The Cavern
Rock & Words
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY (Ringo Starr, 1970)
Artist: Ringo Starr (E+)
Recording Dates: Oct ’69 – Mar ‘70
Release Date: March 27th, 1970
Record Label: Apple
Producer: George Martin
Rating: 5
Era: The Great Transition (1970-1980+)
Subgenre: The Great Transition 70's
Vest Song: Zzzzzzzzzzz…
Tracklist: 1) Sentimental Journey; 2) Night And Day; 3) Whispering Grass; 4) Bye Bye Blackbird; 5) I'm A Fool To Care; 6) Stardust; 7) Blue Turning Grey Over You; 8) Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing; 9) Dream; 10) You Always Hurt The One You Love; 11) Have I Told You Lately That I Love You; 12) Let The Rest Of The World Go By.
I remember reviewing The Platic Ono Band, my first review of an ex-Beatle, in January 2009. I'm certain of the date because of a very intense personal matter, a very painful loss, and in a way, that review served as catharsis. It's perhaps the only album for which I have a very clear idea of how, when, and where I reviewed it. More than five years later, I'm finally starting with Ringo.
You might wonder why it took so long to close the chapter on the Beatles' solo debuts. The answer is actually quite obvious. Ringo's debut album is more than just weak. Even without considering Harrison's Indian and electronic experiments, it's the weakest and least daring debut by any ex-Beatle. For a long time, I considered going straight to Ringo's third album, a gem that could be considered the last true work of the four Beatles, together, but not quite in sync. But that would be unfair.
We know Starr was a tremendous songwriter during his Beatles days… for two songs! So it's no surprise that this is an album of covers, arranged for a big band, with jazzy and orchestral touches, lots of bling, and rather Hollywood-esque results. Ringo singing like Frank Sinatra? Yes, it actually sounds as bad as it sounds. It sounds like the soundtrack to a low-budget Disney movie from the '40s.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the album is all the background and the many disputes between the Beatles, who were still officially a quartet during its recording, and even during its release.
Ringo began the sessions in October of '69. The Beatles were already in the process of breaking up, but it was still a living band, so it wasn't done with the purpose of kicking Paul's ass with his debut solo album. However, he would accept that it was obvious the Beatles would break up sooner or later, and at some point he asked himself, "What should I do with my life now? " So it was a way of starting over, anticipating the inevitable. In a In a 1976 interview with Circus , Starr said : "The great thing was that it got me moving. It got me going. OK let's go, not very fast, but just moving in some way. It was like the first shovel of coal in the furnace that makes the train inch forward." Ringo would say that when he started coming up with ideas for recordings, his mother asked him to do something similar, with the music she liked to listen to when Richard was a sickly child. "You've already achieved everything, playing what you love, go back to your roots."
Ringo approached George Martin with the idea, and Martin agreed to produce the album. They decided to invite a host of prominent musicians to contribute arrangements. Sentimental Journey features the participation and arrangements of such figures as Richard Perry, Chico O'Farrill, Ron Goodwin, Maurice Gibb (yes, the one who worked with the brothers), Klaus Voormann (a friend of the other three Beatles from their Hamburg days), Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, John Dankworth, Elmer Bernstein, Les Reed, and, of course, George Martin, each taking on a song. Even Paul McCartney arranged "Stardust"! He must have known the release date for a reason! I'm not saying collaborations don't matter—and the collaborations on his third album are proof of that. But there's a lack of creativity. Everything looks so listless and sleepy…
October 27 , 1969, and ended on March 6, 1970, resulting in the recording of the tracks: "Stormy Weather," "I'll Be Seeing You," and "Autumn Leaves." The album was initially going to be called Ringo Stardust, but he ultimately opted for the title we know because it sounded more sentimental and suited the musical style. The cover features a photo of the Empress Bar, a small pub in Ringo's childhood neighborhood in Liverpool, with family photos superimposed on the windows.
The other Beatles paid little attention to it. Abbey Road had just been released and was vying with Led Zeppelin II and Let It Bleed for the title of best album of the year. But each of them was already engrossed in their own projects and figuring out where to begin their solo endeavors. John had already released some singles, although he seemed more preoccupied with his political activism and having his picture taken with Yoko in bed. George hadn't yet begun recording what would become the greatest triple album of all time, but he was starting to shape the songs that would comprise it. Paul had already begun recording his debut in the bathroom at Mull of Kintyre, though he didn't know it. That is to say, he didn't take them very seriously at first, recording guitar and layering other instruments he played himself. But they were demos for when he could get into the studio. When he realized, to his horror, that Ringo had a massive head start and would release his album before everyone else, he stepped on the gas, recording all the remaining instruments himself. The ultra-perfectionist Paul didn't even mind that his daughters' laughter and voices could be heard on some tracks.
Things got complicated when the release date for Let It Be was announced, initially set for April 20 , 1970. Ringo released his album on March 27. Paul could do nothing, except try to get ahead of Let It Be, although John and George flatly refused to postpone the date on a whim. Paul could do nothing. Or almost nothing. He decided to get ahead by dropping a bombshell: On April 10, 1970, he announced his departure from the Beatles and the release of his debut album for April 17. Let It Be ended up postponing its release until May 8 .
Amidst all the hype, where nobody understood what the hell was going on with a band announcing their breakup but then releasing an album days later, and two of its members releasing other albums almost simultaneously, Sentimental Journey went almost unnoticed. Ringo promoted it on the Ed Sullivan Show and all, but the truth is, it's a weak album.
