey Road, when John told the other members he was leaving, and as we'll see with the first wave of Beatles solo albums, every member had their own reaction to it - Ringo, for what it was worth, was terrified of what the future held. For him, being a Beatle was all he knew, and he recognized that he did not have the songwriting chops of fellow members John, Paul, or now George. Still, Ringo desired to record a few albums with his spare time, first tossing around the idea of a country album (in due time, Richie) before settling on this album filled with old pop standards, produced by George Martin. Releasing in March of 1970, Ringo holds the title of having the first proper Beatles solo album recorded in the wake of their private break-up. Of course, if you're expecting the energetic pop rock of The Beatles, you're going to be sorely disappointed when listening to Sentimental Journey, as I was long ago when I first heard it - in time, though, it becomes easier to acknowledge the excellent production of the album, and the fact that Ringo really does put his heart into the album. What it lacks in some wow factor is made up in some form of earnesty.

    It would be easy to look at Sentimental Journey as another bizarre outlying Beatles solo project, not dissimilar from John's avant-garde trilogy or Harrison's Electronic Sound in terms of not fitting in with Beatles lineage, but for Ringo it all makes far too much sense. First off, Ringo's weaker but undoubtedly charming singing voice had been well-suited for slower Beatles moments like "Good Night", and an album of similar material would be suited for the mothers whose favorite Beatle was definitely Ringo (as is the way of the world). Second, Ringo approached songs that were deeply ingrained in his Liverpool upbringing, even down to the album cover's location outside of a pub  in the Dingle area of the city that he grew up in. All of this makes for an unlikely melding of ideas for Starr, whose performances throughout are only one part of what is a pretty great sounding record through and through. George Martin had been The Beatles' orchestral arranger for their most grandiose works, and had been a talented producer before his life was eventually taken over by the Fab Four - he's nothing short of shining here, and it helps that his own George Martin Orchestra do wonders on these beloved pop standards. While the end results are certainly a little mixed, what he have at the basis of Sentimental Journey is a well-executed sound that is decently suited enough for Ringo. Much more than I initially claimed, at least.

    It's all in good fun, although this is the part where I ultimately say that the album is flawed. For as much fun as Ringo is having here and how solid everything sounds, it's very hard for me to push past the fact that a good chunk of the album is a bit of a snooze fest. Because a solid amount of the album falls along a slower pace, it makes for a very drowsy time at points, especially on moments like the still unexciting "Whispering Grass" or the equally drab "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" that feels antiquated even by the standards of a traditional pop album. Even some of the more vamping moments like "You Always Hurt the One You Love" don't excite the way they should, especially given the energy displayed. That isn't to say it's all a boring affair, because Ringo and Co. do often deliver quite the fun show. The title track is a highlight, and the banjo-led rendition of "Bye Bye Blackbird" is a gem of early Ringo (frankly, I think it's a little overlooked in the grand scheme). "Night and Day" is filled with charisma from Starr, and coupled with the smooth "Stardust" is decently close to the charm of a 50s Sinatra album (albeit 10 years younger than Sinatra was during In the Wee Small Hours). The nocturnal "Dream" is also a decently lovely track, and one that's far better than I initially gave it credit for - it's sleepy, yes, but that's the idea here. Still, the album is hit or miss between charming fun and charming boredom, and the fact that the album is front loaded doesn't necessarily help things.

    When I originally reviewed this album around a year ago, I was far too critical of this release. Do I still find this to be a somewhat boring release? At points, yes, but I regularly called it "dated" and unsuited for Ringo's style, which are two things I don't necessarily agree with anymore. It may still be old school sounding, but I don't find that to be a detriment to the album, and frankly it's very suited for Ringo. It's an inconsistent listen, sure, but at its best it's a capture of what exactly makes Ringo so charming - his voice isn't on par with McCartney or Lennon, but he has character in droves and oozes charm, and more than anything he knows how to deliver a fun time. Sentimental Journey is very much a journey with Ringo through his childhood and the wonder of old, and in some ways that's what makes it such a workable release in spite of its flaws.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Sentimental Journey.