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Y Not
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| Y Not | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 January 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 36:49 | |||
| Label | Hip-O, UMe | |||
| Producer |
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| Ringo Starr chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Y Not | ||||
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Y Not is the sixteenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ringo Starr, released on 12 January 2010[2] on the UMe and Hip-O Records labels.[3] the album features several guest musicians, including Paul McCartney, who sang backing vocals on Walk With You, the lead single from the album.
Music, lyrics and recording
[edit]"Peace Dream" features former Beatle Paul McCartney on bass;[4] another Beatle, John Lennon is referenced in the song.[4] "The Other Side of Liverpool" is about Starr's pre-Beatles days in Liverpool.[5] "Walk with You" features shared vocals with McCartney.[1] Starr duets with Joss Stone on closing track "Who's Your Daddy".[4]
In addition to McCartney, the album includes collaborations with Joe Walsh, Van Dyke Parks, Ben Harper and Richard Marx.[1] It was the first album of his career which Starr primarily produced (he had previously co-produced several albums).[6]
Release
[edit]The first single from the album, "Walk with You", released 22 December 2009.[1]
In the US, the release of the album perpetuated the fact that The Beatles, either as a group, or as solo artists, have released or charted at least one song or album every calendar year since 1964.
Reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 60/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Billboard | 72/100[9] |
| Consequence of Sound | C−[10] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C[11] |
| Galeria Musical | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Record Collector | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| Uncut | |
The album debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Top 200 chart,[18] with 7,965 copies sold in the US during the first week of release. The album also charted on the Top Internet Albums chart in the US.[19] As of February 2010, the album has sold over 30,000 copies worldwide.
Reviews for Y Not were mostly mixed. Review aggregator Metacritic, which assigns a score out of 100 based on critic ratings, rated the album 60 out of 100, based on 11 reviews.[7] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes of the album: "that friendly, shambling sound is Ringo, something Y Not proves without a shadow of a doubt by sounding virtually interchangeable with its immediate predecessors [...] Starr is all about cheerful reminders of happy times filled with Peace Dreams and memories of "The Other Side of Liverpool."" Erlewine concludes that "like there was on Liverpool 8, there is charm to Starr’s tried and true: exciting it is not but it’s as comforting as an old friend who doesn’t change, he just stays the same."[8]
Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine rates the album two out of five stars. He writes that "it's nice to imagine that Ringo Starr's post-Beatles inability to produce much of consequence stems from his band-established character [...] this failure, as especially evidenced on Y Not, seems more predicated on some dearth of actual songwriting talent than the near-novelty quality of his persona." Although he contradicted that "to like it might even feel like charity, and would be excusable if the album's only fault was being mired in silliness", Cataldo added: "Flush with broad sentiment and a messy spread of good feelings, Y Not finds the funniest Beatle on the outside of the joke."[16]
In a review for the Los Angeles Times, Randy Lewis opines that "the importance in life of sustained effort along a particular direction" is "a thought that's inescapable listening to the latest release from former Beatle Ringo Starr." He also states that "he spends a bit of time here simply banging away happily [...] But the heart of the 10-song collection comes from his continued exploration of how to hold on to noble ideals in the face of ever-rising cynicism and violence." Lewis concludes that "he holds securely to an upbeat perspective that borders on cliché [...] that's somehow reassuring coming from the guy who's spent most of his life in an intimate relationship with time."[13]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fill in the Blanks" (feat. Joe Walsh) | Richard Starkey, Joe Walsh | 3:14 |
