Review: Ringo Starr ‘Look Up’
By Hal Horowitz
Despite The Beatles’ eclecticism that combined, rock, soul, pop, folk and even classical influences into songs the world will be singing long after we’re gone, country music was never a major influence. Still, it was there, mostly in the form of Ringo, who lent his laconic, everyman vocals to the few instances of twang the band incorporated in their sprawling discography. That included a left-field cover of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally,” Lennon’s “What Goes On” and Starr’s own “Don’t Pass Me By”; all agreeable but none classics.
After the group’s dissolution, Ringo decamped to Nashville and hired several of the city’s finest musicians for his second solo album, ‘Beaucoups of Blues.’ It was generally overlooked at the time, yet Ringo’s casual approach and easygoing vibe worked surprisingly well in the country genre, especially with material, written by Nashville talent, specifically for him. But after its disappointing commercial response, Starr returned to the pop/rock that his fans expected. It’s where he has stayed for the last 54 years.
But in 2022, a chance meeting with Americana maven T Bone Burnett changed that. Ringo asked him to write a song, never expecting more. Burnett returned with nine new ones—mostly co-writes–added a few others and recorded the lot with T Bone as producer. The results are these 11 tracks, Ringo’s 21st album and first full length project in six years (there have been a handful of EPs between). ‘Look Up’ is out January 10, 2025.
The concise, largely acoustic songs aren’t entirely country, despite publicity that claims otherwise.
Opening “Breathless,” (not the Jerry Lee Lewis hit) featuring Billy Strings, leans more to rockabilly with the singer’s ageless voice amiably infusing his Ringo-ness to the jumping jive. Strings returns and brings the Larkin Poe sisters for backing vocals and the Eagles’ Joe Walsh on slide guitar on the darker, bluesy “Rosetta.” It’s about an ex he never forgot (“Since you left for another coast/I’ve been haunted by your ghost”) who now reappears with Ringo sighing “It’s been a long hard road.”
The strummy “String Theory,” leans more into Americana, despite some touching pedal steel and the appearance of a disappointingly under mixed Molly Tuttle singing on a charming slice of Laurel Canyon fluff. Tuttle is slightly more noticeable on “I Live for Your Love,” a sweet Burnett/Billy Swan love ballad with slithering pedal steel bringing the country. Mandolin, fiddle and Ringo’s whistling take us back to an almost Roy Rogers’ styled, get-along-little-doggies on the prairie “Come Back.”
Tuttle is Ringo’s duet partner, echoing a Johnny and June vibe, on the lightly thumping “Can You Hear Me Call.” His hangdog voice slots wonderfully for “Time in My Hands,” an early single and one of this set’s most enticing entries whose floating melody, melancholy lyrics and soaring pedal steel combine to yield sweeping C&W. Willie Nelson’s longtime harmonica ace Mickey Raphael is spotlighted on the blues based “Never Let Me Go,” a simple yet effective ditty that few others than Ringo, with his clear-eyed, self-effacing voice, could pull off quite as well. The message of peace and love which he has been preaching for decades closes the proceedings with the genial “Thankful,” a duet with the superb Alison Krauss who, like Tuttle, is frustratingly obscured in the mix.
Starr’s distinctive singing remains as amiable and appealing as in the “Yellow Submarine” days; pretty impressive since he’s now a great-grandfatherly, yet musically spry, 84. That infuses even some of the less stellar songs with the obvious joy he exudes doing what he clearly loves.
That affable vibe is contagious enough to make ‘Look Up’ an uplifting excursion, as much fun to listen to as it seems he had making it.
Pre-save the album ‘Look Up’ HERE
“Thankful Feat. Alison Krauss”
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