Postcards from Paradise

Postcards from Paradise is the eighteenth studio album by Ringo Starr. It was released on 31 March 2015.[2]

Postcards from Paradise
Studio album by
Released31 March 2015
Recorded2014–15
StudioRoccabella West, Los Angeles; Rydinghurst, UK
GenreRock[1]
Length43:57
LabelUMe, Universal Music Group International
ProducerRingo Starr
Ringo Starr chronology
Icon
(2014)
Postcards from Paradise
(2015)
Give More Love
(2017)
Singles from Postcards from Paradise
  1. "Postcards from Paradise"
    Released: 3 March 2015

Development

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The album was produced completely by Starr himself, and engineered by longtime collaborator Bruce Sugar. Several album titles were considered, including "Let Love Lead".[citation needed] Starr worked with many of his regular songwriting and recording colleagues on Postcards from Paradise, including Van Dyke Parks, Dave Stewart, and Gary Burr. As with his previous albums, Starr maintains a philosophy of "If you show up at my house and you can play, you're on the record". The song "Island in the Sun" is notable as being the first studio recording that was co-written and recorded by every member of Starr's current All-Starr Band.

Rock photographer Rob Shanahan took the cover photograph,[3] which was developed further by Universal Music Group, Starr's record label. The label added a grey scalloped border in the manner of a postage stamp.

Promotion and release

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Starr first revealed the album's title through a Twitter post in January 2015. Three tracks, "Postcards from Paradise", "Right Side of the Road" and "Not Looking Back", became available for purchase in early March 2015.[citation needed] A lyric video for "Postcards from Paradise" was released on 5 March via Yahoo.com. "Confirmation", "Bamboula" and "Touch and Go" were released during the week preceding the album's release. The album was issued a few weeks before Starr's second induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic61/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Blogcritics     [1]
Classic Rock5/10[6]
PopMatters          [7]
Q     [8]
Record Collector     [9]
Rolling Stone     [10]
Slant Magazine     [11]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rory and the Hurricanes"4:09
2."You Bring the Party Down"
3:41
3."Bridges"
5:01
4."Postcards from Paradise"
5:18
5."Right Side of the Road"
3:12
6."Not Looking Back"
  • Starkey
  • Marx
3:50
7."Bamboula"
3:20
8."Island in the Sun" (featuring the All Starr Band)4:02
9."Touch and Go"
3:36
10."Confirmation"
3:37
11."Let Love Lead"
4:11

Personnel

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Personnel per booklet.[12]

Musicians

  • Ringo Starr – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards (3, 4), reggae guitar (5), piano (11), string arrangement
  • David A. Stewart – guitar (1, 6)
  • Steve Lukather – guitar (8), synth bass (2), backing vocals (2, 8)
  • Joe Walsh – guitar (3, 6)
  • Peter Frampton – guitar (5, 11)
  • Richard Marx – backing vocals, guitar (6)
  • Steve Dudas – guitar (9, 10)
  • Gary Nicholson – guitar (11)
  • Michael Bradford – bass guitar (1)
  • Nathan East – bass guitar (6, 9, 10, 11)
  • Richard Page – backing vocals, bass guitar (8)
  • Ann-Marie Simpson – violin, string arrangement
  • Jason Borger – keyboards (1)
  • Bruce Sugar – sitar synth (2), keyboards, piano (4), synth (4), synth bass (5), string arrangement, synth strings (6)
  • Van Dyke Parks – piano, accordion, synth (7), horn arrangement
  • Benmont Tench – organ (5, 9), piano (6)
  • Gregg Rolie – organ (8)
  • Glen Ballard – piano (10)
  • Warren Ham – saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals (8)
  • Lee Thornburg – trombone (7), trumpet & trombone (10)
  • Jimmy Z – harmonica (9), saxophone (10)
  • Gregg Bissonette – percussion, trumpet, steel drums, backing vocals (8)
  • Double Treble – backing vocals (1)
  • Amy Keys – backing vocals
  • Kari Kimmel – backing vocals
  • Todd Rundgren – backing vocals
  • Windy Wagner – backing vocals

Production

  • Ringo Starr – producer, mixing
  • Bruce Sugar – recording, mixing, keyboard programming
  • Chris Bellman – mastering
  • Ned Douglas – additional engineer
  • Sean Rolie – B3 organ engineering
  • Vartan – art direction
  • Masaki, Meire Murakani – design
  • Rob Shanahan – cover photo
  • Scott Ritchie – back cover photo

Charts

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 146
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] 114
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 95
Italian Albums (FIMI)[16] 91
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] 83
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[18] 88
US Billboard 200[19] 99
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[20] 21
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[21] 15
UK (OCC)[22] 157

References

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  1. ^ a b Lipp, Chaz ("The Other Chad") (23 April 2015). "Music Review: Ringo Starr – 'Postcards from Paradise'". Blogcritics. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. ^ Grow, Kory (29 January 2015). "Ringo Starr Slates 'Postcards From Paradise' Weeks Before Hall of Fame". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Rock & Roll Photographer Legend Rob Shanahan". Family Beautiful. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Reviews for Postcards from Paradise by Ringo Starr". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (30 March 2015). "Ringo Starr Postcards from Paradise". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  6. ^ Flys, Phoebe (May 2015). "Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise". Classic Rock. p. 107.
  7. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (1 April 2015). "Ringo Starr: Postcards From Paradise". PopMatters. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. ^ Snow, Mat (May 2015). "Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise". Q. p. 112.
  9. ^ Heatley, Michael (May 2015). "Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise". Record Collector. p. 106. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  10. ^ Sheffield, Rob (31 March 2015). "Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  11. ^ Winograd, Jeremy (28 March 2015). "Ringo Starr: Postcards from Paradise". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  12. ^ Postcards from Paradise (Booklet). Ringo Starr. UMe/Universal Music Group International. 2015. 00602547236449.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  17. ^ "ポストカーズ・フロム・パラダイス" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Ringo Starr Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Ringo Starr Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Ringo Starr Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  22. ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 11.04.2015 (wk14)". zobbel.de. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
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