Album Review: Long Long Road - Ringo Starr

Most people know Richard Starky – aka Ringo Starr – as the drummer from The Beatles.

Although Lennon and McCartney were the songwriting powerhouses of the band, from 1965 onwards, Starr had the opportunity to showcase his songwriting prowess on a handful of track – as solo writer on Octopus’s Garden and Don’t Pass Me By, and as a co-writer on What Goes On, Dig It, Maggie May and Flying.

As well as singing on his own compositions, Ringo showed his skills as a singer on 12 Beatles tracks, including I Wanna Be Your Man, Yellow Submarine and With a Little Help From my Friends.

However, it is some of the covers that Ringo sang, including Act Naturally (originally by Buck Owens), that are the most consistent with Ringo’s current musical direction.

Following on from 2025’s album Look Up, Ringo’s latest album Long Long Road is his second with American producer and musician, T Bone Burnett. Fittingly for an album firmly rooted in Country and Americana, Long Long Road was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles. These are the first Country records from Ringo Starr in over 50 years, following his 1970 release, Beaucoups of Blues. Whilst the albums that interposed these releases stepped away from the genre, a deeper dive into Ringo’s back catalogue makes it clear that Ringo’s adoration for Country music is not new.

In this latest release, his passion for the genre is evident, and a closer look at songs within his primarily pop/rock discography (such as Ringorama album track Missouri Loves Company) makes it clear that Ringo has had a long-standing affinity with rockabilly and Americana.

Long Long Road’s opening track Returning Without Tears sets the tone for the 9 songs that follow. Featuring American bluegrass vocalist Molly Tuttle, the song has a traditional country feel, ably aided by Paul Franklin on steel guitar and David Mansfield on the violin. This is followed by Baby Don’t Go, which, whilst simplistic lyrically, has at its midpoint what I would argue is the standout instrumental from the album, with beautiful bluesy guitar from Billy Strings.

The next track on Long Long Road is a lesser-known Carl Perkins song from 1959 entitled I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore. This Is an upbeat, rockabilly track, with more than a touch of the ‘doo wop’ style that was popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The enduring influence of Carl Perkins upon Ringo Starr is evident all the way back to Ringo’s Beatles days, when the band covered six of Perkins’s tracks, and Ringo sang lead vocals on the band’s covers of Perkins’s songs Matchbox and Honey Don’t. It’s Been Too Long is a more modern take on Country music with echoes of Shania Twain, and smooth vocals from collaborators Molly Tuttle and Sarah Jarosz giving the track a strong country-rock feel. Paired with Ringo’s affable singing style, this is a very enjoyable listen.

Stylistically, Why feels like a bridge between I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore and It’s Been Too Long. With the characteristic twangy country guitar and simple lyrics that let the music step into the spotlight, this is a fun track that hits the mark.

Molly Tuttle returns to duet with Ringo on You and I (Wave of Love), which has a slower pace, in line with the romantic lyrics, and gentle harmonies from the pair. This slower pace continues with track 7, My Baby Don’t Want Nothing. Unfortunately, this gentle song is one of the more forgettable tracks on the album, with lots of repetition and twee lyrics that include: ‘The first day we met seemed fateful, And I always will be grateful, I will evermore be faithful, To you’.

Thankfully, the pace picks back up with Choose Love. Tulsa-born singer/guitarist St Vincent joins Ringo on this track, and the addition of the flute and steel guitar is pleasantly reminiscent of the psychedelic vibe on Beatles track, Tomorrow Never Knows. The lyrics also reference The Long and Winding Road, which is a nice ‘Easter egg’ moment for Beatles fans. This takes my vote for the standout track from the album.

The overt Country feel returns for penultimate track She’s Gone, as does Molly Tuttle, and the song packs an emotional punch. The album closes with title track, Long Long Road, featuring Sheryl Crow and Daniel Tashian. Whilst Crow’s vocals could have featured more strongly, this is a comfortable Country track and the vibe takes us full circle back to the album’s opener, Returning Without Tears.

Whilst Long Long Road is a far cry from the majority of Ringo’s musical output with the Beatles, and the eclecticism of solo albums such as his 1970 release Sentimental Journey, the album has been warmly received by critics.

Ultimate Classic Rock describes Long Long Road as Ringo Starr’s ‘valentine to the genre’, with which I wholeheartedly concur. Ringo’s latest offering is a solid addition to his 22-strong studio album collection, and fans of Look Up and Country music in general will not be disappointed.

You can stream Ringo’s new album here.

Written by Michelle Peet

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