| 2. | "Peace Dream" | Starkey, Gary Wright, Gary Nicholson | 3:34 |
| 3. | "The Other Side of Liverpool" | Starkey, Dave Stewart | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Walk with You" (feat. Paul McCartney) | Starkey, Van Dyke Parks | 4:42 |
| 5. | "Time" | Starkey, Stewart | 3:49 |
| 6. | "Everyone Wins" | Starkey, Johnny Warman | 3:54 |
| 7. | "Mystery of the Night" | Starkey, Richard Marx | 4:05 |
| 8. | "Can't Do It Wrong" | Starkey, Gary Burr | 3:45 |
| 9. | "Y Not" | Starkey, Glen Ballard | 3:49 |
| 10. | "Who's Your Daddy?" (feat. Joss Stone) | Starkey, Joss Stone | 2:29 |
| Total length: | 36:49 | ||
Personnel
[edit]- Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums, keyboards, piano, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, percussion
- Steve Dudas – guitar
- Benmont Tench – Hammond organ, piano
- Michael Bradford – bass guitar (3, 5–9)
- Bruce Sugar – engineer, co-producer, keyboards
- Keith Allison – guitar, backing vocals
Guest musicians
[edit]- Paul McCartney – bass guitar (2), additional vocals, bass (4)
- Don Was – bass guitar (10), upright bass (8)
- Joe Walsh – guitar (1–2, 6), bass guitar (1), backing vocals (1)
- David A. Stewart – guitar (3, 5)
- Billy Squier – guitar (3, 8)
- Edgar Winter – horns (8), tenor and alto saxophones (10), backing vocals (2, 6)
- Joss Stone – lead vocals (10)
- Ben Harper – backing vocals (2)
- Richard Marx – backing vocals (7)
- Ann Marie Calhoun – violin (3–5)
- Tina Sugandh – tabla and chanting (2, 9)
- Cindy Gomez – backing vocals (3, 5)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] | 75 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[21] | 190 |
| US Billboard 200[22] | 58 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[23] | 16 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Kreps, Daniel (19 November 2009). "Ringo Starr Recruits Paul McCartney for New Album "Y Not"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ Jackson, Andrew Grant (2012). Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of the Beatles' Solo Careers. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-8108-8223-2.
- ^ "Ringo's new CD Y Not available on January 12". BeatlesNews.com. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
- ^ a b c GG (9 January 2010). "Albums". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 1. p. 28.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason; Prince, David J. (5 December 2009). "Latest Buzz". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 48. p. 26.
- ^ "Ringo Starr helped by his friends – including a Beatle". The Independent. London. 9 January 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Y Not – Ringo Starr". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Overview of Y Not". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ "New Music Reviews, & Albums Release Reviews" > "Ringo Starr, 'Y Not'". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ Young, Alex (4 February 2010). "Ringo Starr – Y Not". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Willman, Chris (7 January 2010). "Y Not (2010), Ringo Starr". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Review (in Portuguese) of Y Not". Galeria Musical. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Overview of Y Not". Los Angeles Times. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
- ^ Staunton, Terry (March 2010). "Ringo Starr – Y Not". Record Collector. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Hoard, Christian (11 January 2010). "Y Not : Ringo Starr : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ a b Cataldo, Jesse (27 January 2010). "Ringo Starr Y Not". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Ringo Starr Y Not". Uncut. March 2010. p. 96.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "The Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 1. 9 January 2010. p. 38.
