How many times have you looked at the Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band and wondered, "What the heck is a guy like Ringo doing in a setup like that?"
You're not alone.
Once Ringo got past the first couple of All-Starr Bands, which had such star-studded names as Dr. John, Levon Helm, Billy Preston, Joe Walsh and Clarence Clemons, the name recognition started going downhill. And so did the public's perception of its quality.
But perception and reality are often different. Thank goodness that's the case for the traveling caravan that's become the All-Starr Band. For while the recognition factor of the names has gone down from the lofty heights of the first two groups, the quality of the product has been pretty darn good, all things considered.
That's really evident in the 2006 edition, profiled here on DVD and CD. You have Beatle Ringo and fellow musicians Hamish Stuart, Sheila E., Richard Marx, Rod Argent, Billy Squire and Edgar Winter. What's that they say about the sum of the parts?
In this case, it was much better.
Let's look at the CD first. It contains 18 tracks recorded at Mohecan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.:
1. Introduction - All Starr Band 3:57
2. What Goes On - Ringo Starr 3:12
3. Honey Don't - Ringo Starr 2:35
4. Everybody Wants You - Billy Squier 5:20
5. Free Ride - Edgar Winter 4:40
6. A Love Bizarre - Sheila E 4:24
7. Don't Mean Nothin' - Richard Marx 5:09
8. She's Not There - Rod Argent 4:17
9. Yellow Submarine - Ringo Starr 3:40
10. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter 8:00
11. Photograph - Ringo Starr 4:02
12. Should've Known Better - Richard Marx 5:01
13. The Glamorous Life - Sheila E 3:02
14. I Wanna Be Your Man - Ringo Starr 3:26
15. Rock Me Tonite - Billy Squier 6:20
16. Hold Your Head Up - Rod Argent 3:52
17. Act Naturally - Ringo Starr 3:00
18. With A Little Help From My Friends - Ringo Starr 5:49
You know what to expect from Ringo, but it's the players that drive the band and Ringo's choices were excellent. Billy Squier, who's gone from mediocre attitude rocker to middle-aged solid rock sideman. He may be the biggest surprise of the new members of the 2006 group. Then there's Edgar Winter, who hasn't lost any of his versatility and charisma from his White Trash days. Rod Argent has always been a well-respected man (sorry, Ray Davies) and he continues that role here. Richard Marx was the biggest known unknown of the band, but his songwriting mastery fits a comfortable slot in the All-Starrs. And returning member Sheila E. gives more of the amazing showmanship that made her MVP of the eight All-Starr Band.
Band member highlights on the CD include Squier's "Everybody Wants You" and "Rock Me Tonite," Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein," Rod Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" and Sheila E.'s drive and energy on "A Love Bizarre" and "Glamorous Life."
To us, hearing Ringo sing his songs (and the others) isn't as much fun as hearing him play them because he's such a great musician. And he really thrives on the interplay between him and the members of the band. So when he and Sheila E. do some interplay on "Glamorous Life, it's one of the most exciting parts of the show because you get to hear two superb musicians playing off each other.
That's really true on the DVD, which has the complete show, and is broken up with comments from each of the members. Here's the tracklist:
1. Little Help Opening 0:57
2. It Don’t Come Easy 2:48
Ringo Interview 1 0:37
3. What Goes On 3:02
Ringo Interview 2 0:52
4. Honey Don’t 2:30
Ringo Interview 3 1:31
5. Everybody Wants You 5:54
(Billy Squier)
Interview 4 1:18
6. Free Ride 4:23
(Edgar Winter)
Ringo Interview 5 0:57
7. Love Bizarre 7:20
(Sheila E.)
Ringo Interview 6 0:40
8. Boys 3:04
Ringo Interview 7 1:07
9. Don’t Mean Nothin’ 6:15
(Richard Marx)
Ringo Interview 8 0:45
10. She’s Not There 3:53
(Rod Argent)
11. Never Without You 6:03
Ringo Interview 9 0:27
12. Yellow Submarine 3:22
Ringo Interview 10 0:38
13. Edgar: Dying To Live 6:35
Ringo Interview 11 0:36
14. Where Ever You Go 6:06
(Richard Marx)
Ringo Interview 12 0:23
15. Ramblin On My Mind 3:58
(Billy Squier)
Ringo Interview 13 0:22
16. Time Of The Season 3:33
(Rod Argent)
Ringo Interview 14 1:39
17. Edgar Winter: Frankenstein 9:00
Ringo Interview 15 0:28
18. Photograph 3:58
19. Choose Love 3:57
Ringo Interview 16 1:04
20. Should Have Known Better 4:52
(Richard Marx)
Ringo Interview 17 0:35
21. Glamorous Life 5:17
(Sheila E.)
Ringo Interview 18 0:50
22. I Wanna Be Your Man 3:20
Ringo Interview 19 0:44
23. Rock Me Tonight 6:17
(Billy Squier)
Ringo Interview 20 0:33
24. Hold Your Head Up 7:58
(Rod Argent)
25. Act Naturally 2:53
26. Memphis In Your Mind 4:20
Ringo Interview 21 1:04
27. Little Help From My Friends 4:04
28. Little Help…Outro 1:26
It's those comments that make this DVD fun to watch. While DVDs like this tend to get into scripted mode all too often, many of the comments are honest and down-to-earth, enough to give the viewer a true sense of what life is like in the All-Starr Band. It's definitely more than a one-Starr act.
Anyone who saw the 10th edition All-Starr Band, which had three carryovers from the '06 group, will certainly recall the unity and the camaraderie that was so evident in that group. You can see it here, too.
And let's hope the next edition carries on the tradition. If Ringo keeps doing what he's been doing, they will.
You're not alone.
