Let's be honest. Ringo is the Beatle most expect the least of. Despite the stigma that comes with being the luckiest drummer who's ever lived, he's put together a pretty good little album in
Liverpool 8. That's due in part to some decent collaborations with Gary Burr (formerly of the Pure Prairie League) whose songwriting credits are as long as my arm, and a producer in Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.
Many of the cuts from the album do sound a bit like Beatles tunes of yesteryear like"Gone are the Days" which is notably Revolverish in its stereophonic use of the sitar and "Harry's Song" which is very similiar to the chord progressions of and tempo of "Octopus' Garden" but with what sounds like a fetal heartbeat monitor providing percussion. If you close your eyes, you could almost mistake the classical guitar in "Pasodobles" as "And I Love Her." But of course, there are worse fates than reminding fans that you were in the world's greatest band.
The best songs on the album are "Liverpool 8", the title track and first single off the album, and my guess for the second single, "If It's Love That you Want."
As a matter of fact, all the tracks are pretty good (with exception to "Pasodobles.")
In short,
Liverpool 8 is an album that reflects an artist who after all this time, is still dedicated to the ideas of love and peace, his blessings, and love for his wife. It's likeable and cheery, just like Ringo.
Release date: October 2, 2007
Label: Fantasy Records
The title of John Fogerty's new album is "Revival". Which is very fitting since the new album is thick with references to his former band Creedence Clearwater Revival. From "Creednence Song" ("...you can't go wrong if you play a little bit of that Creedence song...") to the scathing anti-war track directed at President Bush "I Can't Take it No More" ("...your daddy wrote a check and there you are another fortunate son...")
The distinctive, jangly, bayou-inspired rock rife with disillusionment with the current state of the world which made Creedence so popular in the late 60's and 70's still works today since sadly affairs have seemed to come full circle rather than progressing and that adds frustrated fuel to this rock fire which Fogerty has so artfully woven into the tracks on "Revival." Like the bittersweet tune "Don't You Wish It Was True; the first single off the album. On it, Fogerty waxes poetic on a sort of ideal world where "...everybody was your friend...all the little children will live happily..."
For the most part, the songs on "Revival" deal mostly in the musings of a rock star reflecting on his career and life like in "Summer of Love" and "Creedence Song." and the absurdity of pop culture and politics.
The album is very good. Fogerty's voice is gritty and soulful, making an album that must be actively listened to. The lyrics are thoughtful and mesh perfectly with Fogerty's inspired guitar work and yes, is very reminiscient of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
John Fogerty's new song "Don't You Wish it Was True" is featured in our Then and Now File aired weekdays on 99.1 the Eagle.
Review by Christy Caro
© 2008