Ringo Starr Releases New Album Long Long Road

Ringo Starr dropped his 22nd studio album, Long Long Road, on 24 April 2026 through Universal Music Enterprises, continuing a remarkably productive run for the Beatles legend. The 10-track record was produced by acclaimed American producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett, marking the second consecutive collaboration between the pair following Starr's 2025 release Look Up. Recorded across Nashville and Los Angeles during 2025, Long Long Road plants itself firmly in country and Americana territory, making it Ringo Starr's third album in that genre after Beaucoups of Blues from 1970 and Look Up. The record runs 33 minutes and 22 seconds and arrives alongside a concurrent US tour, placing the drummer turned solo artist in one of the most prolific stretches of his post-Beatles career. Two singles preceded the release: "It's Been Too Long," which dropped on 3 March 2026, and a re-recording of "Choose Love," originally from his 2005 album of the same name, which followed on 3 April 2026.

A Star-Studded Lineup and Strong Songwriting Core

One of the most talked-about aspects of Long Long Road is its roster of guest contributors. Ringo Starr enlisted bluegrass virtuoso Billy Strings, rock veteran Sheryl Crow, avant-garde artist St. Vincent, Americana guitarist Molly Tuttle, and singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz for appearances across the album. T Bone Burnett wrote or co-wrote six of the album's ten tracks, including lead single "It's Been Too Long," which Burnett co-wrote with Daniel Tashian. Ringo Starr himself co-wrote three songs, including "You and I (Wave of Love)" and the closing title track, both written with longtime collaborator Bruce Sugar. The album also features a cover of Carl Perkins' 1959 recording of "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore," written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss. Critics singled out Molly Tuttle for her vocal and acoustic guitar contributions, describing her as the most consistent female presence across the record.

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Building on the Success of Look Up

Long Long Road arrives less than a year after Look Up, the 2025 album that established the Ringo Starr and T Bone Burnett creative partnership and proved chart-worthy for the former Beatle. That back-to-back release schedule underscores just how productive the collaboration has become. Burnett, known for his work with artists ranging from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss to Elvis Costello, brings a deep grounding in roots music that suits Ringo Starr's voice and sensibility on country material. The Nashville recording sessions lent the album an authentic traditional country texture that critics have specifically cited as a distinguishing quality. Daniel Tashian, who contributed co-production and vocal arrangements across all ten tracks, also played a significant role in shaping the sound. The album's instrumentation — featuring string bass, chamberlain, organ, violin, and mandolin alongside Ringo Starr's own drumming — gives it a warm, organic feel that separates it from more polished mainstream country productions.

Critical Reception and What Comes Next

Review aggregator Metacritic assigned Long Long Road a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from seven critic reviews, categorising it as receiving "generally favorable reviews." Outlet scores ranged from a 6 out of 10 from Exclaim! to 7.5 out of 10 from Hot Press, with Clash awarding 7 out of 10. The Telegraph and The Arts Desk also contributed reviews. The critical consensus points to Ringo Starr delivering a cohesive and authentic roots record that benefits enormously from Burnett's production instincts and the high calibre of guest performers. With the album now available on vinyl, colored vinyl, and CD formats following pre-orders that opened on 3 March 2026, fans have multiple ways to engage with the release.

Long Long Road confirms that Ringo Starr's partnership with T Bone Burnett has become one of the most creatively rewarding chapters of his lengthy solo career. With a US tour running concurrently with the album release, Ringo Starr is clearly leaning into this Americana direction with real intent. Whether a third collaboration with Burnett follows remains to be seen, but for now Long Long Road stands as a confident, well-received addition to one of rock history's most enduring solo catalogues.