Live From Sound Stage (2007)
1. With a Little Help From My Friends/ It Don't Come Easy 2. Octopus's Garden 3. Choose Love 4. I Wanna Be Your Man 5. Don't Pass Me By 6. I'm the Greatest 7. Memphis on Your Mind 8. Photograph 9. Never Without You 10.Back Off Boogaloo 11.Boys 12.Yellow Submarine 13.Act Naturally 14.With a Little Help From My Friends
Recorded for PBS in conjunction with the release of his 2005 studio album Choose Love, Live at Soundstage offers one of the rare opportunities to experience Ringo Starr live in concert—without the usual trappings of the rotating All-Starr Band setup that had, by then, become something of a branded revue. For once, this was Ringo front and center, backed not by a parade of journeyman hitmakers but by his own group, The Roundheads. The result? A perfectly respectable, if largely unsurprising, live document.
Although Colin Hay (of Men at Work notoriety) shared the stage during the taping, his songs are omitted from the CD release, keeping the spotlight where it belongs: squarely on Ringo. And while the setlist offers no great revelations, it does deliver exactly what one might expect—a combination of Beatles-era staples, early '70s solo hits, and a smattering of newer material. It functions, effectively, as a kind of live greatest hits, albeit with slightly looser arrangements and the warmth of audience response.
Don’t Pass Me By is a standout, opening with a nod to its demo version made familiar by The Beatles Anthology, and evolving into a surprisingly effective live piece. Back Off Boogaloo still packs a mild punch, and the obligatory Yellow Submarine invites the expected singalong, even if the original whimsy now leans slightly more toward self-parody. But to Ringo’s credit, he embraces it all with evident joy—and without a trace of cynicism.
The rest of the set is faithful to the studio originals, which is both its strength and its limitation. There’s a professionalism to the proceedings that ensures nothing goes off the rails, but little in the way of reinvention. Ringo himself takes to the drum kit on occasion, reminding listeners that his reputation as a timekeeper wasn’t accidental. At 65, he still possesses the same easy rhythm and natural feel that defined his playing decades earlier.
While the CD offers a polished snapshot of the performance, the accompanying DVD adds an extra layer of charm—if only to witness Ringo’s enduring stage presence. He grins, waves, and generally radiates the kind of amiable energy that makes him so likable, even if the material never pushes beyond the familiar.
No, Live at Soundstage isn’t essential. But then again, it never tries to be. It’s Ringo, relaxed and in good voice, doing what he does best: keeping time, keeping spirits high, and keeping the legacy alive. As live Ringo documents go, this is as focused and consistent as you’re likely to find.