Credit: Dan Winters

Ringo Starr announces new country album ‘Look Up’

Fri 18 October 2024 15:28, UK

The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has unveiled plans to release his new country album, Look Up, early next year.

The upcoming LP has been discussed by the Liverpudlian musician on multiple occasions over the last 18 months, and now, it has been made official. Look Up is a collaborative project that has seen Starr team up with T Bone Burnett, who co-wrote many of the compositions on the album and also produced the record.

To tease the upcoming album, which is set to be released on January 10th, 2025, Starr has released the new single, ‘Time on My Hands’, providing a taste of what to expect on Look Up. Across the record, Starr is assisted by a variety of famous figures from the country world such as Alison Krauss and Billy Strings.

In 2023, Starr first talked about making a country song, which soon grew into an EP before evolving again into an album.

The album was first announced by Starr in February, when he took to social media: “I was gonna do a country EP, but as things are unfolding, it’s probably going to be like a real CD, ten tracks. Can you believe it? I haven’t done one of them in a long time. So that’s getting made ready.”

Now, in a new statement, Starr has discussed the recording process along with his love of country. Notably, The Beatles drummer previously released Beaucoups of Blues in 1970, but it has taken 55 years for him to return to the genre.

“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,” Starr explained.

He continued: “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.”

Meanwhile, Burnett praised Starr, revealing that he has “loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember”. Starr plays drums on every track on the new album with Burnett highlighting “his inventive approach to the instrument”, and also noted, “None of the work that I have done through a long life in music would have happened if not for him and his band.”

Ringo Starr’s recent tour cancellation

News of Starr’s upcoming album comes shortly after the drummer was forced to cancel the remaining dates of his North American tour due to health problems. In a statement, a representative for Starr shared on social media: “Ringo has come down with a cold and after consulting a doctor he was advised to cancel these two remaining shows and get rest.”

Starr was set to perform at the TD Pavilion at The Mann in Philadelphia on September 24th and at Radio City Music Hall in New York on September 25th.

Thankfully, Starr appears to have made a full recovery as he’s now announced his return to the stage next year. To promote Look Up, he’ll perform two special shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on January 14th and 15th, 2025.