SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY :  The first album by Ringo Starr as a solo artist after the break up of The Beatles. In Ringo's words ' songs that my mother like.' I didn't buy this album when it first came out. Only years later I got it at a slight lesser price. I only pay full price for selected Ringo's Cds. Still, the songs selections here are not really as bad as some people said it to be and I found myself enjoying it. Ringo Starr is not really the best singer in the world and the producers here have wisely kept the key in accordance to his  ability. I don't listen to Ringo a lot although I've bought most of his Cds that are available but this is one of his few Cds that I find myself listening to.

Sentimental Journey ( Green / Brown / Homer ) : This old Doris Day standard was given a fine rendition by Ringo that even she would be hard pressed to find fault with. A lazy type of singing that would not be entirely out of place in a Dean Martin album. 

Night And Day ( Porter ) : Big band orchestration take center stage here. You can almost imagine Ringo in a tuxedo tap dancing along to the music.

Whispering Grass [ Don't Tell The Trees ] ( Fisher / Fisher ) : This is one diamond in the rough. Probably due to the it's being one of the lease known tune here helps Ringo made this tune his own. A pleasant surprise to see Ringo holding on his own here.

Bye Bye Blackbird ( Dixon / Henderson ) : Ringo did this version with a banjo filled instrumental arranged by Bee Gees' Maurice Gibb.

I'm A Fool To Care ( Daffan ) : The composer, Ted Daffan was quite a big star in the 1940's with this  being one of his better composition and Ringo sure did it justice too.

Stardust ( Carmichael / Parish ) : Admittedly, Ringo could never outdo this standard by Nat 'King' Cole, frankly who could, but Ringo's version here is certainly not bad too. His enthusiasm in the rendition of this song is a winning factor too. And oh, this song was arranged by Paul McCartney.

Blue, Turning Grey Over You ( Razaf / Waller ) : Maybe he still have the Beatles factor in him but Ringo surely is giving good vocals here as in most of the songs here much to the surprise of us all nonbelievers.

Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing ( Fain / Webster ) : Another gem here. Ri

ngo's vocal here is flawless and the lively arrangement of this song is a joy to listen to.

Dream ( Mercer ) : As the title suggested, this was a dreamy song for you to waltzed to with a love one.

You Always Hurt The One You Love ( Roberts / Fisher ) : A slightly uptempo number that is quite pleasing to the ear.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You ? ( Wiseman ) : Another lively rendition of this standard that have being recorded by so many artists that I can't really be sure who was the first. Anyway, Ringo's version will surely be a welcome addition to this song.

Let The Rest Of The World Go By ( Brennan / Ball ) :  A fine closer to an enjoyable album from the most unlikely Beatle.

DOP : 4th January 2010.