- ^ "Albums". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 1. 9 January 2010. p. 40.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ringo Starr – Y Not" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "ワイ・ノット" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Ringo Starr Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "Ringo Starr Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
External links
[edit]Y Not
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Conception and songwriting
Following the release of his 2008 album Liverpool 8, Ringo Starr aimed for an upbeat sound rooted in classic rock 'n' roll, emphasizing writing about his present experiences rather than past glories, without chasing commercial trends.[13] This approach prioritized positivity and authenticity in his songwriting and performances.[14] The songwriting for Y Not unfolded primarily between 2008 and 2009, with Starr co-writing the majority of the tracks alongside key collaborators such as Gary Burr, who contributed to several songs including "Can't Do It Wrong" and "Mystery of the Night."[13] One standout collaboration was "Peace Dream," co-written by Starr with Gary Wright and Gary Nicholson, which was inspired by themes of global peace and love, serving as a heartfelt plea amid ongoing world conflicts and echoing Starr's lifelong advocacy for positivity. The process was notably organic; Starr often entered the studio without fully formed songs, laying down basic tracks before developing lyrics and melodies in collaboration.[15] Personal life events deeply influenced specific tracks, such as "The Other Side of Liverpool," co-written with Dave Stewart, which reflects on Starr's challenging upbringing in a cold, damp working-class neighborhood and his early drumming career as an escape route.[16] Starr drew from memories of community support amid hardship—"If you fell over… everyone was your mother"—to counter myths of his overnight success, encapsulating key moments from his Liverpool youth rather than a full autobiography. This emphasis on authentic storytelling underscored the album's avoidance of overly polished or commercial elements, prioritizing raw rock 'n' roll roots and emotional honesty.Pre-production preparations
Starr opted to self-produce Y Not, marking his first time taking on the role, with assistance from longtime recording engineer Bruce Sugar, who handled engineering, mixing, and keyboards.[17][18] Their collaboration built on prior work together, though Y Not represented a significant step in Starr's production involvement. Pre-production included assembling a core group of musicians from Starr's touring and session circle, such as guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh, to emphasize a live-band sound through rough demos recorded at Starr's home studio in Los Angeles.[19][18] Starr performed all the drumming himself.[18] Negotiations for the album's release led to a deal with UMe and Hip-O Records in 2009, providing Starr with creative control and focusing pre-production on collaborative elements like guest alignments.[20] Early discussions with potential contributors, including Walsh, helped shape the album's vision of friendship and shared performance.[21]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording sessions for Y Not took place primarily at Roccabella Studios, Ringo Starr's home facilities in Los Angeles, California, and Roccabella Studios in the United Kingdom.[22] Sessions spanned 2009, beginning with basic instrumental tracks laid down spontaneously without pre-written songs, emphasizing live takes to capture organic energy and emotional immediacy.[23] Starr played drums on every track, prioritizing rhythm section grooves developed in the moment alongside co-producer Bruce Sugar.[19] The process involved starting with synthesizer beds in a bedroom setup in Los Angeles, followed by adding drums, guitars, and other elements from passing musicians and guests.[23] Technical aspects focused on digital recording using Pro Tools at high sample rates like 96 kHz for clarity, with minimal miking on Starr's drum kit due to its natural internal balance captured via room microphones such as Neumann U 87s.[21] Challenges arose from coordinating remote contributions, with guests like Paul McCartney providing bass and vocals from England via tape, requiring careful syncing to maintain cohesion.[24] To preserve a raw sound, overdubs were limited, typically to just one or two takes per element, avoiding excessive layering in favor of sparse production that left space for the performances' authenticity.[23][21]Key collaborators and contributions
