Beatles Legend Ringo Starr Tries Something New With Country Music

When Ringo Starr first considered recording in Nashville, the idea did not immediately appeal to him. At that point, he had already experienced a whirlwind year following the breakup of The Beatles, and the thought of spending weeks away recording felt exhausting. The invitation came through Pete Drake, who saw something in Starr’s musical taste that made him a perfect fit for the city’s sound.

Their connection happened almost by accident during sessions for George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. A simple gesture, lending his car to pick Drake up, led to a conversation that would change Starr’s direction. Drake noticed the country tapes in Starr’s car and suggested he try recording in Nashville. Starr hesitated at first, picturing a long, drawn-out process that he did not have the energy for.

What changed his mind was a simple comparison. Drake mentioned that Bob Dylan had recorded Nashville Skyline in just a couple of days. That detail reframed everything. Starr agreed, flew to Nashville, and found himself in a fast-paced, highly efficient recording environment. Within two days, he had completed what became Beaucoups of Blues, a project that felt as spontaneous as it was transformative.

Recording Beaucoups of Blues in Record Time

The Nashville sessions moved at a pace that surprised even Starr. On the first day, the team selected five songs, recorded them, and completed them in one go. There was no overthinking, no endless revisions. The musicians walked in prepared, played their parts, and captured the energy in real time.

Day two followed the same pattern. Another set of songs was chosen in the morning, performed, and finalized by the end of the session. This kind of efficiency stood in contrast to the more layered and experimental recording methods that defined much of Starr’s earlier work with The Beatles. Nashville offered a different philosophy, one rooted in instinct and immediacy.

The result was an album that felt natural and unforced. Beaucoups of Blues did not try to reinvent Starr. Instead, it revealed a side of him that had always been present but rarely brought to the forefront. The experience left a lasting impression, showing him that sometimes the best recordings happen when you trust the moment rather than chase perfection.

A Lifelong Love for Country and Blues

Country music was not a sudden discovery for Starr. Long before his Nashville sessions, he had already brought that influence into The Beatles’ catalog. His rendition of “Act Naturally,” originally by Buck Owens, and his own composition “Don’t Pass Me By” both reflected his affinity for the genre.

As a teenager in Liverpool, Starr’s listening habits stretched far beyond British pop. He admired artists like Hank Williams and Lightnin’ Hopkins, blending country and blues into his personal taste. These early influences shaped his musical instincts, even if they were not always at the center of his public work.

That foundation would later resurface in his collaborations with T Bone Burnett. Albums like Look Up and Long Long Road continued exploring country textures, proving that Starr’s connection to the genre was not a passing experiment. It was something that had quietly followed him throughout his career.

Radio Waves and Imported Records

Growing up in Liverpool, access to American music was limited. The BBC rarely played the kind of records that Starr and his friends wanted to hear. That gap led them to seek out alternative sources, and one of the most important was Radio Luxembourg.

The station broadcast programs from influential figures like Alan Freed, whose playlists introduced British listeners to rock and roll, country, and blues. Starr and his friend Roy Trafford would tune in, absorbing sounds that felt completely different from what was available locally. These broadcasts became a window into another musical world.

Liverpool’s status as a port city also played a role. Sailors returning from the United States often brought records with them, which they would sell after a few days in town. For young music fans like Starr, this created a steady, if unpredictable, supply of new material. It was through these channels that he built the eclectic taste that later defined his work.

New Music, Old Friends, and the Road Ahead

Starr’s recent work with T Bone Burnett highlights how his career continues to evolve. Their collaboration is not just about revisiting country music, but about connecting different chapters of his life. The songs on Long Long Road reflect a personal journey, one that traces his path from Liverpool to global fame and beyond.

Burnett himself has a long history with Starr, dating back to earlier recording sessions. As a lifelong admirer of The Beatles, Burnett credits the band with shaping his own musical direction. Their eventual collaboration feels like a natural extension of that influence, bringing together decades of shared inspiration.

Even now, Starr shows no signs of slowing down. With tours scheduled alongside his All-Starr Band, he remains active on the road, performing for audiences around the world. His willingness to explore new directions, including a deeper dive into country music, proves that his story is still unfolding.