What do you get when an ex-Beatle travels to Nashville and sits in with the finest group of Country musicians this side of the Mississippi? What you get is a top-of-the-line Country album that lives on for 50 years and counting. The album is "Beaucoups of Blues". The ex-Beatle is Ringo Starr.
Ringo Starr (a.k.a. Richard Starkey), had a love-affair with Country Music, long before he met John, Paul, and George. Indeed, as the peerless drummer for the Beatles, on every album or so, Ringo would sing lead on one decidedly country tune.
After the Beatles' breakup, Ringo met with the legendary steel guitarist Pete Drake, and together the two would gather in Nashville with the cream of veteran session players and make a beatuful country album. The playlist was comprised of new songs expressly written for Ringo's album. Recorded over three days, everyone involved enjoyed themselves immensely, and Ringo emerged with an album some music critics have compared favorably with Harrison's "All Things Must Pass." Others have compared the album with Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline".
While Pete Drake produced, the album has strong links with Elvis Presley, as the recording engineer was Scotty More, Presley's long-time guitarist; and the backup singers were "The Jordinaires", Presley's legendary backup vocal group
The amazing thing is they recorded the album in three days. The songs were all brand new to Ringo, yet he sings them as if he'd been singing them for a lifetime. The recording sessions were done in three days. Three days! With the Beatles, they would be doing well if their album was completed in three months.
As much as I admire the singing-and-composing talents of the Beatles, somehow I can't image John, Paul, and George singing these country tunes with the simple honesty of their drummer, Richard Starkey.
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