Paul McCartney’s Ringo Starr duet has fans asking one question

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It’s surprising that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr didn’t record a duet until over 60 years after the Beatles first came together. While Ringo did add some harmonies to a few classic Beatles songs, that doesn’t quite qualify as a true duet, does it?

Fans of Paul McCartney are in for something special with his upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, releasing May 29th. It features a track called “Home to Us” where he almost unexpectedly collaborated with Ringo Starr. Starr was originally just asked to play drums, but ended up being brought back to contribute to the whole album.

Did all the work pay off? Will fans of The Beatles, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr enjoy the final result, along with the contributions from Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders? That’s the big question…

How good is the Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr duet, “Home to Us”?

It would have felt incomplete for Paul McCartney to release an album looking back on his childhood in Liverpool without including Ringo Starr somehow. Paul clearly recognized this, so Ringo plays on one of the tracks. It’s a fitting addition, really.

The song “Home to Us” has a full, upbeat sound. It doesn’t quite fit into modern pop – it feels more like a Beatles B-side reimagined for today. And that’s meant as a compliment! Honestly, a Beatles B-side from the 1960s still holds up better than most music created since then.

The song starts with an upbeat rhythm, and Paul McCartney sings in his signature style. Although the lyrics are thoughtful and now reminiscent of W.H. Auden, they work well within the song. The Beatles weren’t trying to be like Bob Dylan; instead, they aimed for a richer, more complete sound that surpassed even Dylan’s poetic lyrics.

The song itself is excellent – well-produced, polished, and skillfully written. However, it’s debatable whether Ringo Starr’s contribution was truly necessary. While their shared history in Liverpool and with the Beatles makes his inclusion understandable, Paul McCartney, who is the stronger and more recognizable artist of the two, likely could have successfully performed the song on his own.

Ringo Starr’s contribution feels a bit like a novelty. While the song is enjoyable, it’s hard to say if it would be truly memorable without Paul McCartney’s exceptional talent for writing melodies. The song’s lasting appeal comes from McCartney, not from Starr’s participation.

Chrissie Hynde’s contribution is mostly to enrich the vocals. While she does a good job, her part isn’t particularly noteworthy on this particular song.

The song is perfectly enjoyable, and there’s nothing wrong with listening to it. However, it’s Paul McCartney who really makes it special. Ringo Starr’s contribution is solid, but easily replaceable without significantly impacting the song’s quality. In fact, the song’s association with the Beatles and Liverpool feels almost like it overshadows its own merits.

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2026-05-08 23:00