Ringo Starr announces first album in six years and it's a country record

18 October 2024, 15:54

Ringo Starr joins forces with T Bone Burnett.

As well as playing live with his All-Starr Band, Ringo Starr had kept busy in the studio in recent years making a series of EPs.

And now the ex-Beatle has recorded his first full-length album in six years – and it's a country record.

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Ringo has long been known for his love of country and rockabilly music, with some of his rare Beatles vocals being covers of Carl Perkins' 'Honey Don't' and Buck Owens' 'Act Naturally'.

He's now joined forces with country music legend T Bone Burnett for a the album Look Up, which will be released on January 10, 2025.

The album, the follow-up to 2019's What's My Name, is trailed by the song 'Time on My Hands', which is available to stream right now.

Ringo Starr - Time On My Hands (Official Lyric Video)

"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," Ringo said.

"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."

T Bone added: "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."

Look Up is made up of 11 original songs, nine of which have been written or co-written by T Bone Burnett. One song was written by Billy Swan and the other is a Ringo Starr/Bruce Sugar co-write.

Ringo – who sings and drums on all tracks – also co-wrote the album's closing song 'Thankful', which features another country legend Alison Krauss.

Ringo will debut the songs in the perfect setting when he headlines the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on January 14 and 15, 2025, with tickets going on sale on October 25.

The full tracklisting of Ringo Starr's Look Up is as follows:

1. Breathless (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
2. Look Up (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
3. Time On My Hands (Paul Kennerly, Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
4. Never Let Me Go (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
5. I Live For Your Love (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Billy Swan, T Bone Burnett)
6. Come Back (featuring Lucius) (T Bone Burnett)
7. Can You Hear Me Call (featuring Molly Tuttle) (T Bone Burnett)
8. Rosetta (featuring Billy Strings and Larkin Poe) (T Bone Burnett)
9. You Want Some (Billy Swan)
10. String Theory (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
11. Thankful (featuring Alison Krauss) (Richard Starkey, Bruce Sugar)