Paul McCartney Joins Ringo Starr on John Lennon Cover: Listen
by Best Classic Bands Staff
On September 13, Ringo Starr announced his 20th studio record, What’s My Name, and he’s joined by many friends and bandmates including Paul McCartney. Also joining are, as the announcement states: “a distinguished, ever-changing yet often repeating cast of musical characters and friends.” Those friends, many of whom have played with him in the All-Starr Band, also include Joe Walsh, Edgar Winter, Dave Stewart, Benmont Tench, Steve Lukather, Nathan East, Colin Hay, Richard Page, Warren Ham, Windy Wagner, Kari Kimmel and more (full track and credit list below). Starr produced What’s My Name in his home studio; it will be released on UMe on October 25.
What’s My Name is available for pre-order below.
The album includes Starr’s version of “Grow Old With Me,” written by John Lennon, where he’s joined by McCartney and Walsh on the track. Listen to it below.
On September 25, Starr released a trailer for the new album.
“I don’t want to be in an old-fashioned recording studio anymore, really,” Starr explains. “I’ve had enough of the big glass wall and the separation. We are all together in here, whoever I invite over. This is the smallest club in town. And I love it, being at home, being able to say hi to [my wife] Barb, it’s just been good for me and the music.”
The new album’s title track and first single was written by former Men at Work leader, Colin Hay, a returning All-Starr Band member during their 2019 summer tour, that turns a familiar chant from Ringo’s live shows into a rousing rocker.
“A friend told me that, unbeknownst to me, Colin wrote a song years ago called, ‘What’s My Name’,” says Starr. “I said, ‘Bring it up to the house and let’s hear it.’ Later I heard, Colin couldn’t find it! He’d written the song down six years ago and put it in this pile or that pile. But it ended up at the bottom of the drawer. So, Colin came over and played it for me, and I loved it. I loved the verses. I loved the sentiment. In all honesty, there’s not a lot of people who could get away with asking, ‘What’s my name?’ in a song. If you’ve been to the show, you already know the title. I’m blessed that most things coming my way are peace and love. There are still always trials and tribulations. But I just feel in life, the sun shines this way.”
Listen to the title track
The emotional centerpiece of the album is Starr’s version of “Grow Old With Me,” written by John Lennon. The inspiration to record the song now came when Starr ran into noted record producer Jack Douglas who had produced John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album.
“Jack asked if I ever heard ‘The Bermuda Tapes,’ John’s demos from that time,” Ringo recalls. “And I had never heard all this. The idea that John was talking about me in that time before he died, well, I’m an emotional person. And I just loved this song. I sang it the best that I could. I do well up when I think of John this deeply. And I’ve done my best. We’ve done our best. The other good thing is that I really wanted Paul to play on it, and he said yes. Paul came over and he played bass and sings a little bit on this with me. So John’s on it in a way. I’m on it and Paul’s on it. It’s not a publicity stunt. This is just what I wanted. And the strings that Jack arranged for this track, if you really listen, they do one line from ‘Here Comes The Sun.’ So in a way, it’s the four of us.”
Watch the lyric video for “Grow Old With Me”
What’s My Name‘s opening track, “Gotta Get Up To Get Down,” is described as a rocker, which Starr co-wrote with his brother-in-law and long-time musical partner Joe Walsh. “I’ve been making music with Joe long before we became brothers, “Ringo said. “And we were having dinner with Klaus Voorman months ago, and for whatever, I said, ‘Well, you’ve got to get up to get down.’ Joe and looked at each other and said, ‘We know that’s the title, so let’s write a song about it.’
