''VH1 Storytellers'' is a live and

video album A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

by Ringo Starr recorded and released for the popular music program in 1998. Unlike his previous live recordings, this release places Starr in an intimate environment where, as per the show's requirement, he tells the genesis of the songs being performed.

Recording

Recorded a month before the release of Starr's new studio album ''

Vertical Man ''Vertical Man'' is the 11th studio album by Ringo Starr, issued in 1998. The album served as Starr's attempt at a commercial comeback following the success of ''The Beatles Anthology'' project. Starr enlisted the help of many of his musician fr ...

'' – and performed in promotion for it – ''VH1 Storytellers'' features Starr's contemporary musical collaborator Mark Hudson (who produced the album) and Starr's current band, dubbed "the Roundheads". Aside from songs that appeared on ''Vertical Man'', much of the set is devoted to Starr's Beatles and early solo successes.

Release and reception

This marked the last time a Ringo Starr album was released on cassette in the United States, according to journalist Peter Palmiere. However, some countries in the Far East still issue cassettes of recent Ringo Starr material including '' Ringo Rama'', '' Choose Love'', and '' Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr''. ''VH1 Storytellers'' was released by

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it i ...

in the US on 20 October 1998. The album failed to chart. ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

''s reviewer wrote: "It's his yarns, though, that are most engaging … A nice retrospective of an under appreciated composer."

Track listing

Personnel

* Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums, piano on "Don't Pass Me By" *

Joe Walsh Joseph Fidler Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In a career spanning over five decades, he has been a member of three successful rock bands: the James Gang, Eagles, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr ...

– guitar, backing vocals * Mark Hudson – guitar, harmonica, backing vocals *

Gary Burr Gary Burr, born in Meriden, Connecticut, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, primarily in the country music genre. Many of the songs he has written have become Top-10 hits, the first of which was " Love's Been A Little B ...

– guitar, mandolin, backing vocals *Steve Dudas – guitar *

Jack Blades Jack Martin Blades (born April 24, 1954) is an American rock musician. He has worked in the bands Rubicon, Night Ranger (as bassist and one of the lead vocalists), and Damn Yankees (as one of the founding members). He has also recorded with ...

– bass, backing vocals * Jim Cox – keyboards, backing vocals *Scott Gordon – harmonica *

Simon Kirke Simon Frederick St George Kirke (born 28 July 1949) is an English rock drummer best known as a member of Free and Bad Company. He has been the only continuous member of Bad Company since their inception. Life and career Kirke was born in L ...

– drums, percussion

References

; Footnotes ; Citations {{Authority control Albums produced by Mark Hudson (musician) 1998 live albums Ringo Starr live albums Mercury Records live albums VH1 Storytellers es:VH1 Storytellers