Look Up

Ringo Starr is pulling on a pair of boots with spurs and complimenting the getup with the promise of a new country album, his 1st full length set since 2019’s "What’s My Name", the T Bone Burnett produced and co-written "Look Up", due on January 10th, 2025. Stirring together 11 original tracks with brazen guest slots featuring some of Nashville’s finest. As a preview of what’s to come, Starr has delivered “Time On My Hands”.

Breaking down the impending tracking list, which features 9 numbers written or co-written by Burnett, Starr tapped additional help, culling songwriter Billy Swan’s talents on one LP feature while another functions as a co-write from Starr and Bruce Sugar. All songs feature Starr applying his signature backbeat and vocals, including the closer, Alison Krauss featured “Thankful”.

Starr’s country roots extend back to his Beatles contributions, “Act Naturally”, “What Goes On”, “Don’t Pass Me By”, and solo LP, his sophomore set, "Beaucoups Of Blues", which permeated influences of country and western, a far cry from his 1970 debut, the pop informed "Sentimental Journey".

“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 recalls. “I had been making EP's at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP, but when he brought me 9 songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send peace and 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”.

“I have loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember”, says Burnett. “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”.

Starr is set to perform new numbers in Nashville when he headlines the famed Ryman Auditorium on January 14th and 15th, 2025.

Tracklist + writers :

01. Breathless (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
02. Look Up (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
03. Time On My Hands (Paul Kennerly, Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
04. Never Let Me Go (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
05. I Live For Your Love (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Billy Swan, T Bone Burnett)
06. Come Back (featuring Lucius) (T Bone Burnett)
07. Can You Hear Me Call (featuring Molly Tuttle) (T Bone Burnett)
08. Rosetta (featuring Billy Strings and Larkin Poe) (T Bone Burnett)
09. 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)