“That’s how it is. Edgar Winter’s part on this track is just incredible. Edgar’s always incredible, but he outdoes himself in my book.” Additional tracks include: “It’s Not Love That You Want;” “Magic” co- written with his long time All-Starr Steve Lukather “I wrote that with Steve Lukather, who is magic. I made a mistake of telling Steve, “You’re my last best friend,” and so that how we’re live now. And he’s a beautiful guy. He sometimes puts out a hard shell, but he is so soulful. We work well together. And he’s even better when he’s not playing a thousand notes a minute – which he can. He’s the man. I love the man. Don’t tell him. Sometimes Steve’s so happy playing with me, I say, “You’re having too much fun.”
Drumming remains Ringo’s “madness,” and keeps him moving forward in time. As Starr remembers affectionately, “When I was a teenager, my mom always said, “Son, you’re at your happiest when you’re playing.” And it’s still true to this day. I’m blessed. I had a dream back when I was thirteen, and just last night I played with all my friends at the Greek, and I’ve been putting together All-Starr bands for 30 years. And it’s still a thrill.”
What’s My Name – Track Listing and Credits
Gotta Get Up To Get Down (Richard Starkey, Joe Walsh)
Drums, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar, Vocals: Joe Walsh
Clavinet, Synthesizer, Vocals: Edgar Winter
Bass: Nathan East
Synthesizer: Bruce Sugar
BGV: Richard Page, Warren Ham, Windy Wagner, Kari Kimmel
Its Not Love That You Want (Richard Starkey, Dave Stewart)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar: Dave Stewart
Bass: Nathan East
Piano: Jim Cox
Clavinet: Benmont Tench
Synth Horns: Bruce Sugar
BGV: Windy Wagner, Amy Keys
Additional Engineering: Ned Douglas
McCartney guests on Ringo’s new album
Grow Old With Me (John Lennon)
Drums, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Bass, Background Vocal: Paul McCartney
Guitar: Joe Walsh
Piano: Jim Cox
Violin: Rhea Fowler, Bianca McClure
Viola: Lauren Baba
Cello: Isaiah Gage
Accordion: Allison Lovejoy
String Arrangement by Jack Douglas, Daniel Cole
Assistant Engineer on string session: Wesley Seidman
Magic (Richard Starkey, Steve Lukather)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar, Piano: Steve Lukather
Bass: John Pierce
Synthesizer: Bruce Sugar
BGV: Richard Page, Warren Ham, Windy Wagner, Kari Kimmel
Money (That’s What I Want) (Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Bass: Nathan East
BGV: Maxine Waters, Julia Waters
Piano, Organ, Synth: Bruce Sugar
Better Days (Sam Hollander)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Piano: Grant Michaels
Organ: Peter Levin
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Guitar: Pete Min
BGV: Zelma Davis, Garen Gueyikian
Horns: James King
Produced by: Ringo Starr, Sam Hollander
Life Is Good (Richard Starkey, Gary Burr)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Bass: Nathan East
Organ: Benmont Tench
Synthesizer: Bruce Sugar
BGV: Richard Page, Warren Ham, Windy Wagner, Kari Kimmel
Thank God For Music (Richard Starkey, Sam Hollander)
Drums: Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Synth Bass, Piano, Organ: Jim Cox
Synth Voice Pad: Bruce Sugar
BGV: Maxine Waters, Julia Waters
Send Love Spread Peace (Richard Starkey, Gary Nicholson)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar: Steve Dudas
Bass: Nathan East
Organ, Piano: Benmont Tench
BGV: Windy Wagner, Amy Keys
What’s My Name (Colin Hay)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals: Ringo Starr
Guitar, BGV: Colin Hay
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Bass: Nathan East
Harmonica: Warren Ham
BGV: Maxine Waters, Julia Waters
Related: Links to 100s of current classic rock tours
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI have read that the three (at the time) remaining Beatles considered and may have attempted recording Grow Old With Me during sessions for Free As A Bird & Real Love.
Listened to the two tracks in the article. Having just heard Steve with TOTO last week on Tuesday,this new album is a must-have! I’ve also caught Ringo’s All-Starr Band 4 times.
Great music. Can’t wait!