Ringo Starr

Critics who questioned Ringo's ability to emerge from behind his Beatles drum kit as a star in his own right couldn't have been more wrong — and he proved it by scoring more Top 10 hits than any of his Fab Four mates except Paul. Cowriter George Harrison contributed an unforgettable hook for Ringo's second solo outing, "It Don't Come Easy"; recorded with an all-star cast, including Stephen Stills, the single established Ringo as a force to be reckoned with. Starr collaborated with Harrison once again on the chart-topping brokenhearted ballad "Photograph," which took on a more emotional undertone at Harrison's memorial concert, morphing into an eloquent tribute. Reaching back to rock's infancy, Ringo cut a version of rockabilly-rebel-turned-teen-idol Johnny Burnette's "You're Sixteen You're Beautiful (And You're Mine)" that gave him his second #1 hit.

In Next Steps Starr journeys back in time and out to Bakersfield, California, in search of more hits.

Not only did Ringo Starr collaborate with former Beatles and other musical luminaries and legends — he trance-channeled those he couldn't coax into sharing the stage. Country superstar Buck Owens, who had a hit with "Act Naturally" back in 1963, melds seamlessly with Ringo on this guitar-twangin' rockabilly version from the summer of 1989. For reasons unknown, the extended version of the Ringo/Paul duet "Six O'Clock" originally appeared only on the 8-track version of [i]Ringo[/i], but we've resurrected it here, so you can dig its "Hey Jude"-like rave-up finale. And Ringo re-creates Les Brown's laid-back vibe on "Sentimental Journey," updating the big band smash that gave a young singer named Doris Day her first #1.

In Deep Cuts we'll hear Ringo revisiting his earlier hits in new surroundings.

Probably Starr's most famous vocal during his time with the Fab Four, "With a Little Help from My Friends" has taken on a life of its own as the theme for Ringo's All-Starr Band, which has boasted literally dozens of stars, from Peter Frampton to Todd Rundgren, in its various incarnations. On this stripped-down version from VH1's [i]Storytellers[/i] series, he's accompanied by his band the Roundheads (which included Night Ranger's Jack Blades and the Eagles' Joe Walsh). The third All-Starr band (with Who bassist John Entwistle and BTO's Randy Bachman) backs Ringo on this live version of his 1972 hit "Back Off Boogaloo," the title of which was a pet phrase of T. Rex front man Marc Bolan. Like many musicians, Ringo had his fling with overindulgence, and "The No No Song" proves that one doesn't have to approach physical sobriety with a musical sobriety, as he pokes fun at his former lifestyle.

Displaying a bounty of musical gifts that extends far beyond his role as the good-natured timekeeper who held together the world's most famous band, Ringo Starr has more than lived up to his adopted surname. Who could have guessed that his solo career would yield more Top 10 hits than any Fab Four member other than Paul McCartney? In addition to cowriting many of his most memorable tracks, Ringo has exhibited a brilliant instinct for choosing songs that suit his style, ranging from pre-WWII standards to rockabilly rave-ups to street-corner doo-wop finger-poppers. Nearly 40 years after inviting us along on his [i]Sentimental Journey[/i], Ringo has lived a dream that most musicians can only dimly imagine — becoming a legend for a [i]second[/i] time.