by Kevin Burton
I’ve had a ton of fun writing about pop music on Page 7. But I have juuuuust about talked myself out of the notion that I am any kind of knowledgeable, creditable music critic.
And I’m getting close to swearing off all music critics. I mean, we like what we like, right? There isn’t always a reason behind our opinions. When there is a reason it isn’t always a good one.
And who is to say what is a good reason and what isn’t.
And, it’s only rock and roll, so why don’t we all relax? You with me?
Relaxation is what I need just now. And just now, two of our oldest rock and roll friends, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two surviving Beatles, both have relatively new albums out. Have you heard them?
Well I have. I listened to both albums, “Long, Long Road” by Ringo Starr and “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” by Paul McCartney, two times. Then I lingered with the hits, the best of both albums.
That’s hardly a thorough investigation. But my initial response is that, while I like both, I’ve come away liking Ringo’s album better. This is a surprise to me.
The Wikipedia accounts of both say McCartney has gotten “universally” good reviews from critics for his most recent album while Starr has gotten “generally” good reviews. But what is that supposed to mean to me when I’m in the basement spinning records?
Why would I care about somebody’s else’s taste for rock and roll any more than I would for other people’s taste for okra, or sardines?
Ringo’s album has one or maybe one and a half feet in country music. I’m not usually a fan of country. And I am always a fan of Paul.
. The Paul vs. John Beatles debate is beyond stupid. Hello? We didn’t have to choose. But I, like most, have played along and I have always chosen Paul. Paul is the better singer (by a little), the better songwriter (by a lot), the better musician (a little). He also has the more agreeable personality.
Having said all that, the Beatles for sure would have been an insufferable bore without John; if all they ever turned out was “And I Love Her” and “Michelle” and stuff like that.
But Paul vs. Ringo? That’s not even a conversation, or hasn’t been for me, until now.
Some of my preference for Long, Long Road over The Boys of Dungeon Lane is based on expectations for sure. I expect more from Paul. McCartney exceeded my expectations but Ringo far exceeded them.
Ringo also gets the nod because of the vocals on the respective albums. Paul’s voice, after years of heavy rock and rolling, is exceedingly thin. I mean the man does turn 84 next Thursday! Let’s give him a break there.
Starr’s voice seems to me to be largely the same C-plus voice that he’s always had.
But the real vocal difference is that Ringo has considerable help from Molly Tuttle, who sings on four tracks. Her lead, duet and background singing, elevates the music. McCartney could have used similar assistance. Here we might be seeing the difference in ego between Paul and Ringo.
Largely because of the vocals I found myself kind of cringing, rooting for Paul to be solid, which to his credit he was, but with Ringo’s songs, I just enjoyed them.
“Choose Love,” the second single from Long, Long Road is the song that sounds most like a classic Beatles tune. But I’m not sure that is even a virtue. I mean the Beatles were all about not repeating themselves. Six decades on, are we even looking for more of the old stuff.
My favorite song from Paul’s album is the one Ringo is on, “Home To Us.” It sounded to me like an ELO song.
I liked that both albums dipped lyrically into the Beatle years (but didn’t linger there).
From “Down South,” McCartney’s song about George Harrison: “It was a good way to get to know you. A fine way to work it all out
It was a good way to gеt to know you before we learned to twist and shout.”
And from Choose Love, “The long and winding road is more than a song.
Tomorrow never knows what goes on.
From Long, Long Road, also check out “Why,” “It’s Been Too Long” (the first single) and “You And I (Wave of Love)” where Tuttle is such a presence.
It is a lot of fun having these two new albums. Do I dare hope for even more?
Page 7 