Generally speaking, the Ringo Starr studio albums produced by Mark Hudson have a surprising amount of highlights. Hudson, much like Jeff Lynne with George Harrison, understood how to balance the Beatles mystique with modern record-making enough to make enjoyable albums that rock harder than Ringo’s middle-of-the-road material in the late ‘70s. Guest stars on this 2005 set include Chrissie Hynde (who duets on “Don’t Hang Up”), Robert Randolph (who plays guitar), and Billy Preston (who plays piano and Hammond B-3). “Oh My Lord” is a playful response to Harrison’s 1970 hit “My Sweet Lord,” while the title track is a variation on Ringo’s consistent themes of peace and love. Ringo has a hand in the songwriting of every track, along with several consistent cowriters, including producer Hudson, Dean Grakal, Gary Burr, and Steve Dudas (who formed the backing group here, The Roundheads). The thick harmony backup vocals on “Give Me Back the Beat,” “Hard to Be True,” and “Turnaround” and the strong electric guitar tones throughout the album demonstrate a judicious blend of pop and rock.
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