25 October 2019 · Ringo Starr · Album releases
Ringo Starr releases his twentieth studio album
On Friday, 25 October 2019, Ringo Starr released What’s My Name, his twentieth studio album. The ten-track record brought together new collaborations, familiar musical friends and two songs with particularly strong connections to Beatles history: John Lennon’s “Grow Old With Me” and “Money (That’s What I Want)”.
Produced by Starr, the album continued the collaborative approach central to his later recording career. Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Dave Stewart, Colin Hay and other musicians contributed to a record built around Ringo’s voice, drumming and musical personality.
Its most significant Beatles connection was “Grow Old With Me”. Written by Lennon, the song was recorded here with Starr singing and playing drums, McCartney contributing bass and backing vocals, and Joe Walsh playing guitar. It was a new recording of a Lennon composition, not a new performance featuring Lennon himself.
What’s My Name: album facts
| Artist | Ringo Starr |
|---|---|
| Album | What’s My Name |
| Release date | 25 October 2019 |
| Studio album number | Twentieth |
| Label | UMe |
| Tracks | 10 |
| Producer | Ringo Starr; Better Days co-produced with Sam Hollander |
| Recording locations credited | Roccabella West Studio and United Recording |
| Recording and mixing | Bruce Sugar |
A record made with familiar musical friends
The official announcement described What’s My Name as another of Ringo’s heartfelt, homespun records, made with an ever-changing but often returning circle of collaborators. That description fits both the personnel and the songwriting credits.
Several songs were co-written by Richard Starkey, Ringo’s birth name, with musicians from his established creative circle. Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart, Steve Lukather, Gary Burr, Sam Hollander and Gary Nicholson all appear among the songwriting partners. Colin Hay wrote the title track, while “Grow Old With Me” and “Money” brought older compositions into the programme.
Although Roccabella West, Starr’s home studio, was central to the project, the published credits also name United Recording. Describing the whole album as recorded exclusively at home would therefore miss part of the official recording information.
For another example of this collaborative period, explore the release of Postcards From Paradise on 31 March 2015.
Grow Old With Me: Lennon’s song, Ringo’s voice and Paul’s bass
“Grow Old With Me” gives the album a direct connection to John Lennon’s songwriting. Its history reaches back to 1980; read more in John Lennon writes Grow Old With Me – 5 July 1980.
On the 2019 recording, Ringo supplies drums and lead vocals, with Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals. Joe Walsh plays guitar and Jim Cox plays piano. The arrangement also includes strings and accordion, giving the recording a different instrumental setting from a simple voice-and-guitar performance.
The published credits identify Rhea Fowler and Bianca McClure on violin, Lauren Baba on viola, Isaiah Gage on cello and Allison Lovejoy on accordion. Jack Douglas and Daniel Coe are credited with the string arrangement.
The distinction between songwriter and performer matters here. Lennon wrote the song; Starr and his guests made this particular recording. McCartney’s contribution provides a collaboration between the two surviving Beatles, but it does not make the track a Beatles reunion recording.
Money: returning to a song from the Beatles’ repertoire
“Money (That’s What I Want)” creates a different kind of Beatles connection. The Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford composition was already part of the group’s recorded repertoire, with John Lennon singing lead on their version.
Ringo’s 2019 interpretation places his own vocal at the centre. The album credits list Steve Lukather on guitar, Nathan East on bass, Bruce Sugar on piano, organ and synthesizer, and Maxine Waters and Julia Waters on backing vocals, alongside Starr’s drums, percussion and vocals.
Its inclusion gives What’s My Name a link to the music the Beatles had performed, while remaining part of Ringo’s independent solo catalogue.
Explore Ringo Starr merchandise
Ringo’s peace-sign imagery is central to the album cover and his wider public identity. Explore this Ringo-specific design at Beatles Fabdom.
