Sentimental Journey (Ringo Starr album)

Infobox Album | Name = Sentimental Journey
Type = Album
Artist = Ringo Starr


Released = 27 March 1970
Recorded = 27 October 1969 -
13 March 1970
Genre = Rock
Length = 34:03
Label = Apple Records/EMI
Producer = George Martin
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:oau67ur0h0jw link]
*Rolling Stone (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ringostarr/albums/album/245624/review/5941531/sentimental_journey link]
Last album =
This album = "Sentimental Journey"
(1970)
Next album = "Beaucoups of Blues"
(1970) |

"Sentimental Journey" is the first solo album release by former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr in 1970, as the band was splintering apart. Although Starr was the third member of the group to issue solo work (after John Lennon and George Harrison), "Sentimental Journey" is notable for being the first proper studio album by a member of the band, in light of the experimental, soundtrack or live releases his aforementioned bandmates had already released. Paul McCartney's debut, "McCartney" would follow three weeks after "Sentimental Journey"'s release.

Beginning in October 1969, Starr engaged the services of Beatles producer George Martin to helm his solo debut. The idea, thematic in approach, was to create an album of standards that would reflect his parents' favorite songs, even asking them and other members of his family to choose the tracks. In addition, he would have one song each arranged by different musicians, ranging from Martin himself, Paul McCartney, Maurice Gibb, Quincy Jones and old friend of The Beatles from Hamburg (and bassist with Manfred Mann) Klaus Voormann, among others. Although begun during the sessions, Starr's own composition, "It Don't Come Easy", would appear as a single in 1971. Recording of the album was completed in March 1970, with "Sentimental Journey" being rushed out merely two weeks later in order to avoid clashing in the shops with The Beatles' impending final album "Let It Be" in May and "McCartney", whose 17 April release date its maker flatly refused to delay after being asked to by the other members of the band.

"Sentimental Journey" received fair reviews upon its release, although many critics found the idea of Starr covering standards a bit odd considering his musical background. His fame in The Beatles was all that was required, however, to get it all the way to #7 in the UK - with no single release to promote it - and #22 in the United States. Although the style of the album took many by surprise, Starr's swift follow-up, "Beaucoups of Blues", would be just as radical a stylistic shift.

"Sentimental Journey" was remastered and reissued on CD in 1995.

Track listing

#"Sentimental Journey" (Bud Green/Les Brown/Bon Homer) – 3:26
#* "Arranged by Richard Perry"
#* "First released by Doris Day in 1945"
#"Night And Day" (Cole Porter) – 2:25
#* "Arranged by Chico O'Farrill"
#* "First released by Fred Astaire and Claire Luce in 1932"
#"Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees)" (Fred Fisher/Doris Fisher) – 2:37
#* "Arranged by Ron Goodwin"
#* "First released by The Ink Spots in 1940"
#"Bye Bye Blackbird" (Mort Dixon/Ray Henderson) – 2:11
#* "Arranged by Maurice Gibb"
#* "First released by Eddie Cantor in 1926"
#"I'm A Fool To Care" (Ted Daffan) – 2:39
#* "Arranged by Klaus Voormann"
#* "First released by Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1954"
#"Stardust" (Hoagy Carmichael/Mitchell Parish) – 3:22
#* "Arranged by Paul McCartney"
#* "First released by Emile Seidel and Orchestra in 1927"
#"Blue Turning Grey Over You" (Andy Razaf/Fats Waller) – 3:19
#* "Arranged by Oliver Nelson"
#* "First released by Louis Armstrong and his orchestra in 1930"
#"Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing" (Sammy Fain/Paul Webster) – 3:05
#* "Arranged by Quincy Jones"
#* "First released by The Four Aces in 1955"
#"Dream" (Johnny Mercer) – 2:42
#* "Arranged by George Martin"
#* "First released by The Pied Pipers in 1945"
#"You Always Hurt The One You Love" (Allan Roberts/Doris Fisher) – 2:20
#* "Arranged by John Dankworth"
#* "First released by The Mills Brothers in 1944"
#"Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" (Scott Wiseman) – 2:44
#* "Arranged by Elmer Bernstein"
#* "First released by Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman in 1945"
#"Let The Rest Of The World Go By" (Ernest Ball/Karen Brennan) – 2:55
#* "Arranged by Les Reed"
#* "First released by Dick Haymes in 1944"

Personnel

*Ringo Starr: Vocals.
*All instruments performed by The George Martin Orchestra.

External links

* [http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pcs7101.html JPGR's "Sentimental Journey" site]