The production of Y Not involved over 20 collaborators, many of whom were longtime friends of Ringo Starr, reflecting his emphasis on personal relationships in assembling the album's creative team.[19][25] Paul McCartney, Starr's former Beatles bandmate, contributed bass to "Peace Dream" and additional vocals to "Walk With You," underscoring their enduring partnership and serving as a nod to their shared history in one of rock's most influential groups.[26][25] Joe Walsh, Starr's brother-in-law and frequent musical ally, provided guitar on multiple tracks, including "Peace Dream" and "Everyone Wins," where his distinctive solos added a signature rock edge and helped define the songs' energetic drive.[26][15] Joss Stone lent her powerful vocals to the closing track "Who's Your Daddy," co-written by Starr and Stone, bringing a soulful duet dynamic to the album's finale.[27][25] Among the core team, Bruce Sugar served as co-producer and engineer, overseeing the recording process at Starr's Roccabella Studios and contributing keyboards to shape the album's polished sound.[26][25] Steve Dudas, a recurring collaborator, handled guitar duties across several tracks, providing rhythmic support that complemented the guest stars' flair.[19]Musical content
Style and influences
Y Not exemplifies Ringo Starr's signature rock style, characterized by upbeat tempos and prominent drumming that form the rhythmic backbone of the album. The production emphasizes an organic feel, with drums mixed high to provide a solid foundation while leaving space for other instruments to breathe, reflecting Starr's philosophy of feel over technical excess. This approach draws from his classic rock roots, evoking the straightforward, groove-oriented sound of his 1970s solo albums like Ringo and the rockier Beatles tracks such as "Back in the U.S.S.R."[28] The album's primary genre is rock with pop and blues undertones, blending guitar-driven arrangements with occasional forays into soul and funk. Tracks like "Fill in the Blanks," featuring Joe Walsh on guitar, showcase a hard rock edge infused with bluesy riffs and an energetic, ELO-inspired vibe that highlights the album's classic rock sensibilities. Influences from acts like the Eagles are evident through Walsh's slide guitar contributions, while the overall sound maintains a retro quality with some electronic and global embellishments like synth and chants, prioritizing live-band cohesion over modern polish.[29][14] The self-produced nature of the album, the first in nearly 40 years, allowed for spontaneous elements, such as Indian tabla on the title track, adding subtle global flavors to the core rock framework while preserving an authentic, unpretentious vibe reminiscent of 1970s rock production.[28]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of Y Not emphasize themes of peace, reflection, and personal nostalgia, drawing heavily from Ringo Starr's life experiences and his enduring philosophy of positivity. Central to the album is a focus on global harmony and introspection, exemplified in "Peace Dream," which serves as a tribute to John Lennon and envisions a peaceful world without war, inspired by Lennon's messages of unity.[30][31] This track reflects Starr's commitment to avoiding political depth while promoting simple, hopeful ideals of peace and love that have defined his career since The Beatles era.[31] Personal storytelling adds layers of reflection, particularly in tracks revisiting Starr's roots. "The Other Side of Liverpool" nostalgically recounts his working-class upbringing in a cold, damp neighborhood marked by hardship and early family challenges, portraying music—drums, guitar, and amp—as an escape from poverty and violence.[16] This autobiographical motif underscores the album's theme of life's journey, with Starr viewing such songs as snapshots of his evolution beyond his Beatles fame.[31] Starr's lyrical style remains straightforward and conversational, co-written with collaborators to maintain accessibility and avoid unnecessary complexity, often incorporating elements of humor and lightheartedness to convey optimism. Songs like the title track "Y Not" explore life's mysteries through questioning and affirmation—"Why not do it if you want to?"—recycling phrases from Starr's earlier hits like "Photograph" and "It Don't Come Easy" to evoke a sense of enduring possibility.[30] Similarly, "Walk with You," a duet with Paul McCartney, functions as an anthem to friendship, reassuring that companionship brings understanding amid adversity: "When I walk with you / When I talk with you / Everything will be fine."[32][31] Many lyrics emerged organically during sessions without pre-written structures, aligning with Starr's positive outlook and collaborative approach, where improvisation fostered authentic expression over polished narratives.[30] This method reinforces the album's motifs of reflection and harmony, prioritizing emotional resonance in a conversational tone that invites listeners into Starr's worldview.Release and promotion
Formats and release details
Y Not was released on January 12, 2010, in both the United States and the United Kingdom by Hip-O Records and Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).[33][18] The album was distributed in North America through Universal Music Distribution.[26] The release was available in several formats, including a standard jewel case CD (catalogue number B0013792-02), digital download via platforms such as iTunes, and a limited edition 180-gram vinyl LP pressed at 45 RPM (catalogue number B0013792-01).[18] No deluxe edition was issued at launch, though the vinyl format was produced in limited quantities for collectors.[34] The album artwork features a stylized portrait of Ringo Starr integrated into a whimsical, puzzle-like design reflecting the title's wordplay. Promotional efforts included tie-ins with Starr's All-Starr Band tour later that year.[35]Singles and marketing
