Ringo Starr - Ringo Rama (with David Gilmour)

Released 25 March 2003, KOCH Records.

Ringo Starr's 2003 album, Ringo Rama, featuring Eric Clapton and David GilmourRingo Starr's new album, Ringo Rama, has been released "with a little help from [his] friends" - some time ago, collaboration from other artists was mooted. Included in these were Roger Waters (in initial reports), followed by David Gilmour. One source of interest was if they were to work on any tracks together. As we shall see, this was not to be the case.

Roger was reported to have (co-)written Never Without You, and to have played bass guitar on the track. He now does not appear to have a credit for this (if indeed he was ever involved in penning this rather simple, straightforward song), and there is no sign of his trademark bass playing. It does, however, include quite a nice, uncomplicated solo from Eric Clapton.

Of more interest to Floyd fans though is the definite appearance of David Gilmour on two tracks on the album - the third track, Instant Amnesia, and track seven, I Think, Therefore I Rock'n'Roll.

Instant Amnesia has an unfortunately apt name - it is a song that doesn't carry enough weight to stay in the mind for too long. One of the longer tracks on the album, it starts with a rousing organ before heading into standard rock'n'roll territory, with little guitar to distinguish itself prior to the short, and atypical solo, David gives at just after two minutes into the song. A nice bit of backward guitar closes the song.

I Think, Therefore I Rock'n'Roll, ups the tempo a bit. Sounding like a bar-room jam, the artists clearly had a whale of a time recording this track. The enjoyment pours out of the speakers, but sadly, there is little to no sign of David's playing or participation.

A pleasant album, but hardly earth-shattering, Ringo obviously still enjoys performing, and has managed to get some good guests performing on his work. Worth getting if you are a Gilmour completist.