Choose Love (album)
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Ringo Starr |
| Products | Music album |
Choose Love represents the fourteenth studio release by English singer-songwriter Ringo Starr.
Background and recording
The album was created between mid-2004 and early 2005, with production handled by Starr alongside his longtime collaborator Mark Hudson. This partnership followed their previous work on Vertical Man (1998) and Ringo Rama (2003). The title track incorporates a guitar riff reminiscent of the Beatles' style and includes nods to several Beatles songs, underscoring Starr's enduring ties to his musical heritage. Prominent guest artists such as Billy Preston and Chrissie Hynde contribute to the album, continuing Starr’s custom of featuring well-known collaborators.
Release
Choose Love was issued on 7 June 2005 in the United States and later on 25 July in the United Kingdom. A special dual disc version combined a CD with a DVD presenting behind-the-scenes footage of the album’s creation, appealing to collectors and devoted fans.
Reception
Critics generally responded positively to the album, with AllMusic awarding it a 4 out of 5 rating and other reviewers offering favorable commentary. Despite this acclaim, Choose Love did not enter the charts in either the UK or US, differing from the commercial achievements of Starr’s earlier works like Vertical Man and Ringo Rama. After its release, Starr promoted the album through "The Roundheads" tour, featuring his studio band.
Personnel
As listed in the album booklet.
- Musicians
- Ringo Starr – vocals, drums, percussion, organ, loops, and intro/outro demo tape on "Oh My Lord"
- Mark Hudson – bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, harmonica, saxophone arrangements
- Gary Burr – bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, slide guitar
- Mark Mirando – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Dan Higgins – horns, saxophones, woodwind instruments
- Gary Grant – horn instruments
- Jim Cox – horn, saxophone and woodwind arrangements; piano
- Robert Randolph – lead guitar
- Steve Dudas – acoustic and electric guitars
- Billy Preston – piano, B3 organ, backing vocals on "Wrong All the Time"
- The Rose Stone Choir – backing vocals on "Oh My Lord"
- Rose Stone – choir arrangement for "Oh My Lord"
- Saxophones performed by John Amato
- Chrissie Hynde – lead vocals on "Don't Hang Up"
- Barbara Bach – devil voice on "The Turnaround"
- Dean Grakal – background vocals on "The Turnaround"
- [Ringo Starr, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr] – uboo drum band on "Hard to Be True"
- Production
- [Ringo Starr, Mark Hudson] – producers
- [Bruce Sugar] – recording engineer
- [Kevin Churko], [Gary Burr], [Steve Dudas] – additional recording engineers
- [Dave Way] – mixing engineer
- [Lior Goldenberg], [Ghian Wright], Andy Brohard – assistant engineers
- [George Marino] – mastering engineer
- [Tyrone Drake] – art direction and design
- [Barbara Starkey] – cover photography
- [Ringo Starr], Barbara Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Edward AJAJ, Teness Herman – additional photography
Charts
Template:Album chart| Chart (2005) | Highest ranking |
|---|
References
- Footnotes
- Citations