To promote the album Y Not, Ringo Starr released "Walk with You" as the lead promotional single on December 22, 2009.[36] The track, co-written by Starr and Van Dyke Parks, features Paul McCartney on backing vocals and bass, marking a rare collaboration between the two former Beatles.[37] A simple promotional video accompanied the single's release, showcasing Starr discussing the song's theme of friendship without elaborate production or theatrical elements.[38] "Peace Dream," another track from the album featuring McCartney on bass, received targeted radio airplay in 2010, particularly on classic rock stations, as part of the album's rollout strategy.[39] Marketing efforts emphasized Starr's ongoing connection to his Beatles legacy while highlighting new collaborations, with limited merchandise such as T-shirts featuring the album artwork made available through official channels.[40] The album's promotion was closely tied to Starr's live performances, including a North American tour with his All-Starr Band in summer 2010, where selections from Y Not were integrated into the setlist alongside classic hits.[41] Digital versions on platforms like iTunes included bonus content.[42]Reception
Critical reviews
Upon its release in January 2010, Ringo Starr's album Y Not received mixed reviews from critics, with an aggregate score of 60 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 11 reviews, indicating generally average reception.[43] AllMusic awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, with reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising its "friendly, shambling sound" as quintessential Ringo, capturing a joyful rock energy enhanced by notable guest appearances from artists like Paul McCartney and Joss Stone.[33] Similarly, Billboard highlighted the track "Peace Dream" as a standout, noting its optimistic tone and effective collaboration with McCartney on bass, which added emotional depth to the song's Lennon-inspired peace theme.[44] Critics also commended Starr's production work, marking his debut as sole producer, with Mojo describing it as a solid effort that brought warmth to the straightforward arrangements.[45] However, some outlets found the album formulaic and lacking innovation when compared to Starr's stronger earlier solo efforts. The Guardian called it an "upbeat" but ultimately banal collection, criticizing its corny sentiments and repetitive optimism as overly simplistic for a veteran artist.[28] Q magazine echoed this sentiment, dismissing much of the material as a "faintly embarrassing trifle" that relied too heavily on Starr's celebrity status.[46]Commercial performance and legacy
Y Not debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking Ringo Starr's highest-peaking studio album since 1998's Vertical Man and selling 7,965 copies in its first week.[47][35] The album did not enter the UK Albums Chart, reflecting limited initial commercial traction in Starr's home market.[35] Worldwide, it sold over 30,000 copies in its first month of release, with total equivalent album sales estimated at around 65,000 units as of 2024, including streaming equivalents.[35][48] The release received no certifications from major industry bodies, underscoring its modest sales performance relative to Starr's multimillion-selling early solo efforts like 1973's Ringo.[48] Despite underperforming commercially compared to his 1970s peaks—such as Ringo's number 2 position on the Billboard 200—Y Not outperformed Starr's immediate prior studio album, 2008's Liverpool 8, which peaked at number 94.[49] The album's emphasis on collaborations with artists including Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, and Joss Stone highlighted Starr's enduring network of musical friendships, a hallmark of his post-Beatles career that sustained his live performances through All-Starr Band tours in the 2010s and beyond.[44] This collaborative spirit has been credited with keeping Starr relevant, influencing the guest-heavy approach on subsequent releases like 2015's Postcards from Paradise and contributing to steady growth in streaming plays post-2010.[48]Album details
Track listing
All editions of Y Not feature the same ten tracks, with no division into sides on the vinyl release.[18] International variations are minimal, though the Japanese CD includes an obi strip and additional liner notes in the booklet.| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fill in the Blanks" | Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh | 3:14 |
| 2 | "Peace Dream" | Ringo Starr, Gary Wright, Gary Nicholson | 3:34 |
| 3 | "The Other Side of Liverpool" | Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart | 3:22 |
| 4 | "Walk with You" | Ringo Starr, Van Dyke Parks | 4:42 |
| 5 | "Time" | Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart | 3:47 |
| 6 | "Everyone Wins" | Ringo Starr, Johnny Warman | 3:52 |
| 7 | "Mystery of the Night" | Ringo Starr, Richard Marx | 4:04 |
| 8 | "Can't Do It Wrong" | Ringo Starr, Gary Burr | 3:43 |
| 9 | "Y Not" | Ringo Starr, Glen Ballard | 3:48 |
| 10 | "Who's Your Daddy" | Ringo Starr, Joss Stone | 2:28 |

