Sunday, January 17, 2010

Can’t Do it Wrong by Ringo Starr – ***

First released: 2010

Modern Country-sounding track from the Ringo album "Y Not". It almost sounds like "Scouse the Mouse".

Good Rockin’ Tonight by Paul McCartney – ***

First released: 1991

McCartney does a live take of the song on "Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)" in 1991 and a different live version for 1993’s "Paul is Live".

Good Night by The Beatles – ***

First released: 1968

Since it was a double album, Ringo needed something besides "Don’t Pass Me By", so Lennon of all people composed this slushy ballad to follow the jarring "Revolution 9", and pulled it off well. Only Ringo could have done this and done it well. If any of the others sang it, it would totally seem insincere. If it wasn’t put on the “White Album”, it would have made a welcome addition to Ringo’s own "Sentimental Journey" album. A demo version is included on "Anthology 3" in 1996.

Good News by Ringo Starr – ***

First released: 1998

To date, I still don’t have a pristine quality copy of this song as it was only released as part of a "Best Buy Bonus Disc" accompanying Ringo’s "Vertical Man" album. Only problem was, there were no Best Buy stores in Northern California near where I lived when this came out, so I have had to resort to illegal downloads, and I still haven’t found a good one. It’s a pretty-good thumper and could have been released as part of the album. If someone bothers to re-release any of Ringo’s later albums on CD, I hope they add all of these elusive tunes as bonus tracks.

Good News by Attitudes – ***

First released: 1977

Attitudes performed this song on their Dark Horse album produced by George.

Good Morning Good Morning by The Beatles – ****

First released: 1967

I love John Lennon. (I should, or I wouldn’t be writing this book!) He claims that he was in a rush to compose enough good material to compete with the diarrhea of compositions that McCartney was writing at this time and took inspiration from whatever and wherever he could. In this case, he took it from a Kellogg’s cereal commercial and didn’t claim much for it. For me, it is one of my favorite Beatles tunes of all time and a highlight of the "Sgt. Pepper" album. A demo version appears on 1996's "Anthology 2".

Good King Wenceslas by The Beatles – ***

First released: 1963

Apparently a Beatles favorite as they sing it on "A Beatles Christmas Record", in both English and German, Later on John sings it solo on "The Beatles' Seventh Christmas Record" in 1969. Both renditions are the "The Beatles Christmas Album" from 1970.