Out of Print Gems: David Hentschel - "Startling Music"

Ringo Starr made his name as the odd Beatle out, pushing through only 2¼ songwriting credits on Beatle albums and playing the lovable loser in all four of the band's non-documentary films. Yet it was Ringo who burst out of the gates to commercial success following the band's dissolution. Armed with a bevy of songs co-written with (or ghostwritten by) his former bandmates – all of whom he alone remained more or less friends with – Ringo routinely charted both albums and singles in the US and UK Top 10 through the end of 1974. In 1975, at the height of his commercial success, Starr followed George Harrison's lead and founded his own record label, Ring O'Records. The label persisted through 1978 but suffered from distribution problems throughout, with releases being handled by Capitol, Polydor, or no one at all. Coupled with Starr's worsening substance abuse and declining commercial prospects, these logistical hurdles meant that only 11 artists would ever record for Ring O'Records, producing a total of 7 LPs and 17 singles.

The label's first release, an LP by British recording engineer David Hentschel, stands as the most meta release in the notably self-referential Beatle universe: a complete instrumental cover of Ringo's most successful album (Ringo), released as Ring O'Records 2320 101 under the punny title Startling Music. Recorded after (but released before) Paul McCartney's instrumental Thrillington, Startling Music is otherwise a unique entry in the extended Beatle discography. Hentschel himself, in addition to having engineered such albums as All Things Must Pass, was a talented synth artist with playing credits including the overture to "Funeral for a Friend" and parts on five Genesis albums. While his friendship with Harrison led him to Starr's record label, his other connections within the industry enabled guest drumming from future bandmate Phil Collins and other instrumental work by session insider Ronnie Caryl.

Startling Music is described in the album credits as an "interpretation of the album Ringo," which may be understatement. Where Thrillington was a fairly straight ahead, semi-classical cover, Startling Music is in fits jazzy and funky, but first and foremost, a prog album worthy of its Genesis pedigree. Even the most faithful cover – Ringo's signature solo hit, "Photograph" – is preceded by a Baroque toccata lasting 3:20. Collins is credited with drums/percussion on 6 of the 11 tracks and is tight throughout, while Caryl's guitarwork amplifies the already bombastic arrangements to impressive heights. Ringo himself contributed little to the album and is only credited with finger snaps on "Step Lightly." Nonetheless, thanks largely to the strong melodies inherited from him, Startling Music holds up nicely, even for those unfamiliar with the original album.

Following the collapse of Ring O'Records, the entire catalog fell out of print, dragging Startling Music down with it. Today it stands (along with the first four Splinter albums) as one of the rare projects tied directly to a Beatle to be commercially unavailable. Like Splinter's rich discography, Startling Music deserves and would benefit from a remaster and rerelease; until then, you can download it here.