Complete What’s My Name tracklist
- Gotta Get Up to Get Down — Richard Starkey and Joe Walsh
- It’s Not Love That You Want — Richard Starkey and Dave Stewart
- Grow Old With Me — John Lennon
- Magic — Richard Starkey and Steve Lukather
- Money (That’s What I Want) — Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford
- Better Days — Sam Hollander
- Life Is Good — Richard Starkey and Gary Burr
- Thank God for Music — Richard Starkey and Sam Hollander
- Send Love Spread Peace — Richard Starkey and Gary Nicholson
- What’s My Name — Colin Hay
The names after each title are songwriting credits, not a complete list of performers on that track.
Guest musicians and key contributions
Joe Walsh co-wrote and played guitar on “Gotta Get Up to Get Down”, joining Edgar Winter, whose contributions included clavinet, synthesizer and vocals. Walsh also played guitar on “Grow Old With Me”.
Dave Stewart co-wrote “It’s Not Love That You Want” and contributed guitar. Steve Lukather co-wrote “Magic”, on which he played guitar and piano, and supplied guitar to several other tracks, including “Money”, “Life Is Good”, “Thank God for Music” and the title song.
Colin Hay’s role extended beyond writing “What’s My Name”: the credits also list his guitar and backing vocals on the track. Warren Ham contributed harmonica, and Nathan East supplied bass. Richard Page and Ham were among the backing singers elsewhere on the album.
Other contributors included Benmont Tench, Jim Cox, Steve Dudas and the backing vocalists Windy Wagner, Kari Kimmel, Amy Keys, Maxine Waters and Julia Waters. The credits show how a record centred on Ringo could also depend on a broad network of instrumentalists and singers.
The title track and Ringo’s musical personality
Written by Colin Hay, “What’s My Name” closes the album and supplies its title. The title track was made available when the album was announced in September 2019, ahead of the full October release.
The album’s titles make its themes easy to recognise: music, friendship, optimism and peace. “Life Is Good”, “Thank God for Music” and “Send Love Spread Peace” sit naturally within the outlook associated with Starr’s later work. That does not make every track identical; the different writers and performers bring their own musical approaches to the project.
The cover reinforces the connection between the record and its singer. Ringo stands in front of a large star, wearing round sunglasses and making his familiar peace sign. Rather than depicting a concert or a band lineup, the artwork presents the solo artist whose name and personality hold the collaborations together.
Ringo’s recording and touring year in 2019
The album arrived during a year that also included All-Starr Band performances in North America and Japan. The studio record and the concerts were related parts of Ringo’s continuing career, but they were not interchangeable programmes: the album’s ten tracks should not be mistaken for a concert setlist.
For the live side of that year, explore Ringo’s Zepp Nagoya appearance on 9 April 2019, the Ravinia Festival concert on 3 August and the Wolf Trap performance on 10 August.
Another Ringo peace design
Frequently asked questions
When was What’s My Name released?
Ringo Starr released What’s My Name on 25 October 2019 through UMe.
Was it Ringo Starr’s twentieth studio album?
Yes. The official announcement identifies it as his twentieth studio album.
How many tracks are on the album?
The standard album contains ten tracks, opening with Gotta Get Up to Get Down and closing with What’s My Name.
What did Paul McCartney play on Grow Old With Me?
Paul McCartney played bass and contributed backing vocals. Ringo Starr sang lead and played drums.
Who wrote Grow Old With Me?
John Lennon wrote the song. The version on What’s My Name is a new recording by Ringo Starr and his collaborators.
Who wrote the title track?
Colin Hay wrote What’s My Name and also contributed guitar and backing vocals to the recording.
Where was the album recorded?
The official credits name Roccabella West Studio and United Recording. Bruce Sugar is credited with recording and mixing.
Who produced the album?
Ringo Starr produced the album. Better Days carries an additional co-production credit for Sam Hollander.
Remembering 25 October 2019
What’s My Name marked a clear milestone in Ringo Starr’s solo discography: twenty studio albums, with new songs still arriving through friendships and musical partnerships. Its Lennon composition and McCartney contribution make it especially interesting within Beatles history, while the full record remains firmly a Ringo Starr project.
Continue with the story of John Lennon writing Grow Old With Me, explore Postcards From Paradise, or browse the On This Day in Beatles History archive.
Recording and songwriting details are drawn from Ringo Starr’s official album announcement and credits.
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