Ringo Starr

Within the span of five years, Ringo Starr was able to muster up seven Top Ten singles, with three of them coming from the self-titled Ringo album. Taking all of these tracks and adding three more, Blast From Your Past ends up being a worthy ten-song collection of Starr's best solo tunes. In 1973, Ringo had back-to-back number one hits with both "Photograph," aided by George Harrison's harmony vocals, and the quirky, adolescent-sounding "You're Sixteen," with Harry Nilsson backing him and Paul McCartney playing the kazoo. His first hit, "It Don't Come Easy," had Badfinger filling in on harmony, while the humorous "No No Song" which went to number three in 1975, was penned by Hoyt Axton. Starr's easygoing character and blatant lightheartedness presents his music with a welcomed distinction, contrasted but hardly bettered by John Lennon's social, philosophical, and politically guided material that was coming out at around the same time. The jovial spirit of Ringo Starr shines through in songs like "Back off Boogaloo" and in the innocent satire of "I'm the Greatest" with a little help from his friend Mr. Lennon -- not one of Starr's best efforts, but entertaining nonetheless. For an enjoyable skip through Starr's best solo work, Blast From Your Past surely foots the bill. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide