It’s hard to believe Long Long Road (2026) is Ringo Starr’s 22nd album. Paul McCartney has released 27 albums since the Beatles broke up–with Wings and his solo work.
Ringo Starr, with assistance from T Bone Burnett (as producer, player, and songwriter) on 2025’s Look Up album resulted in an unexpected critical and commercial hit for the ex-Beatle. Although Ringo had been recording well-received albums in a pop/rock genre for the decades, the success of Look Up practically guaranteed that a follow-up album was inevitable.
Long Long Road continues Ringo’s country-infused sound. T Bone Burnett brought along many of the same hand-picked backing players and guests (Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings) from his past albums. That explains why the sound of Starr’s Long Long Road is scintillating. The ten dynamic performances were mostly written or co-composed by Burnett (Ringo is co-credited with three).
It’s hard to believe that at 85, Ringo sounds just like he did warbling “Don’t Pass Me By,” “This Boy,” “Octopus’s Garden” and a handful of other Beatle tunes a half-century ago. Ringo’s affable, easygoing, pleasant vocals are genial, upbeat, and fun to listen to.
My favorite tunes on Long Long Road are “It’s Been Too Long” and “Returning Without Tears”–a duet with Molly Tuttle. But all the songs are very listenable with great sound.
I’ve always considered Ringo Starr an underrated performer. Long Long Road shows that Ringo is better than you thought. Are you a Ringo fan? GRADE: B+
.
TRACK LIST:
Returning Without Tears
Baby Don’t Go
I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore
It’s Been Too Long
Why
You and I (Wave of Love)
My Baby Don’t Want Nothing
Choose Love
She’s Gone
Long Long Road
Yes, I’m a fan—but I really haven’t listened to any of his new music, I’m still stuck in the “Photograph” and “It Don’t Come Easy” era. I will give this album (and the previous one) a spin on Spotify.
Deb, I’m surprised that Ringo at 85 sounds as good as the guy who sang “Photograph” and “It Don’t Come Easy.” Amazing!
Well, George, he’s always had kind of a rough-hewn voice…he and Lennon moreso than McCartney and Harrison, and Starkey more than Lennon. That kind of voice doesn’t age as poorly as the smoother sort, unless some nasty business such as Brainworm or Julie Andrews have faced kicks in.
Todd, true, but Ringo’s voice has held up a lot better than Bob Dylan’s did.
Dylan probably hasn’t done too much to keep his voice in shape, either…and he was almost always a “keening” singer, Starkey more likely to croon, if more or less energetically.
Todd, crooning pretty much describes Ringo’s voice on LONG LONG ROAD.
Who doesn’t like Ringo? Haven’t listened to any of his new songs, but I like his Carl Perkins covers.
Jeff, the music on LONG LONG ROAD sounds good to me!
Wow. I clearly haven’t kept up with the solo Beatles in many years. I guess playing audiobooks in the car is the reason
On a side note, my first concert was the Beatles first Hollywood bowl. My mom and a friend of hers drove me and a neighbor boy up. He was country singer Ferlin Huskys oldest son. We had nosebleed seats but it was an experience I’ll never forget
Maggie, even now, many years later, seeing The Beatles live is a wonderful experience to remember!
Still a fan after all these years.
I had to smile when I heard Ringo interviewed on Sirius XM and he mentioned that it seems a little weird to be singing You’re 16 when you’re an octogenarian.
“You’re Sixteen/You’re beautiful/And you’re my great-grandaughter!” Which only goes bad in the neighborhood of a Drumpf/Epstein sort. (Not that even singing the original song when he was 30 was the best choice.)
Todd, I Agree.
Beth, Ringo has lasted because of his talent. Sure, John and Paul got a lot of attention Back in the Day, but Ringo was an essential element to The Beatles success!
I like Ringo a lot but I’m not blind to the fact that he’s not a good singer!
Bob, Ringo is also an underrated drummer.
Not by me!