Sir Richard Starkey, also known as Ringo Starr, the beloved English musician best known as a member of The Beatles, dives headfirst into the American tradition of country music on his forthcoming studio album, Look Up, due out on January 10th, 2025. The album was produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett and features contributions by a number of notable Nashville players including Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Lucius, Molly Tuttle, and Alison Krauss.
Look Up, recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, features eleven tracks including nine written or co-written by Burnett, one by Billy Swan, and one co-written by Starr and Bruce Sugar. Starr sang and played drums on all the songs and co-wrote the album’s closer, “Thankful”.
As the album’s announcement notes, “Starr’s lifelong love of country music has been apparent and celebrated throughout his illustrious career. He performed and wrote numerous country and country-tinged songs throughout his years with The Beatles (i.e. ‘Act Naturally,’ ‘What Goes On,’ ‘Don’t Pass Me By’) as well as with the earlier Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, and recorded a country album, Beaucoups of Blues, in 1970 as his second solo album. His love of Country and the Blues led him to try and emigrate from London to Texas while still a teen, after reading that Lightnin’ Hopkins lived in Houston.”
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The idea for the record came together via chance meeting with Burnett at an event in Los Angeles in 2022, years after the two had first met in the 1970s. There, Starr asked Burnett to write a song for an EP he was recording. Burnett ran with the challenge, writing nine songs instead—all in the country vain—clearing the road for Starr’s first country album in more than 50 years and his first full-length album since 2019’s What’s My Name.
As Ringo Starr recalled in a press statement, “I’ve always loved country music. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song – but of course it was, and it was so beautiful. I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP -but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to.”
Added Burnett, “I have loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember. He changed the way every drummer after him played, with his inventive approach to the instrument. And, he has always sung killer rockabilly, as well as being a heartbreaking ballad singer. To get to make this music with him was something like the realization of a 60-year dream I’ve been living. None of the work that I have done through a long life in music would have happened if not for him and his band. Among other things, this album is a way I can say thank you for all he has given me and us.”
In a post on social media, Billy Strings noted, “I was stunned when I got the call to play guitar and sing on a few tracks. It’s such a beautiful album. Thank you Ringo.”
Below, watch the official album announcement video for the forthcoming Ringo Starr country album, Look Up.
Ringo Starr – Look Up Country Album Announcement Video
Alongside the album’s announcement, Ringo Starr shared its first single, “Time On My Hands”, and announced a celebratory two-night run of Ringo Starr & Friends album release shows at Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium—the Mother Church of Country Music—set for January 14th and 15th, 2024. Tickets will be go on sale on October 25th. Find ticketing details here.
Pre-order or pre-save new Ringo Starr country album Look Up on the platform of your choice here. Watch the official lyric video for “Time On My Hands” via the YouTube player below. Scroll down to view the full album tracklist.
Ringo Starr – “Time On My Hands” (Official Lyric Video)
Ringo Starr – Look Up – Album Tracklist/Credits
- Breathless (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
- Look Up (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
- Time On My Hands (Paul Kennerly, Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
- Never Let Me Go (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
- I Live For Your Love (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Billy Swan, T Bone Burnett)
- Come Back (featuring Lucius) (T Bone Burnett)
- Can You Hear Me Call (featuring Molly Tuttle) (T Bone Burnett)
- Rosetta (featuring Billy Strings and Larkin Poe) (T Bone Burnett)
- You Want Some (Billy Swan)
- String Theory (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
- Thankful (featuring Alison Krauss) (Richard Starkey, Bruce Sugar)*
-Produced by T Bone Burnett; Co-Produced by Daniel Tashian and Bruce Sugar
The post Ringo Starr Goes Country (Again) For New Album Ft. Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Alison Krauss, More [Watch] appeared first on L4LM.
