A classic Norman Whitfield production from 1971 featuring many of the tracks — ‘Cloud Nine’, ‘Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On’ and ‘Ball of Confusion’ — that Whitfield would record with his other Motown acts, as well as Starr’s definitive take on ‘War’ which had been recorded by the Temptations the previous year. The epic near-13 minute version of ‘Ball…’ was a vintage Whitfield production complete with vocal effects, lengthy vamp sections and fuzz guitar solos. The album finishes on a hippie note with spirited covers of Sly Stone’s ‘Stand’ and George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord.’

– Harold Heath