AARON BADGLEY – RINGO STARR SOLO CAREER: GOT TO PAY YOUR DUES
NEW HAVEN PUBLISHING
BOOK REVIEW BY GERROD HARRIS
Following the 2023 release of Dark Horse Records: The Story Of George Harrison’s Post-Beatles Record Label, author Aaron Badgley has returned with his second book, Ring Starr Solo Career: Got to Pay Your Dues. By shifting his focus to Starr, Badgley’s latest book is a wealth of information as he follows Starr throughout the decade that followed the dissolution of The Beatles.
On the surface, Ringo Starr Solo Career: Got to Pay Your Dues seems like a book that provides a dissection of each of Starr’s solo records. While this remains at the core of the book, Badgley has gone further by looking at Starr’s entire creative output for the decade. Organized chapters focused on each year of the ‘70s, Badgley leaves no stone unturned as he looks at Starr’s albums alongside his growing role in television and film, and his near endless performances on albums by other artists. Through such approach, Badgley is able to deliver clear narrative that gives greater context to the influencing factors behind Starr and his budding career as a solo artist. Similarly, his attention to Starr’s many ventures in film and as a session musician paints a portrait of a more complete artist; of Starr chasing his creative muse throughout the decade.
AUTHOR AARON BADGLEY
True to form, Badgley’s work continues to demonstrate a dedication to research. Through critical sources and conducting his own interviews, Badgley has amassed a collection of information to allow for him to tell a story that has remained untold. While we all are aware of Starr’s work as a solo artist, it would appear that Badgley may be the first to attempt to assemble the pieces together in order to fully examine the many ups and downs as Starr navigated his artistry in the wake of a decade of Beatlemania.
Through a detailed analysis of Starr’s numerous creative endeavours throughout the ‘70s, Badgley continues to hone his voice as a Beatles historian as he continues to shine a light on the corners of Fab Four lore that is often overlooked. In this sense, Badgley is an archivist, collecting a swath of primary evidence into a compelling narrative. As such, Ringo Starr Solo Career: Got to Pay Your Dues is a crucial resource for understanding the origins and trajectory of Starr’s solo work and his contributions to popular music, as both a leading artist and session musician, in the 1970’s, making this book a must read for fans of The Beatles, who are bound to be excited for where Badgley will go next – perhaps an entire book dedicated to John Lennon’s Rock ‘N’ Roll.
ISBN-10: 1915975263
ISBN-13: 9781915975263
PURCHASE RINGO STARR SOLO CAREER: GOT TO PAY YOUR DUES VIA
SPILL FEATURE: SHED A DIFFERENT LIGHT ON RINGO – A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR AARON BADGLEY
