PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 04: Ringo Starr attends the Stella McCartney Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images) (Image: Arnold Jerocki, Getty Images)
Legendary The Beatles star Ringo Starr has unveiled his brand-new album, titled ‘Long Long Road’, today (April 24), and it appears fans are split on the record – with some identifying one particular ‘issue’.
The release is a 10-track country-rock and Americana album produced by the acclaimed T Bone Burnett, serving as a direct follow-up to Starr’s well-received 2025 country offering, Look Up.
The album boasts an impressive roster of guest artists, among them Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and Sarah Jarosz.
‘It’s Been Too Long’ serves as the lead single, featuring Sarah Jarosz and Molly Tuttle. Further tracks include ‘Choose Love’ – a re-recording of the title track from his 2005 album of the same name – and ‘I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore’, a cover of a 1959 Carl Perkins track.
Starr – whose real name is Sir Richard Starkey – laid down the album in Nashville and Los Angeles. It draws heavily on a “traditional Nashville sound” and working-class country influences. Burnett described writing for Ringo Starr, 85, as treating him like a “Texas artist” owing to his distinctive playing style.
READ MORE: Al Pacino’s ‘career-ending’ confession about ‘worst movie’ The Godfather
Having already given the album a listen, some fans find themselves divided. Many were full of praise, with one Reddit user writing: “Listening to it right now! Definitely sounds a bit older, but for 85 Ringo sounds great! Can’t wait to see him live in June again!”
Another concurred: “It’s a really great project.”
A third also added: “‘Choose Love’ is definitely one that caught my ear. Sounds like some of the india-era Beatles songs.”
While a fourth wrote: “Overall I like the album as a whole, more so than his previous album, ‘Look Up’. However I do think Look Up has the strongest tracks with its title track and ‘Time On My Hands’.”
However, not all listeners were won over, with one fan confessing: “I just can’t help but feel like everything from Ringo continues to be late 1980’s early 90’s country pop (and not the fun catchy type). It all just sounds like bad karaoke bar tracks.”
Someone else argued: “Ringo needs a Sinatra duets type album pairing with stars from today and some of his buddies.”
As another agreed: “Yeah, I think if he did what Bob Dylan did between ‘Shadows In The Night’ and ‘Triplicate’, it would be quite interesting.”
A number of listeners also highlighted one ‘big issue’ with the album – its cover. One fan moaned: “What’s with these low effort front covers for the recent ex-Beatles albums, come on boys at least hire an artist of some kind.”
Another added: “Yeah they should have done something more high effort like The Beatles self-titled album.”
As a third blasted: “This looks like Ringo’s grandchild put it together in Canva in 5 minutes. And Paul’s album looks even worse unfortunately.”
Ringo will be hitting the road in support of the release, embarking on a US tour with his All Starr Band commencing in late May 2026.
To date, Ringo Starr has released 22 solo studio albums, with his solo career kicking off in 1970 in the immediate aftermath of The Beatles’ break-up, maintaining a prolific output spanning more than five decades.
‘Long Long Road’ is available to stream on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, and can also be purchased on vinyl and CD via the Official Ringo Starr Store.
