Ringo always wanted to be a cowboy. He grew up in the toughest corner of Liverpool, dreaming of escaping to the Wild West, hoping to emigrate to Texas. He was the biggest country fan in the Beatles, the one who sang the Buck Owens classic "Act Naturally" as well as original twangers like "What Goes On" and "Don't Pass Me By.

Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings and Alison Krauss are among the guests on Starr's T Bone Burnett-produced country set.

Ringo Starr is back with a fresh sound! The Beatles star tackled country music in his new album, Look Up, and he's sharing the details on how he returned to the genre. What do you think of Ringo Starr's new country sound?

Every Friday, pop critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week’s most notable new tracks. Listen to the Playlist on Spotify here (or find our profile: nytimes) and at Apple Music here, and sign up for The Amplifier,

Ringo Starr seems to have been slowing down for decades. Yet, when he does push the boat out, he invariably sets sail for unchartered waters. Look Up finds him produced by hipster T.Bone Burnett, who wrote or co-wrote nine of these 11 songs.

"I liked the records he made. It has an edge," Starr says of the reclusive grandson of Hank Williams, who mixes country with heavy metal