Ringo Starr - Old Blood (1979)
Following the Beatles' temporary hiatus, Ringo Starr spent most of 1979 hiring musicians and old friends to make an album of his own. He had made an album of traditional pop classics titled Sentimental Journey back in 1970, but that was more of a passion project. This would establish him as a pop act of his own, showing the world that he didn't need the other Beatles. The first people Ringo phoned for the project were the other Beatles, with David Bowie, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and even John Lennon agreeing to help in some capacity. McCartney wrote and played on "Pure Gold", Harrison on "When Every Song Is Sung", Bowie played on his cover of "Bad Boy", and Lennon played piano on "Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)". Eric Clapton also wrote "This Be Called a Song" for Starr to sing. Starr's longtime friend Vini Poncia produced the sessions. The title came about from a newspaper article Starr had read back in 1976. Complaining about the large amount of old acts that were charting, the piece said that the music scene needed "new blood". Ringo, hardly new to the industry, called his album "Old Blood" in response. Going along with the theme, the album cover shows Ringo tattered in blood, somewhat controversial at the time.
The album released on November 9, 1979 to little attention from the public, largely due to an absence of advertising. The album has never been seen as much good other to a select few fans, and most consider it a missed opportunity for the drummer to show off his skills. He would release a follow-up titled Ringo's Second in 1982 that would get similarly little attention.
You Don't Know Me at All
All tracks are sourced from Ringo's Rotogravure, Ringo the 4th, and Bad Boy. "When Every Song Is Sung" is "I'll Still Love You" from Ringo's Rotogravure.
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