Choose Love
Encyclopedia
Choose Love is the 13th studio album
by Ringo Starr
, released in 2005. Recorded throughout 2004 into 2005, the album received strong reviews upon its release and preceded another promotional tour with Starr and his studio band, called "The Roundheads".
Using the same team that created Vertical Man
and Ringo Rama
, Starr produced the set with longtime musical partner Mark Hudson and performed it with their studio team. As ever, a Starr album would be lacking if it did not include some celebrity guests and Choose Love does not deviate from the formula; it features Billy Preston
and Chrissie Hynde
as its most notable guests.
Choose Love was initially released as a dual disc (CD on side, DVD
on the other), with the DVD component featuring bonus features on the making of the album.
Choose Love failed to chart in the UK and even the US, where both Vertical Man and Ringo Rama had seen a measure of commercial success.
, Steve Dudas, and Dean Grakal, except where noted.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, released in 2005. Recorded throughout 2004 into 2005, the album received strong reviews upon its release and preceded another promotional tour with Starr and his studio band, called "The Roundheads".
Using the same team that created Vertical Man
Vertical Man
Vertical Man is Ringo Starr's 11th studio album, issued in 1998. The release represents Starr's attempt at a comeback following the enormous success of The Beatles Anthology project...
and Ringo Rama
Ringo Rama
Ringo Rama is Ringo Starr's 12th studio album and was released in 2003. As the follow-up to 1998's Vertical Man, it continues Starr's alliance with Mark Hudson as well as most of his collaborators from that last project...
, Starr produced the set with longtime musical partner Mark Hudson and performed it with their studio team. As ever, a Starr album would be lacking if it did not include some celebrity guests and Choose Love does not deviate from the formula; it features Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
and Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
as its most notable guests.
Choose Love was initially released as a dual disc (CD on side, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on the other), with the DVD component featuring bonus features on the making of the album.
Choose Love failed to chart in the UK and even the US, where both Vertical Man and Ringo Rama had seen a measure of commercial success.
Track listing
All songs by Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary BurrGary Burr
Gary Burr, born in Meriden, Connecticut, is an American musician and songwriter and producer, mostly known for his stable of hits recorded by country music performers. Burr began his career as a member of the group Pure Prairie League from 1982 to 1985, taking over after Vince Gill departed the group...
, Steve Dudas, and Dean Grakal, except where noted.
- "Fading In and Fading Out" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr) – 3:57
- "Give Me Back The Beat" – 3:54
- "Oh My Lord" – 5:32
- a response to George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
's "My Sweet LordMy Sweet Lord"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
", bookended by Starr's original demo of his song - features Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
on organ
- a response to George Harrison
- "Hard to Be True" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr) – 3:28
- features Billy Preston on backing vocals
- "Some People" – 3:18
- "Wrong All the Time" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr) – 3:39
- features Billy Preston on organ
- "Don't Hang Up" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr) – 3:27
- features Chrissie HyndeChrissie HyndeChristine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
on co-lead vocals
- features Chrissie Hynde
- "Choose Love" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr) – 3:08
- "Me and You" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Steve Dudas) – 2:15
- "Satisfied" (Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Nicholson) – 3:19
- "The Turnaround" – 3:54
- "Free Drinks" – 4:47
- includes a brief untitled hidden musical piece following the track's end
Personnel
- Ringo Starr – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Organ, Intro/Outro Demo Tape on "Oh My Lord", Loop on "Free Drinks"
- John Amato – Saxophone
- Gary BurrGary BurrGary Burr, born in Meriden, Connecticut, is an American musician and songwriter and producer, mostly known for his stable of hits recorded by country music performers. Burr began his career as a member of the group Pure Prairie League from 1982 to 1985, taking over after Vince Gill departed the group...
– Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitars, Background Vocals - Jim Cox – Piano, Arrangement
- Steve Dudas – Acoustic, Electric and Slide Guitars, Background Vocals
- Dean Grakal – Background Vocals
- Gary Grant – Horns
- Dan Higgins – Horns, Saxophone, Woodwinds
- Mark Hudson – Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica, Background Vocals
- Chrissie HyndeChrissie HyndeChristine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
– Vocals on "Don't Hang Up" - Mark Mirando – Electric Guitar, Background Vocals
- Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
– Piano, B3 Organ, Background Vocals - Robert Randolph – Electric Guitar
- Barbara Starkey – Devil Voice on "The Turnaround"
- The Rose Stone Choir – Choir Arrangement on "Oh My Lord" by Rose Stone