Let's face it: Ringo isn't the world's greatest singer, and making an album where his voice takes center stage might not have been such a brilliant idea. I understand the emotional aspect of pleasing his mother and all, but even though Ringo isn't off-key, he loses even that little bit of emotional depth that had worked for him when performing some songs with the Beatles. He sounds flat, like he's recording a parody album, overly self-indulgent, despite the fact that the arrangements were carefully crafted to accommodate the limitations of his vocal range. Perhaps the best track is "Bye Bye Blackbird," where he sheds his solemnity and seems to be having more fun with that carefree vibe, with Maurice Gibb playing the banjo .
In “I'm A Fool To Care” it seems he hasn't fully woken up, or that he recorded it with a monumental hangover. Then there's “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” which makes Rod Stewart's version (and Van's) look like a universal gem, even though they only really share the title melody.
I can't say much more. The songs are bombastic, and I haven't heard the original versions of most of them. It's really hard to give a particular opinion because they all have a very similar feel and atmosphere. You can't really say there's a bad track, either. It's just all... very... bland.
The album opens with "Sentimental Journey", written by Bud Green, Les Brown, and Bon Homer. Originally released and recorded by the Les Brown Band in 1945, with Doris Day on lead vocals, it was their first number one hit in America. This version was recorded on January 14, 1970, with arrangements by Richard Perry.
"Night and Day" originally by Cole Porter. Originally published for the 1932 musical "The Gay Divorcee," sung by Fred Astaire and Claire Luce. Adapted by Chico O'Farrill and recorded on October 27, 1969.
"Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees)" written by Fred and Doris Fisher. Originally published by The Ink Spots in 1940. Recorded on March 5, 1970 at Morgan Sound Studios with a 36-piece orchestra, with arrangement by Ron Goodwin.
"Bye Bye Blackbird" by Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson, adapted by none other than Maurice Gibb. It was originally published by Eddie Cantor in 1926; another source mentions that it was written in 1927 for vaudeville star George Price. In any case, it's lovely, but Joe Cocker left this version looking amateurish. It was also recorded on March 5th with the same large orchestra.
"I'm A Fool To Care", written by Ted Daffan and adapted by Klaus Voormann, whom I've always said is a superb graphic artist but a terrible musician. Written in 1948, it was a 1954 hit for Les Paul and Mary Ford. On February 11, 1970, Voormann conducted a 15-piece orchestra playing his own arrangement of the song; Ringo added his vocal part, one of the weakest on the record.
"Stardust", written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1927, with lyrics added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Ringo was more familiar with the 1957 version by Billy Ward and the Dominoes. Adapted by Paul McCartney, who released a similar but slightly better album in 2012: Kisses on the Bottom. The song was recorded on November 7, 1969.
"Blue Turning Grey Over You" by Andy Razaf and Fats Waller. Originally published by Louis Armstrong in 1930. It was adapted by Oliver Nelson and recorded on November 28, 1969.
"Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing" by Sammy Fain and Paul Webster. Originally made famous by The Four Aces, it was a 1955 hit and an Oscar winner, one of the few tracks I recognize from the album. The adaptation was done by Quincy Jones and recorded on January 14, 1970, at Olympic Sound Studios in Barnes, London. On February 3, it was re-recorded with a 16-piece orchestra, and Ringo Starr's vocals were added. On February 5, Ringo recorded a new vocal performance, perhaps the most emotional on the album.
Next up is "Dream" by Johnny Mercer, originally released by The Pied Pipers in 1945. This version was adapted by George Martin, and perhaps that's why I think it's generally the best song, making Ringo sing like Ringo and not like some attempt at Sinatra. Recording began on November 14, 1969.
"You Always Hurt The One You Love" by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher, originally released by The Mills Brothers in 1944. This version was adapted by John Dankworth. On February 25, 1970, at De Lane Lee Studios in Soho, John Dankworth conducted a 20-piece orchestra, and Ringo Starr added his vocals. On March 6, 1970, at Morgan Sound Studios, John Dankworth added drums, piano, and saxophone. The album recording was completed that day.
"Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" by Scott Wiseman was originally released by Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman in 1945 and covered in 1946 by Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. Adapted by Elmer Bernstein, Ringo Starr added his vocals on February 9, 1970, but re-recorded them on February 18. I want to emphasize that this version has nothing to do with Rod Stewart's version, which was composed by Van Morrison.
The album closes with "Let the Rest of the World Go By", by Ernest Ball and Karen Brennan, originally published by Dick Haymes in 1944. The older version dates back to 1919 and was originally by George J. Trinkaus and his band, but Ringo and his family must have been more familiar with Dick Haymes' 1944 version. The arrangement was done by Les Reed. On February 12, 1969, a 31-piece orchestra and nine singers recorded the song; Ringo added his vocals, but he also re-recorded a new vocal performance on February 18.
And that's it. It's really difficult to make an objective assessment. I don't think these tracks are better than the originals. They're not bad either, although I think 90-year-olds will appreciate them much more. But as I said, it's difficult to give an opinion song by song, and that's why I preferred to focus on technical details rather than embellish them. Initially, I even considered writing the first review without going song by song. Anyway. It's not a great album, but he'll make up for it by releasing a fantastic one later. That said, with a little help from his friends. Yes, THOSE friends.
By Corvan
Jul/4/2014
