Ringo Starr: Goodnight Vienna : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

This pleasant collection follows in the winning tradition of Ringo's breakthrough album, Ringo, with producer Richard Perry seeing little need to alter that disc's formula. These are crisp, infectious cover versions of originals and oldies by the likes of John Lennon, Allen Toussaint, Elton John, the Platters, Harry Nilsson and one Richard Starkey. Perry keeps the brass and backing voices busy, the topflight session people and guest stars perform with easy excellence and Ringo supplies that unalloyed sincerity which is his trademark and trump card. While there is nothing startling here — the previous LP absorbed all the surprise of Ringo in a genuinely commercial solo setting — neither is there much that isn't good for a smile.